A CHINESE WEDDING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2131, 10 May 1889, Page 2

A CHINESE WEDDING.

Mr Tnet Sing, the rich old Chinese merchant of 10 Chatham square, New York, is treating his friends sumptuously juat at present, all because of the arrival of his pretty youog wife from the west, whom he had not seen at all until she waa duly married to him by a proxy, Mr Yuet King being represented at me oeremony by his ohief oook. Ooatly presents and 20dolgold pieces have poured m for the paat week from his numerous Chinese oolleagues, the storekeepers and others.

The feast began at 4 pm. Saturday with eight persons at each table, tho regular bridal number. There were 36 tables m all. Ihe "Sun's" Chineue reporter was assigned to tho Joss house or shark fin .quad. In moat of the male departments there was Chinese music by fruotiona of the Mott streot Chinese iiand, while the female celebrants had to be content with such music as they oould make for themselves.

At 10 p.m., when half the fifty courses had been served, Me Whey Ying To, the master of ceremonies, announced an adjournment until 4 p.m Sunday, when the guests will resujoe tbe same dlnnee at the same point where they left off. Ynet Sing Is under oontraot to have the feast entirely over by tbe middle of Ootobor.

When the adjournment was taken tha gnests were Invited to wltnesa the marriage oeremony, Mr Yuet Sing having suddenly awakened to the f«ot that the proxy marriage at San Francisco waa ndt eaffi olently binding. This astonished the gnests, and they hastily adjourned to the Joss honse at 10 Chatham square. Over 200 guests assembled and sat ln rows around the room with the Jqsa fitting serenely npon paper at tbe pther end. Presently the bridal party entered. The blushing 'bride Is only a mite of a thing, 19 years old and pretty. Her outer oloak w«3 of lavender silk, beautifully embroidered with solid gold laoe. Tho ground work of her dress waa flaming nd latin, with diagonal stripes of gold, blue silken flowers and rioh embrotdar/, The two little maids wore soft sky-blue sjlk, and stood ono on each side of the bride.

As tho pary entered the room, the entire assembly arose In eilenoe. Then the groom stepped aside, and the bride and her maids were made to faoe the mighty Jobs Klvan Goon. A red silken rug was plaoed before the altar of the Joss. The bride knelt upon It, while an attendant handed her a small bunoh of lighted Joss stloks, Tl^e little bridesmaids on either side artanged the beautiful rainbow skirts of the bride with the lighted sticks, The bride mado three low salaams towards the fioroo-looklog Joss. The sticks were gently taken from her hand and stuck lato an urn |upon the alter. She was then assisted to ber feet by the maids. The guests ouoa more resumed their seats The master of oeremonles led the way for the bride to make hor bows before the rows bf gnestß, whloh she did graoefutly, with her fan hold beforo her faoe. She wos followed by one maid with a tray of tiny oups of perfumed tea. E.oh guest, on taking tho cap from the tray, repltoed It by a gold ootn wrappod m red rloe papor. Tho other maid followed with a big box of pure Havana.. B.oh cigar taken waa re,plao_d by a silver coin, alio In red paper, Th?n tho .peotators drank the health of the bride. The much fatigued bride ln oonolnslon, was made to worship or "Ko To " to Mr Toong Gwln, the nearest and oldest relative of the groom, whioh Is the Sorm of receiving oonsent and a blessing from the head of the family.— Amerioan paper, Maroh 3rd.