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68
Notices of China, No. V.
FEB.
makes him salute the young bride, after which she also enters the chamber of the intended husband, to inform him of his bride's arrival. He at first affects indifference to all that is going on around him, and seems occupied in other matters; however he goes out with the go-between, advancing with a grave step, and approaching the sedan, opens the door with an air of agitation and trembling: the bride steps out, and they both go forward together to the ancestral tablet, which they salute with three genuflections, and then seat themselves_at table opposite to each other face to face. The go-between serves them, and the bridegroom eats and drinks, but the bride merely makes a pretense of it, for the large hat, which all the time screens her and conceals her figure, prevents her from raising anything to her mouth. The repast being finished, the now wedded pair enter their chamber.
All the guests have a lively curiosity to know the result of this first interview, for it is then only that the husband removes the mask from his wife's head, and for the first time in his life beholds her features. Whether pretty or ugly, blind, blear-eyed, or deformed, he must make up his mind to have her for his lawful wife, and whatever may be his disappointment, he must disguise it, and outwardly ap- pear content with his lot. After he has considered his wife for some time, the guests, parents and friends, men and women, all enter the apartment to do the same, and view her at their leisure. Every one is allowed to express his opinion aloud, but the criticisms of the women are most severe. They closely scrutinize the newly married lady, and make every little natural defect which they observe, the subject of remark and malicious exaggeration. They are the more severe in their censures, from the recollection that they themselves have been ill-treated in like circumstances, and find great pleasure in having an opportunity to be avenged. This cruel examination, during which she who is the object of it, must keep silence, and cannot in any manner complain of the severe remarks that are made upon her per- son, being finished, she is at first introduced to her father-in-law and mother-in-law, who respectively salute her according to etiquette, and afterwards into the presence of her own father and mother.
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It should be observed that neither of the parents of the bride ap- pear at that wedding. Neither of them can be invited on the oc- casion, that matter belonging entirely to the bridegroom, who invites his parents and friends a fortnight beforehand.
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1
The cards of invitation are peculiar in their form. They consist of a large red sheet of paper folded into two small ones, in the forın