Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/238

230 the help afforded to their daughter-in-law is in some cases bestowed so grudgingly that her friends will take pity on and shelter her.

Marriages seldom take place in the first month of the year, the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th being the most favoured.

During the period of betrothal it is customary on several occasions to burn before the ancestral tablets three incense-sticks and two candles in order to inform the ancestors of the intentions of their posterity. A quantity of paper-money is often burnt at the same time. If after marriage it were discovered that any fraud or substitution had been practised the entire proceedings would be held to be ineffective, the reason being, absence of consent.

In the event of long delay on the part of the girl's parents in con- summating the marriage, the youth may kidnap his bride, in which case none but her own family may interfere.

Our admiration of a Juno-like figure is not shared by the Chinese, whose beau-ideal is a small person, a chalky complexion, and of course compressed feet. A pensive, languid look, and a silvery voice are also special attractions. Husbands are never seen in public with their wives, and do not compare favourably with them as regards the observance of the marriage vow. Their treatment of them in other respects is also frequently culpable, the only restraint to their illusageill-usage [sic] being the fear of their committing suicide or of their parents coming to their rescue.

The divorce of a wife is more easily obtained than in western countries, there being seven cases in which its application is permitted,—1, Unfilial conduct towards the parents of the husband; 2, Adultery; 3, Jealousy; 4, Loquacity; 5, Theft; 6, Virulent disease; 7, Barrenness; the last two being doubtful. Notwithstanding the presence in the category of numbers three and four, divorces are uncommon, and there are three conditions under which no divorce could take place unless in a most exaggerated case:—