Page:Village life in Korea (1911).djvu/198

168 peated three times, and is responded to by the groom with two bows and a half, the last one on his part being only a half bow, indicating his superiority to her. A cup of wine is then passed by the woman between the bride and the groom and touched to their lips, but not tasted by either of them. Likewise certain sorts of fruits are passed back and forth between the bride and the groom; then she is led to the place where the parents of the groom are seated, and makes the same low bow to both of them, thereby pledging herself to be faithful to them as long as they shall live. Then she is led to her room and seated on the floor, and a table with food is brought and placed before her, but of this she does not eat. The groom now lays aside his royal costume and, donning his own clothes, goes about his business, which is not likely to be anything more serious than to have a seat with the other men and take a smoke from his long-stemmed pipe. The first night is spent in the bride's new home, and the following day, if they can afford it, they return to the bride's home and spend three days, after which they return to the home of the groom and take up the regular duties of life. There is a feast given by the parents of the groom to all the invited friends, in which there is much drinking of the native wine.

To the mind of every thinking person there is something solemn about every marriage. It is often said that it is a leap in the dark, and one never knows where the landing will be. If this be true, and it is to a certain degree in Christian countries, what must