CUPID BARRED OUT.
QUE I', ft MAI IMMONIAL lAWS OF
JAPAN.
Etiquette Governing tlio Relations of
oungMen ami Women Hefore
Marriage 'o Kissing at
' the Wedding l-'east.
WHEN n yonncf man wants
to net married in Japan
lie does not offer his henrt
nml hand to the girl lis
lovc, but, if on arrangement has not
already i been made for him by his
parents with the daughter of a neigh
bor, he goes to it discreet nml trusted
friend who in already married, and
. 'ks that he and hi wife act as "noko
ih V' or &o-bctweens, for hira in thi
important matter. It is the most deli
cate duty one friend can perform for
another: it is the highest ot oompn
ments to ask it, as it i nntnrally an
evidence of complttn confidence, and
the gentleman and lady who tinder
take it assume responsibilities that
few people in America would enre to
accept. They not only aree to find
suitable partner for the aspirant for
matrimonial honors, but remain
through life in the relation of god
father and godmother to the young
connle. They are expected to assist
theni if they get into difficulty or suffer
misfortune, to promote their pros
perity and happiness in all ways possi
ble and serve as a board of arbitration
to fettle disputes that amy arise in
the family.
But this responsibility is not dreaded
In Japan as much as would be sup
posed. People are used to it, and
nearly every gentleman and lady of
acknowledged distinction have at least
one, and sometimes several couples
' under theis care.
As a rule in the upper circles of
cooiety marriages between the sons
and daughters of friendly families are
arranged by the parents when the
children are very young, and a boy or
girl often know who they ore going to
marry long before they are old enough
to nnderstsnd the nstnre of that rela
tion. But they are not allowed to as
tooiate with each other. From in
fancy girls nre taught that they are
inferior to their brothers, and must
treat them with respect accordingly.
A boy can call his sister by a pet name,
but she cinn jt show tho same famili
arity toward him. He is "Ani-san,"
which literally means "Mr. Brother,"
and his authority cannot bo disputed
in their play. Usually the boys of
the family take their meals with their
father, andjtheir mother and sitters
wait npon them, accepting what looa
is left by the superior beings without
murmer. In this way the spirit of
obedience to mankind is inttilled into
the mind of womanhood. Confucius
taught that children of seven years
should be separated, but Japanese are
a little more liberal than the Chinese
in this respect, and boys and girls play
together until they are ten or twelve
. years of age. After that their asso
ciation is forbidden.
Nor is there any opportunity for a
boy to become acquainted with the
cirls of his father's set. Therefore
couitiifnr is impossible, and the chil
dren of families whose houses may ad
journ grow up as strangers to eash
other. This rules applies equally to
the nearest iclations. Thero can be no
friendshin between young men and
women. It is dinreputablo for a Jap
Ing is called a "mi-yai," which means
literally "mutual seeing."
According to etiquette the interview
may take place at the residence of the
nnkodos or at the house ot tha young
lady's father ( but among tho lower
olasses a picnio 'or n theatre party, n
boat ride or an excursion of some sort
serves the ptirpoe. If the visit takes
place at the house of the young lndy's
inther, the young man and his nakodo
are received by the host and salute
each other with great politoness. A
servant brings a pot of tea and ma
terials for smoking, over which the
three gentlemen disenss politics, busi
ness matters, tho condition of the rice
market, the news from China, or any
other indifferent subject for awhile.
Then the host will clap his hauda
and the young lady in inter
est herself appears, dressed in
her prettiest kiraino and obi and
bearing a tray containing three cups
and a pot of tea. These she plaoes
npon the mat in front of the guests
before sn opportunity to send pres
ents is given.
When the day for the wedding is
selected the trousseau of the bride and
several artioles of household furniture
are lent to her husband's home, and
they are usually exhibited to the
friends of the family beforehand. The
wedding gown is always pure white,
and the bridegroom is dressed in a
"komisliiroo" a .peculiar dress made
of various kinds of silk in colors
according to his rank.
The wedding ceremony takes places
at the house of tho bridegroom's par
ents and friends of both families are
invited to be present. The bride is
escorted thore at nightfall by her par
ents and other members of her family
and the nakodos, followed by servants
bcarintr nifts to the family of tha
bridegroom. It was formerly the
custom to light a bonfire in front of
the gate of her parental home and lift
her over it. This ceremony meant
purification. The house ol the bride-
WINTER WEAR.
FASHION'S fRCRRK FOR taK93-
ISQUUWNS ANI JACKETS.
Those Made to I!?ronolltan Dames
Combine Klegance With Com
fortA Hage forTam o
Minuter Hats.
" MARRIAGE CEREMONY IS JKTKS.
and proceeds to serve the beverage
and sweetmeats which her mother or
a servant brings after her. Girls are
trained to perform this duty with the
greatest degree of grace, lor tea pour
ing is regarded as the highest aeeora
pludiinent a Japanese woman can ao-
aiure. and this occasion is noiurauy
of the createst importance. She is
not to speak unless spoken to, and the
responsibility of beinniug a conver
sation rests upon the nuKoito. 11 ne
is a gentleman of tact he introduces
some subject or asks some question
FALL and winter are erenttolly
the home seasons. Outdoor
sports are impossible) with
Northerners, and the reign of
the nftorndon lecture, morning musl
cale and evening reception seta in.
The interior decorations are made es
pecially beautiful, and everything is
accomplished that can be to attract
audlereate attention to the fireside
and home luxuries. Home comforts
cannot be mentioned without a
thought of dressing gowns snd jack
ets. Tha time between calling hours
sud the attendance of outside sooial
functions is usually given over to rest,
ana should be if it is not. it is men
that the dressing gown and jacket ap-
neal to tha feminine members' of the
hnnanhnld.
The areatest possible taste shonld
ha displayed in making comfort
gowns. The true artistio sense can be
luxuriously ratified, and any original
notion can be carried out without the
fear of being conspicuous or mayhap
artistio effect the hair should bs'dono
low, and, more ot less, draped over
the ears. A charming Tarn, which is
almost a tu.bau, and which is an inof
fensive, not to say an attractive the-
WC' as ' JL
k REIT FLYISB MACHHEu
(Several Successful Flights lit Mlda'r
Have Meed Made by Scotchman.
Mr. Percy 3. Filoher, lecturer on
marine engineering at Glasgow TJni
vcrBity, basing his inventions upon
that of Herr Lilienthal, has prcduoed
two winged creations, and by their
aid has taken sundry flights in midair,
RKkDT TO Kit.
AS ATTRACTIVE TAM O SHANTER.
atre bonnet, has a soft crown of palo
yellow velvet, spangled with silver.
Just over the face is a stiff band of
jet, which ends in two bunches of
white violets. The aigrettes are
JAfAXESB OIKIi AT HOJtH.
that is calculated to bring out what
ever conversational powers the young
lady may possess, and in the mean,
time she aits npon her heels and en
deavors to be as charming as possible,
The young man may engage in the
conversation, but it is not good form
for him to address his remarks to her.
Ho may speak to her lather or her
mother.but ho usually remains entire
ly silent during the oru?al. If the
"mi-yai" happeus to be an exonrsion
or a theatre party the same rule is ot-
i Vmmr&- 1 It
7 1 mm -gfeV'f 1 w. -
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,.( . I-m' "'llijli lT
"OHAYO" THE WORD OP WELCOME IS JAPAN.
nese young man to marry for love.
There is no such thing as love between
the sexes before marriage, and there
is no word to define suoh afleotion in
the Japanese language. When a youug
man and a young woman love each
other publio sentiment plaoes them
very low in the scale ot morals.
The sooial laws of Japan require
that a man shall marry at tho age of
eighteen or nineteen, and it is a dis
grace for s man or a woman to remain
single After they are twenty or twen
ty-one. As a consequents there are
very few old bachelors or old maids in
the empire.
But the young man usually has An
opportunity to inspect the zirl that is
elected by his parents or his nakodos
before an engagement is deoided upon,
And if either is dissatisfied with the
Appearance of the other the arrange'
neat way it deolared eft This meet
served. He may look as muoh as he
likes, but it is bad manners for him
to show the young lady any particular
attention.
After the mi-yai is over the young
man ana mi nakouo retire lor
consultation. He thinks the matter
over, and if he decides that the candi
date is acceptable his parents send
her a handsome box of silts. Some
times it contains silks and other fab
rios. ornaments or jewelry, decora
art, and, among me
crroora is usually decorated witu
lanterns and other evidences ot
festivity, which draw all the people in
that part of town to witness the
bride's arrival. Hhe is met outside
the entrance by the members of the
groom's fomily. But he is seated on
a cushion in trout 01 the toKonoma, a
shallow recess or alcove that is found
in all Japaucse houses and is used for
the display of ornatueuts. When Bhe
enters the room she is escorted to a
seat beside him. The nakodos sit at
his rii?ht and at her left are usually
two married Udies or two little girls
dressed in white, who serve as bridesmaids.
When the party is all placed a chor
us of voiocs in tho adjoining room sings
a Japanese song called "ttai. A
low toblo of white wood, that has
never been used, is then brought in,
and a tray is plaoed upon it contain
ing three cups, which one of the
bridesmaids fills with sake. The lat
ter hands the smallest cup to the
bride, who takes three dainty sips of
wine and then passes it to the groom,
who follows her example. The sec
ond and third cups arefllred in a simi
lar manner and the ceremony is re
peated. As the groom returns the
third cup to the bridesmaid all ckp
their hands, which is a salute of ap
probation announcing that the cere
mony is over.
Their is no kissing or emoracing,
bnt a great ' many congratulations are
ottered to the young couple ana
guests of literary attainments are ex
pected to hand thorn poems of their
own composition, wnicn are aiicrwuru
bound in a little book as a memento
of the occasion. The couple then re-
tire to put off the wedding robes and
resume their ordinary garinonts, and
afterward oin the guests at a least,
which is served with great ceremony.
The congratulations are thon reuowed
and iuclude the parents anil relatives
of the couple, and everybody drinks
to the health of the bruie ana grcom.
Sometimes the feasting continues very
late and often ends in a carousal, but
before the guests retire they repeat
their congratulations, as is customary
in other countries.
Among the oommon people the mar
riage ceremony is considerably modi
fied. Hridosmaids are omitieu ana
the nakodos, the gentleman sitting at
the right of the gtoom and his wife
at the left of the bride, fill and pass
the onps of eake ; but there is always
a supper of some kind and plenty to
drink, if the food is only rioe and
salted fish and the liquids only tea.
On the third day after tho wedding
the brido returns to her father's house
to stay three or seven days, as the case
may be, during which time ner tamer
invites the friends of both families
usually those who have been guests at
tho wadding to a big feast. If the
first three days ot married me are not
satisfactory to the bride, she notifies
the nakodos of that fact and does not
return to her husband's home, which
is equivalent to a divorce. If the hus
band is disatisfied he notifies the nako
dos, and tbey are expeoted to com-
munioate with the bride s parents. 11
a divorce is insisted npon by either
party it must be acoepted by the other,
but suoh a proceding is seldom re
sorted to exoept where misrepresenta
tions have been made as to the temper
and physical condition of either party.
If the bride or groom proves to be de
formed or diseased in any manner a
divorce is considered honorable and
legitimate, and it is only neoessary to
register the faot at police headquarters.
After the ceremonies are concluded
the bride separates herself entirely
from her own family and beoomes as
much identified with the family 01 ner
husband as if she were born into it. She
is not expeoted to inherit any of her
father s property, although ne may
in A Xv "W-!rMM!i.-MI: fret SiVAs Y M U - Vi XI
LATEST IN DltEdSINO OOWN3, JACKETS AND TETTICOATg.
I
tiva works of
common people, fish, seaweed and leave her a legacy it he desires to do so.
other forms of food. Then the bride's I Nor is it neoessary for a father to give
parents seud presents in return, whioh his dauorhter a dot upon her marriage.
is equivalent to an engagement, and I although it is often done. It is usually
an early day is seleoted for the wed-1 a part of the original arrangement,
ding. It the young lady should bap- and the amount is settled botweon her
pen to objeot, whioh is not often the I parents and the nakodos.
.a m aha la iruidad antiralv by the I
wishes of her parents in this and all The Annual profit of the Sue! Canal
othtr matters, 'tht sakodo is notified Is VIO.OW.WV.
offending anybody's taste. One should
always dress prettiest for those whom
they" love best, and b(;m- gowns should
be the finest in the wardrobe. In
figure No. 1 is shown a simple but
neat jacket in p nk and white striped
wool, goruiturod with black volvot.
The stripes are matched beautifully,
and tho material itsolf is almost like
au exquisite piece of embroidery. The
small cane about the neck is a unique
but charming orrangeniout, and the
turn-down collar is both comfortable
and elegant. The sleeves are full and
easy, but very becoming to either the
ldiinin or slender arm. With a dark
skirt this jacket always looks dainty
and attractive. The ooiflure aeon in
thia illustration is very fetching for
tho home. The hair in front is parted
on one side in a most fascinating way,
It is thon ourled in large rings and
flnttenad out until it lies about the
temples in a soft and wavy fashion.
In the baok the hair is arranged in a
loose, graceful pull".
Tha lull lensth dressiug gown in fig-
nre No. 2 is of a soft and dainty wool.
The style is Prinoess, the modol being
mnde especially long in front and fin-
inhnd in a demi-train ic tho back. The
lines are very graceful, and tend to
make the wearer tall and slender.
Just above the bust, on a line with
tha shoulders, is a wide ruffle of the
wool, finished in a fine feather trim
ming. The sleeves are very full, and
the Ion it. wide uuff is finished in a
mills to match the larger one of the
same stvlo. About the waist is
it worn an Oriental girdle of Turkish
sjlk.
The third illustration shows the lat
est idoa in petticoats. The greatest
chanze has been made in the trim
ming. Where last season there were
many small rutUes, . this season one
large one will be used.
TAM O' 8HANTEB BATS THB BAOB.
Most everybody has a Tam o
Shanter, says the New York rress.
The little girls wear them, plain, to
sohool, and their mammns wear them,
muoh trimmed with leathers, and
with An Added brim, to church And the
sewing oirole. Big sisters wear them
when on their wheels, 10 ine matinee,
and in the evening, too, when tbey go
to the theatre. But they have several
different sorts.
The children are provided witn
those made of Sootob plaid or eider
down. The lamer sisters seleot, for
veneral nse. those made of A tabrio
whioh corresponds to the street gown.
And they have dainty ones of silk and
lnnn and ribbon for the evening.
The mammas favor black velvet
espeoiully with a flat brim added, re
member, and they like Dresden silks
and Persian olotbs. too. These hats
are further trimmed, for mamma,
with ostrioh tips, usually half a dozen.
And. usually also, of black.
They Are not very beooming to
those who wear their hair arrnged on
the top ot the bead. To get the most
blaok. Mademoiselle s hair is a
charming yellow; so this little hat is
particularly becoming.
FANCY. FRONTS FOR DRESSM.
One of the prettiest of all the sum
mer fashions, (he lancy ironis lor
dresses, will not be entirely taboood
for some weeks to come, soys the flew
York Herald, With skirt and jaokot
these dressy fronts add greatly to the
smartness ot the cloth gowns. It
would seem as though ingenuity bad
exhausted itself in the different styles
we have seen for the Inst year, but
there are new and most fasoinating
ones now to be found.
Strirs ot fancy ribbon, with laoo
lnser' o 1, are perhaps rue newosi 01
all, auu they are most daintily made.
says the London Black and White. At
times he has risen to an altitude ot
twenty feet, occasionally hovering
kito-like for a space and then descend
ing on the spot he left, while npon
other trials he has hastened before the
breeze for considerable distances ere
regaining his feet.
Mr. 1'ilcher s maohines are light
structures of wood And steel support
ing a vast spread of wing and braced
with piano wire. The wings them
telves, whioh are made of nainsook
a sort of muslin usually manufactured
in India have an area of one hundred
and fifty square feet; and eaoh ma
chine, as our pictures indicate, pos
senses a vertiole and a horizontal rud
der ot circular shape, the one cutting
the other at right angles. The for- '
mer, which is rigid, serves to keep the
machine's head to wind, while the lat
ter arrests an inclination to pttoh
sideways a common vice in' all like -inventions.
The great difficulty with winged
aeronauts is the uncertain quality of
the wind, for a steady, unvarying
breeze is never to be calculated npon.
Indeed, the sudden, unexpected side
puff often brought disaster in its train
to Mr. Tilcher, nntilvhe hit npon a
means of ciroumventing it. He now
draws his wing tips in with a bend.
which renders a flying machine saier
and more stable. 'Speaking generally,
these experiments in flying or soaring
are being made with a view to master
ing the art of aerial balance and safo
landing. Then, when the golden era
dawns when a screw propeller or flap
ping wings are introduced and a pow
er discovered to work them, gentle
men like Messrs. Lilienthal and Piloh
er will spring gayly aloft to emulate
the carrier or tumbler pigeon, and pnfc
a girdle round the earth in a morn
ing. May the necessary discovery ot
a new power be speedily made. Mean
time Mr. Piloher, on a fresh pair of
wings wiUi a sail area of no less than
three hundred feet, pursues his pluoky
experiments at Cardross in Dumbar
tonshire before numerous admirers.
A liltlo' Girl's Daugcroiis Pets.
The librarian ot Congress, says tho
New York Sun, has received from an
artist at Hot Springs, South Dakota,
a photograph of Martha Momtyre, an
eight-year-old child, who from her
infancy bos had rauiesnaaes ior peis.
When she was four years old ubo found
A huge rattler coiled up in the yard
DAISULY TRIMMED.
IIAUTBA M'lSTrRB AND HER 8NAKE3.
The prettiest have a loop effect over
the bust And are fitted to the figure
somewhat, although the loose, grace
ful look is by no means changed, ina
collar and belt must maton the front,
and the whole thing will fit best it
there are baok pieoes of plain mate
rial Another point to be considered
is to have the front wide enough to
cover all the front of the waist. All
colors and kinds ot ribbons ate used.
the Dresden and the fanoy velvet rib
bons being more liked than the plain
satin.
GARMENTS OF FUR.
Among the elegant fur pelerines
and other short oapes are those of
mink, astrakhan, seal and ohinobilla,
with bariug Oxford collars ot fur,
sometimes matohing and sometimes
contrasting with that of the oapn.
Tbey are variously lined with change
able satin, delioately tinted brooade
or moire, aud they are from one-halt
to three-quarters ot a yard in length;,
with a 140-iuoh swoeu at tht loner
dgs.
neor her father's house, and by some
mysterious power was able to come
close and take hold ot him, whioh she
did apparently without the slightest
fear. Every montn or so buo woum
find a new snake in the woods sear
the house, and now she has as many
as two dozen, none of wbina can be
induoed to lef f her. The photo
graph shows jt pets writhing on
some slats nailod to two ooartis, wuuo
Martha stands behind them, her hand
on one of the reptiles, which is moving
from side to side. Soma of these
snakes are four feet long.
A Nine-Ton Cake at a Food Show.
Tanty's great cake waa "unveiled".
at the Pure Food Show last night. It
took op the entire middle part of the
stage. The Second Regiment Baud in
the wings played "lanuee jjooaie"
and the "Marseillaise" as the curtain
went up. The cake contains 12,0011
eggs, weighs nine tons and is fourteen
feet high. It will be eaten next week.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.
Sparrows Served as Keeuulrils.
There are few restaurants in the
City where sparrows are out sereu up
as reedbirdi. It has become a regu
lar business, and may ultimately solve
the sparrow nuisance. Philadelphia,
Times.