152 THE MARRIAGE MAKER 



Presently the procession stopped at the gate, and the 

 gaudy bridal chair, elaborately decorated with carvings and 

 small paintings in panels, glittering with gold, and silver 

 ornamentations, and jingling with a hundred tiny bells, was 

 brought into the courtyard and deposited in front of the 

 main reception hall amid the vigorous playing of the two 

 bands; the drums, cymbals and gongs vying with each 

 other to make the most noise, which together with the 

 explosion of firecrackers created a deafening din. In all this 

 tumult the guests pressed forward with straining necks, 

 eager to catch a glimpse of the bride as she alighted from 

 the chair. All that could be seen of her, however, was a 

 graceful figure clad in superbly embroidered red satin, for 

 her head was hidden, according to custom, under a heavy 

 veil. The musicians now struck up the "Bridal Song," the 

 words of which are as follows : 



"Ho, graceful little peach-tree, 



Brightly thy blossoms bloom ! 

 The bride goes to her husband ; 

 Adorns his hall, his room. 

 "Ho, graceful little peach-tree. 

 Thy fruit abundant fall ! 

 The bride goes to her husband ; 

 Adorns his room, his hall. 

 "Ho, graceful little peach-tree, 



With foliage far and wide ! 

 The bride goes to her husband ; 



His household well to guide." l 



It the meantime, Wei Ku had betaken himself off to 

 the bridal chamber, where the first cermony is performed; 

 the ceremony of sitting on the bed. As soon as Ch'un Lai 

 was led into the room by her attendants, she took up her 

 position beside Wei Ku at the edge of the bed, and, at a 

 given signal, both sat down together. In doing this each 

 must endeavour to sit on a portion of the garments of the 

 other; whoever succeeds, prevents the other from rising again 

 unless released, and, it is said, the one whose garments are 

 sat upon will surely be held in subjection during the married 

 life. 2 It seems that these two were reasonable beings, for 



1 From the Shih Ching, or Book of Poetry, edited by Confucius. 

 The above versification is by Mr. William Jennings. 



2 A similar curious custom prevails in Persia, where on the bride's 

 arrival at the house she takes off her outdoor dress and a little comedy 

 is enacted in the hall when the bride and bridegroom each try to be 

 the first to put their foot on the other's. Whichever succeeds, it is 

 believed, will rule the house in after life. 



Tolstoi says that during the wedding ceremony in Russia the 

 officiating priest spreads a rose-coloured carpet in the church and 

 whichever one of the bridal pair first sets foot on this carpet becomes 

 the real head of the family. (Anna Karenina). 



