secondary wife to a man already married, and a woman, once espoused as the wife proper, can never be degraded to the position of the second. At the same time, marriage with the first wife being a marriage de convenance, while that with the second is frequently one of affection, her lot might frequently be a happier one than that enjoyed by her superior; while from the fact that on the death of the father no distinction is made in the division of his property as between the children of the first and those of the second wife, it would appear that the station she occupies must be considerably removed from that of a bondservant. It may be noticed that the name employed to signify this second wife is included among the many deprecatory terms applied by the Chinese to themselves in polite conversation.
The period which intervenes between betrothal and marriage varies from one or two months to eighteen or twenty years, according to the age of the parties.
On the acceptance by the parents of the bride of the presents sent by the family of the bridegroom, the engagement is considered to be formally ratified, the presents being regarded as the earnest-money of a bargain. Proceedings, however, may be broken off by immorality on the part of the bride-elect, though not on that of the bridegroom, except when he is a leper, noted theft, leprosy, or great deformity. But, with these exceptions, there is no retreat from the bargain entered into. Were the parents of the bride to engage her to a third party, their proceedings would be held null and void, the remedy for breach of promise being, not damages, but specific performance—a right to the very thing bargained for.
On the ratification of the engagement, the family of the youth sends presents of cakes, bread, pork, fowl, earrings, and bracelets to that of the girl, which then returns purses, boots, stockings, and a full-dress hat. At each feast of every year, presents are exchanged until the consummation of the marriage.
In the event of the death of parents during the period of engagement, the marriage is by law deferred for twenty-seven months, though the poorer classes marry at the expiration of one hundred days. On the death of the Emperor, a similar interdict is laid on the entire empire.
