into the ladies’ own room.  The former then has his tress cut off and tied into a top-knot—­an operation entrusted to his best friend; while the latter also has her hair changed from the fashion of the maiden to that of a married woman, by her most intimate friend.  It is only after this change in the coiffure that a man begins to be taken notice of in the world, or is regarded as responsible for his own conduct.

After being arrayed in the fashion just mentioned, and having gone through a good deal of feasting, husband and wife are led off to the nuptial-chamber.  Here, numerous straw puppets, which had better be left undescribed, are placed, with a certain implication, which need not be explained.  With these, then, the two poor wretches are shut in, while all the relations and servants sit outside giggling and listening at the door.  The wife is not supposed to utter a sound, and if by chance her voice is heard she can fully expect to have her life chaffed out of her, and to be the talk and the cause of good-natured fun all over the neighbourhood.  The middle-men—­either the fathers or others—­are entitled to assist at the first-night business, and to report to the relations and friends whether the marriage is to turn out a happy one or not.  They generally act their part behind a screen placed for the purpose in the nuptial-chamber.

What happens is generally this:  the man either takes a violent fancy for his new bride or else he does not care for her.  If the former is the case, the first fortnight or so is a very happy one for the couple, and the two are continually by each other’s side; but, by-and-by, of course, the ardour of these days gets quieted down, and, to show his wife that after all he does not think much of her, the man will even proceed to enter into relationship with a second wife, and probably soon after that also with a third or even a fourth, according to his means.  After a time, he will again return to the first and principal wife, and repeat to her a certain amount of affection, though never quite so much as is displayed towards the last love.  The Corean treats his wife with dignity and kindness, and feeds her well, but she is never allowed to forget that she is an inferior personage.  To this, however, the women of Cho-sen seem quite resigned, and it is marvellous how faithful they are to their husbands, and how much they seem to think of them and their welfare and happiness, their own selves being quite forgotten.  Should a woman of the better classes be left, a widow, she must wear mourning as long as she lives, and ever shed tears over the loss of her husband.  To re-marry she is not permitted.  Women of the lower classes, it is true, do not always observe this rule—­which is not law, but merely etiquette.

Many a Cho-sen lady, also, on finding herself deprived of her better half when she is still young in years and physique voluntarily puts an end to her days, that she may join her husband, wherever he may have gone, rather than go through life alone.  If, however, a son is born, she will nurse him, and look upon him as her master when he grows older and becomes the head of the family.