A CHINESE BRIDE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1868, 3 February 1892, Page 5

A CHINESE BRIDE.

A writer in the North China 'Herald' describes the dress worn by a Chinese lady at her wedding, of which he was a witness, as follows :—": — " At length we were admitted to inepect the bride, whose four hours' toilette was just completed, and a marvellous speotacle truly was the figure, seated motionless in the centre of the room. Gorgeously elaborate was her array from head to foot, the former crowned with a helmetlike erection of a material resembling torquoise enamel, wrought into the finest filigree work, from which projected glittering artificial beetles and butterflies and other quaint, rich ornaments, the whole surmounted by three large round tufta of crimson silk, arranged tiarawise. From the brim of this headgear fell all around strings of pearl and ruby beads, about half a yard in length. Just visible through these, at the back, were broad loops of jet black hair, stiff and solid as polished) ebony, and decorated with artificial pink roses. Her principal vestment was a long tunic, whose foundation fabric of crimson satin was scarcely discernible amidst its embroidery of gold ; a corner turned back, lined with emerald satin, revealed an underskirt panelled in brilliant red and blue silk, this also profusely trimmed with gold embroidery. A belt of scarlet satin, studded with tablets of white cornelian, crossed the waist behind. From the front edge of her headdress a red silk veil fell almost to the ground, adding much to her preter-human aspect."

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