Far from being a deterrent, the War has had a salutary effect on the rate of marriage among Chinese in Shanghai, which, a check-up in private circles reveals, has registered an appreciable increase since the outbreak of local hostilities on August Chinese parents, especially those of the old school, who have been holding out against marrying off their daughters until their prospective sons-in-law can offer more attractive gifts, are now anxious to dispose of their charges as early as possible.
This has proved a God-send to many youths for the war is affording them an air-tight excuse "fór plifying their wedding ceremonies. Where elaborate ceremonies would have been necessary for display and face-saving purposes, if not for any other reasons, brief and economical rites now will suffice. Expensive banquets can easily be dispensed with without hurting anybody's pride and months of slaving to save money to pay the feast bills, oftener than not a big headache to youthful husbands, are now things of the past.
Some have even gone farther in the way of simplifying matters. Al they did was to purchase a marriage certificate, twenty cents worth of stamp tax, and to get a few close friends to serve as witnesses in order to fulfill the legal requirements.
Topping them all are those who only choose to insert an advertisement in the Chinese papers announeing that they will be married on a certain day but "because of the war no ceremony will be held." Of course that means no wedding feasts Meanwhile, the issue of Liberty Bonds has simplified the question of gifts to one's friends on their wedding.
Nowadays it is a fad among Chinese by circles to express their felicitations taken through bonds instead of flowers or presents as is usually the case
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.