A Cultural Tableau in Fremont
Lake Union Lodge members stage an elaborate Japanese-themed wedding and fan drill to celebrate local community spirit.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Lake Union Lodge, No. 116, I. O. G. T., of Fremont, varied the usual lodge routine on Tuesday evening by substituting an entertainment and social to which the general public was invited. Temperance hall was tastefully arranged, the stage decorated in modern Japanese style with curtains, drapery, and rugs. The wedding ceremony was performed as a tableau, accompanied by slow music. A member appeared as the 'go-between' in full costume, bearing a double-spouted tea kettle. The bride and groom followed, performing a 'salaam'—touching forehead to forehead—before seating themselves. They were joined by four sets of bridesmaids and groomsmen who performed bows on hands and knees. The tableau concluded with the 'go-between' holding the tea kettle spouts to the couple's mouths, symbolizing harmony, followed by a shower of rice. Eight girls then performed a 'fan drill' under the direction of Mrs. Densmore. The evening concluded with coffee and cake served by the women of the lodge.
“The bride and groom made their appearance, coming from opposite directions to the entrance of the court... their costumes were in true Japanese style.”
This display of 'Japanese' themes in 1893 Fremont highlights the era's fascination with exoticism, occurring against the backdrop of rising anti-Chinese sentiment in the Pacific Northwest. While the lodge members likely saw this as a respectful cultural tribute, it exemplifies the period's performative, often superficial, engagement with Asian cultures.
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