WESTERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE

January 20, 1875

Americans may well regard the Chinese as a peculiar people. They are our antipodes in more respects than one. In salutations, instead of shaking your hand, they fold and shake their own; and one of the first questions they ask after an introduction is, "How old are you?" They say "East-north" and "West-south;" "Buy-not-can," for can not buy; and their "Mr.," or what is equivalent to it, comes after the name instead of before it. In rowing a boat they stand up, with their face to the prow. All their commodities from junk-masts to strings of cash, are transported across the country over footpaths instead of roads, and on the backs of men instead of beasts. You will sometimes meet a coolie with a couple of baskets slung over his shoulder, in one of which is a baby well bundled up, and in the other a couple of small pigs. The only land vehicle in use in this part of China is the wheel-barrow. Barbers, cobblers, tinkers, etc., carry their entire establishments about with them, and a traveling blacksmith is no rarity.

In the matter of dress they have their own taste. The loose, baggy breeches of the men contrast amusingly with the close-fitting attire of foreigners. Their hats, when they wear any, have either no rim at all, or else one large enough to serve the purpose of an umbrella. Priests have their heads closely shaven all round: others leave space enough on the crown for the cultivation of the queue. Women wear trousers, which, though less capacious than those of the men, certainly do not lend much of a charm to their personal attractions; and their stumpy, deformed feet, make them seem still more repulsive to a foreigner's eye. Blue is the favorite color among all classes, but white, instead of black is worn for mourning.

Their literature is enormous in quantity, whatever it may be in quality. According to Dr. Williams, the published catalogue of Chinese books is itself comprised in one hundred and twelve octavo volumes of about three hundred pages each. "One of their histories is contained in two hundred and seventeen volumes, while its continuation is a still larger work." The Millenary Classic is unique in this respect, that it contains just one thousand characters, no two of which are alike in form or meaning. This is one of the first books put in the hands of beginners; in fact a sort of primer for the youthful Chinese tyro. Characters are printed in columns, which are read from right to left. Proverbial expressions are numerous, nor are they deficient in either wit or wisdom. Not a few have passed into the literature of other lands, of which the common saying, "One swallow does not make a Summer," is an instance. Here are a few specimens of the better sort of Chinese aphorisms:

" A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor is a man perfected without trials."

"Let every man sweep the snow from before his own door, and not trouble himself about the hoar frost on his neighbor's tiles."

"Old age is like a candle in the wind -- easily blown out."

"The fame of a man's good deeds does not leave his own door; but his evil acts are known a thousand li off."

"To sue a flea, and catch a bite" -- the result of litigation.

"To feel after a pin on the bottom of the ocean;" that is, to try to do an absurd orimpossible thing.

"Climbing a tree to hunt fish" is also another proverb implying an absurdity.

In the matter of betrothal and marriage, the Chinese have certainly very few customs in common with us. Courtship is carried on, not by the parties themselves, but by their parents, through the medium of a third individual, called a go-between. This personage, whose office is considered perfectly honorable, takes in hand all the preliminary arrangements between the families, comparing the horoscopes of the parties, tendering marriage proposals, and securing a propitious day for the wedding. As a rule, betrothal takes place while the parties are still children, and of course without their knowledge and consent; but when an engagement has once been effected, it is considered very dishonorable to have it broken up. Not unfrequently the bride and groom never see each other's face until the day of their marriage. Sometimes a girl loses her affianced by death; in such cases she is regarded as a widow, and it would be highly improper for her to fall in love with or be married to another man. This rule, however, works but one way; for if it is the other party who is thus bereaved, it is not considered dishonorable for him to form a second betrothal. Indeed, women have so little to say for themselves in this matter, and are so much restricted by the regulation of society, and the caprices of their friends, that they may be said to have no liberty whatsoever. Of course, love has very little to do with marriages among the Chinese; and in none of their social customs is there exhibited a greater stolidite toward the finer feelings of human nature.

The young bride is taken to the home of her husband, where she lives in absolute subjection to his parents. No hope need she entertain of being mistress of the house, so long at least as her mother-in-law is alive. She is looked upon by the latter as a "maid of all work," and her condition is that of the lowest menial. It is asserted that household servants occupy even a more enviable position, being subjected to fewer petty annoyances and grievances. Her husband is not expected to interfere; for so long as his parents are alive, he must pay them the highest deference and strictest obedience. Such a step as "leaving his father and mother, and cleaving to his wife," would be preposterous. The petty abuse and oppression to which the daughter-in-law is subjected, sometimes drives her to commit suicide. For cruelties inflicted by her husband there is no redress. He can even take her life if he will without being punished for it. In fact, she is his own personal property, bought from her parents for so many thousand cash, and liable to be sold to another man. But excesses on the part of her husband's family are sometimes avenged by the wife's relatives; and some of their methods of redressing wrongs partake of the whimsical. A missionary tells this story:

"I used to visit a house in the southwest corner of this city (Tung Chow). Old Mrs. Wong did not have a very amiable-looking countenance, but I never saw any

displays of ill-temper, and her daughter-in-law, wife of her eldest son, always appeared, when I chanced to call there, to be contented. One day, however, for some trivial offense, the old woman got her younger son to beat his sister-in-law severely, inflicting serious wounds. Learning the circumstances, a band of young Mrs. Wong's female

relatives (accompanied by several men, to see that no men interfered on the other side), came from their village ten miles distant, armed, not with shovels, tongs, and broom-sticks, but with the awls used in making shoes. The men remained at the street door, while the women went in the house and pricked old Mrs. Wong all over with their awls, taking care not inflict a mortal wound. She prosecuted them, having herself carried to the yamun or magistrate's office, on a litter; but his honor decided that the treatment of her daughter-in-law was not allowable, and she lost her suit. Why the young man who committed the deed was permitted to go unpunished, was perhaps owing to the fact it was his mother's fight and not his own."

So many are the peculiarities of this people, and so widely different are their social customs and habits of thought from those of his own country, that to the missionary they seem in these respects to be as far removed as if they were inhabitants of another planet. And great is the difficulty to so ingratiate himself into their feelings and sympathies as to induce them to receive warmly his message of salvation; yet Christianity, we doubt not, is gradually breaking down these social barriers, and bringing the millions of China slowly, but surely, into hearty fellowship and communion with the sincere followers of Christ of other lands. May God speed the day! A. S.