The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-03-27

features, a delicate, though norid complexion.
The smalness Of their feel is reckoaed pfio-
cipal part of their beauty, which is produced ny
very tight bandages from Their infancy IN con
sequence Of which, they are SO crippled that
when grown up, they rather totter than walk
We hope John Bull and Brother jonathan WIN
enlarge their understaadiRgs
Ehqueue.-The etiquette OF Chinese poii'e-
ness on meeting with friends is very ceremohi-
Gus, consisting OF various evolulions OF the body
and inclinations of the head, bending or stIien-
ing the knee, and joining or disengaglng the
hands but when these ceremonies are once
played off, the performers relapse into ease and
Familiarity. In their address 10 strangers, they
are not restrained by bashfulness, but present
themselves with an easy. confident air, as II lhey
considered themselves the superlors, and mat
nothing in their manners or appearance could
be deficient or inaccurate.
Dress-The dress of the Chinese is entirely
under the regulation of the law, which has even
fixed The colors that distinguish the different
ranks. The Emperors and Princes of the blood
have the exclusive right of wearing yeiloW !:
certain Mandarins are entitled TO wear satin OF
a red ground, but only on days of ceremony in
general, they are all clad in black, blue, Or viol t.
White is only worn for mourning, and is often
soiled for the occasion, TO indicate negligence
and disregard of personal ease and ornament
The common people are confined to blue or
black for the colors of their dress, which always
Il 4. T.. .b. Il
caps on their heads; those Of the gentry are
ornament,d with jewels. The rest OF their
dress is easy and loose, consisting OF vest and
sash, with gown thrown over them, silk boots
quilted with cotton, and pair Of drawers. The
ladies generally wear, over a silk netting, which
is substituted for linen, wais'coat and draw
ers of silk, in cold weather trimmed or lined
with furs above this is long satin robe, grace
fully gathered round the waist and confined
with sash. The different parts Of their appa-
rel are usually of distinct coors; in the selec-
ton and contrast of which the wcarers chiefly
display their caste.
MaAimony.-In matrimonial contracts, the
parties rarely each o!her I'LL the marriage Is
determined by the parents, which generally
takes place while they are mere children when
the nup'ials are celebrated, the lady, yet unseen
by the bridegroom, is carried to his house in a
gilt and gaudy chair, hung round with festoons
of artificial flowers, followed by her relations,
attendants, and servants, hearing the parapherna-
liza, which are the only portion given 10 the
daughter in marriage by her parents
ha, ka a
regret with married women is 10 bring females
into The world; and if woman of poor family
happens 10 have three or four girls succe ssively,
she frequently exposes them on the high roads,
or throws them into The river, which parents,
who cannot support their female children, are
allowed TO do but they first fasten gourd TO
the child, that it may float the water. In
this situation it is sometimes discovered by a
person of property, who, moved by lis cries, ex.
tricates it from impending destruction. The pa
rental affection of these CelesIiIs is far benea b
that of our American savages though we mus
acknowledge it is quite up to the refinement o.
some of our fashionable cities.
.Superstitions.-Th Chinese, among other
-~p,r s,iIOu>, Pe-,icnlaTly scrupulous as &c
the time and place OF buying their dead. The
delay occasioned in settling these diileren,
points frequeltly deans the rich from their last
repository for long time but necessity forces
the poor to overcome their scruples, and TO de-
po5ite at once, with little ceremony, the remains
of their relations in their final abode. The pub
lie burying grounds are very Extensive, owing to
the respect paid TO the dead by the Chine Sc,
which prevents them from opening a new grave
when the traces of a former one remain on the
surface.
Family uorship.-Every Chinese keeps in
his house a table, on which are written the
names of his father, grandfather and great
grandfather, before which he frequently burns
incense, and prosuates himself When the ia
Their of a family dies, the name Of The great
grandfather is taken away, for which that Of The
deceased is substituted.
To be continued