Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-04-29
TERMS OF THE PALLADIUM:
Two DoIIars.-in advance; and Three Dollar.
ut the expiration of the year.
MIS- ELLA NEOUS.
From the Madisonian.
NINA.


sains
Since the fifteenth century. many Of the Chi
nese Llterati have embraced a new System, SO
that there arc two different sects. The Lierati,
whose tenets are embraced by tho Emperor, ac-
knowledge Universal Principle, which they call
Taxi. and offer sacrifices to the spirit Of their
great philosopher and legislator, Confucims. who
was born A. NJ. 1926; they alec pay a sort Of
worship TO the dead, by burning incense before
their pictures, and Offering frui,s The other sect,
embracing she majority Of the common people, is
tina, Of Flo, or Xanca, brought to China from In
dis, about . thousand years after the reformation
by Confucius. II is kind Of gross idoa,ry mix
ed with Atheism. The Priests Of this sect, call.
cd Bonsss, ara sorcerers and trologers, and be.
liese 10 tho tfansmigs alton Of the soul. Some
Mahometans and jews, and q few Christians, are
also found ia China. America has had, for some
years. a number Of Christian Missionaries there:
~nd several have gone thiiher since the Celestial
Empire has made peace with England. We wish
them all success in spreading the lgh, Of the Cos
pei among the counirymen Of Coniueius.
National Character, Manners. Customs.
The Chinese middle sized, their faces broad,
iher eyes black and small, their noses blunt and
turned upwards; they have high cheek bones and
large lips. They pluck Oh, the hairs Of the low.
part Of their faces by the roots with tweezers,
after the manner Of our North American Indians,
leaving few Struggling ones, as an apology Cor
beard They cut off the hair of their heads
except q single lock on the crown, and 10 this
ion, towards the North, is fair, but swa rihy to.
wards the South. Corpulence is esteemed a
beauty in men, but paPable biemish in the wo-
meo, who aim al preserving q s!enderness and
desscacy OF shape;-in this respect, they resem
BILE our American ladies', but in the other. our CT.
~ Aldermen! Men bred to letters let the nails
Of their fingers grow to enormous length, TO
show that they are not employ ed in manuel labor.
The women have small eyes, plump rosy lips,
black hair, regular features, a delicate, though
vsoisonod principaI part Of their beauty, which
is produced BY very tight bandages from their in
fancy; ia consequence OF which. they are so
crippled. that when grown up they rather totter
than walk. We hope John Bull and Brother JON
atban will enlarge their undertakings
Etiquette.
The etiquette of Chinese politeness on meet
sng with friends is very ceremonious, consisting
Of various evoutions Of the body, and nclina tons
Of the head, bending or siiffening the knee, and
joining or disengaging the hands; but when these
ceremonies are once played of, the performers
relapse into ease and familiarity. In their ad
dress to strangers. they are not restrained by
bashfulness. but present themselves with an ea>
sy, confident air, IL they considered themselves
the superiors, and that nothing in their manners
or appearance could DO deficient or inaccurate.
Dress.
The dress Of the Chinese is entirely under the
regulation Of the law, which has even fixed the
coiors that distinguish the different ranks- Tho
Emporors and Princes Of the blood have the ex-
elusive RICH, Of wearing yeltop: certain Manda-
rims entitled to wear satin OF a red ground,
6us only on days OF ceremony; in general, they
arc all clad in black, blue, or violet. White is
only worn for mourning, and is often soiled for
The occasion, to indicate negligence and disre-
gard Of personal ease and ornament. The CON-
mon people are confined to blue black for the
cOlors Of their dress, which ALWAYS consists of
cotton. The men wear bell shaped caps on their
heads those If the gentry are OrOameDted with
Jewels The rest Of their dress is easy and loose,
consisting Of q vest and sash, with gown thrown
over them. silk boots quilted with cotton, and a
pair Of drawers. The ladies generally wear O.
yer a silk netting, which is substituted for linen,
a waisicoat and drawers Of silk, in cold weather
trimmed or lined with furs; above this is long
satiu robe, gracefully gathered round tho waist
and eonfiaed with a sash. The different parts Of
their apparel are usually Of distinct coiors; in the
selection and contrast Of which the wearers chief
sy display their taste.
Matrimony.
In matrimonisl contracts. the parties rarely
see each other till the marriage 10 determined by
the parents, which generally takes place while
they mere children; when tho nuptals are
celebrated. the lady, yet unseen by the bride.
groom, 10 carried to his house in gilt and gasdy
chair. hung round With festoons Of artificial flow
ers. followed BY her relations, attendants, and
Servants, bearing the paraphernaIia. which are
sas only portion given to tho daughter ia mar
riaxe by her parents.
Next 10 being barren, the greatest source Of
regret With married women 10 to bring females
into the world; and If . woman Of poor family
happens to have three or four girls successfully,
ehe frequently, exposes them on the high roads,
or ihrows them Into the river, which parents. Who
cannot support their female children, are allow.
20 do: but they FIRST iassen gourd to tho child
that it may float on the water. 10 this si,ua,io
il 10 sometimes discovered by q person Of prop.
erty, who, moved by its cries, extricates it from
impending destruction. The parental affection
Of these Celesiials 10 far beneath that Of ou
American savsgss: though 20 must ackno vlsdg'