Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-11-19
CHINA AND THE CHINESE.
+ Fragments of Fletcher Webster's Lecture on
"China and the Chinese" at Ne,c York, as re-
ported in the ~ Y Herald ir afa.

"China and the Chinese" at Nep York, as re-
ported in the N. Y. Herald l a.a.
STREET BRGGING IN CHINA.-The condition of
the class of beggars in Canton IS worth remarking
ON. They are very wretched and always objects
of pity, from some accident disease or deformity.
and their way Of getiin4a living is curious. China
has no charitable institutions, no asyluns or aims
houses. and among such a teemIug population
there are of course many beggars. though not so
many would be supposed not SO great a pro-
portion apprehend, as in Europe or in our large
cities as tn ir wants are few provisions plenty,
and tho climate mild. But there are beggars
CROUCH, and they must live, and Chinese iugenu-
ity provide for their support by true Chinese le
alone policy-a "maslery inactivity" very char
aceristlc. Every beggar is provided with some
instrument that make disagreeable noise--two
wooden clappers or small gong, at all events
a most villainOus voice. with any or all of which
they 60 along the streets, aud selecting at will
shop, enter aud mot leaving off "ther damnabe
faces" as Hamlet recommends.l begin to sing or
beat their gongs bamboos, TO the great annoyance
of the owner,and The complete prohibition of more
decent custom ers, and here they are allowed by
law and custom to remnin beating and singing, till
they receive the cash. If The shopkeeper is, as
most Cinnamon, are best with that torude which
is good remedy for evils when there is no other
and lets them beat till they get tired they lie down
before The counter and forget their woes IN sleep
awhile, and then up and beat again. Ii is a trial
of patience TO the two. The beggar holes As long
as he can, hoping the shopke, per will be agra
waited 10 the amount requisite; the shopkeepcr sits
with the utmost apparent indifrrence,t to let tie beg
gar see he has no chance. Meanwhile The beg
gar is losing time, and the shopkeeper customers
If the shopkeeper pays al an early period OF The
| visitation, he may get rid Of one infllcOn, only
to make way for another. Ifhe keeps one petty
bearable plague, he is secure against others. and
may get up Repatriation for nvincibny and stoi-
csm that will protect him in future. So, there
they sit, shopkeeper and beggar, the one doing
his worst TO annoy, and the other his best not TO
notice 1t, ill one o. the other gives in.
A Chinese Scholar.--Having reached Canton,
my first business was to find a Tarter, and by the
help of DIR. Parker, one was at last procured, who
undertook to instruct US. As he was not native
of Tarery but Chinese scholar tall good look
ing, intellectual person, and augured very favor
ably of our success with him. noticed that
his first arrival, there was an appearance OF mys-
terry and conceament. The Chinese who intro.
duced him seemed very anxious. There was a
whispering and shutting OF doors: and a great
many Inluncons, apparently. and assurances, ex.
CARNATIONS and gestures. However, we sat down
TO our task at last, and got through the alphabet.
The next day, agreeably to appointment, he came
again, and there was the same closing of doors,
and looking behind and around, and springing up
# any one entered and in short such mysterious
air about the whole thing if we were conspir.
ators in some plot. | observed he was nervous
and very much agitated hardly able to command
himself, and labourng evidently under some very
great excitement. He jumped up at any noise
though he apprehended imminent danger or some
one was about tosprIng upon hun from behind.
However we got through our lesson. The next
day he was missing al the appointed lime. The
day following he appeared and with more pcrtu.
baton than ever. He could hardly speak or stand.
He had grown haggard, his eyes were swollen and
startling. Never certainly was mortal fear OF
something, did not know what more plainly de-
pcled on mans face, than on his. He was accom-
panied by DIR. Parker's attendant. They entsred
carefully and softly closed and fastened the door,
made sure that no one was in the room and then
his friends in low tone, 20 d me the nature of the
case.
He was afraid of losing his head for coming to
teach foreign Mantchoo. He begged me TO re-
ceive back my money, which he brought IN his
hand, and let MIN 60. H 10 could moi come again.
He told me and believed it that he was Oh the
point taking poison in his rice, and had taken no
sleep since he came. He expected every moment
to be seized by the Mandarins, and Carried off to
be beheaded.
There was no arguing with him, NO comforting
or assuring him; and the only thing to be done
was to discharge him, aud LEI him 60.
We were more fortunate afterward, and found
two thorough bred Tartars, who had no fear of
Mandarins, and who remained with US long after
all idea of going to Pekin was abandoned.
CHINESE COURTSHIP.
Every Chinsse, as soon as he is in any way
able to do so, takes small footed wife. He sends
for some old lady, whose we'll known and recog-
nized, and there considered respectable trade. is
tina. of "go-between,' and inquiries who among
his neighbors has nice daughter who would do
for wife. The lady mentions one, and gives
description of her appearance. She then sees the
young lady whom she thinks he would prefer
some Miss Lee Naug or Nou Seen, and describes
the merits of the gallant Moo Chung. The pa
rents then, with her help, arrange the settlement
and The bride is given away with as great ceremo-
mics and rejoicings as the means of the families
will alIow-and IN high and wealthy iamll.es' the
husband first sees her face when he meets her al