The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-10-04
WOMAN IN THE CELESTIAL EN-
pIRE

China than in any other part of the globe,
and her humiliation is rendered more con-
spicious by The extent to which civilization
and education have been carried in the en-
pire. In no rank is she regarded as the
companion of man. but is treated solely as
the slave of his caprice and passion. Even
among the females of the higher ranks, few
are found who can read or write; their educa.
ton is confined to the art of embroidery,
playing on horrid ihree-stringed guitar.
and singing, but the obligation of obedience
to man is earl y inculcated, and The greater
portion of their time is spent in smoking and
playing at cards. The women Of the poorer
classes have no education; and can be con-
sidered but little better than The beasts of
burden. A man Of that rank will walk de-
ibcrateIy by his wiie's side while she totters
under heavy load, and frequently she may
be seen yoked to a plough, while her hus-
band guides it! Those Of the lower classes
| ..,l,-. ore good lnoL~, ""~T~d;nfr, to rhineSn
ideas OF beauty, arc purchased by the rlcf'
at about twelve or fourteen years, as concu-
blncs. and arc then instructed according to
their masters ideas. The Chinese cannot
at all comprehend the European mode OF
treating ladies with respect and difference,
and being naturally superstitous, attribute
to devilish arts, practised by the lar sex, the
Just appreciation we entertain OF their value
in short they consider European ladies have
an influence somewhat similar to that ascrI.
bed to an evil eye by Italian superstllon.--
Chinese domcslics have very great obIec-
ton to reside in a European family over
which lady presides; and all old tradition
of theirs curio,Isly comedies with their su-
pcrstiion about our female; that China
should never be conquered until woman
rcigned in the far.west Some say that
this prohcsy was never heard of until they
were conquered by the army OF Queen VIC:
toria. Be this as it may, they all contend
that it is to be fonnd in some oftheir oldest
works.
Many traditions arc cxtant IN China re.
ativc to women; and among other LEGENDS
the horrible practice of deformlng the fe-
male foot is said 10 have thus commenced:
The wife of one of their ancient emperors
who was fonnd by her lord and master near
the apartment of one Of the great officers
Of the court, who had the reputation OF be-
inc yery handsome. Receiving from the
emperor torrent Of abuse for her mscon-
duct. she pleaded in her defence, that it were
not her fault but that of her feet, which was
so very large they took her to the spot sorely
agains, her will The emperor immediate
" ordered the fnrcpart of her feet t. be am
nu,a,ed. Such is the origin Of the crippled
foot, which from this time be"ame the iash-
d, ri
trcmltes, which arc mere laPcrIng stumps:
is most disgusting to an European eye. lnl-
mcdialey after the birth Of female. her toes
are doubled down, the big toe is made to
overlap, and bandagcs arc then applied with
an incredible amount of pressure; as age
advances, the whole becomes one mass OF
filth and abhorrcnt humors.
A surgeon, who had unbound and exam.
iucd the foot of chinese lady. has assured
me that the cfllavium arising from IT was
more offensive, and the sight more disgust
inc. than anything he had ever witnessed IN
a dissccting room. The bandages employ
ed arc made Of silk. which are rarely remoV.
ed, and these are covered with fresh ones
from time to time, and over all the dwarf
shoe is secured, the pointed toe OF which is
stuffed with cotton. Owing to their malln-
ed feet. the women cannot walk any distance
even with the assistance of sticks or cruch-
cs. which they always use in the house.
The hnbImg motion of one who attempts to
do 81 is considered most graceful by the CHI
ncsc: and ladies who essay the exploit are
POLITICALLY called "lotlcrng willows" Wo.
mon Of the HIGHER orders, when they 90
abroad, arc carried in sedan chairs or boats,
but those who cannot afford to command
such culpages arc carried on the backs OF
men. or women who are blessed with unde-
formed feet. In the families of the wealthy
inhabitants all the daughters are thus mann:
cd for life: but among the poorer classes, II
there are two or more daughters, one is al
WAYS deprived of pedestrian power, and she
is hence invariably considered superior to
her sister and may become 'rJe Inc
others can never become more Than hand
maids, except they intcrmarry with the vc'y
lowest, this horrd and barbarous taste is
mos, uuacountabIe in a nation where the un-
distorted natural foot of woman is the very
model uf beauty; the high instcp is equal TO
the Andausian. and the arch OF the sole r.
walls that of the Arab; the ankle, which IN
the distorted foot becomes revoItIngly thick,
as symmetry itself Such foot, "t course
can onIv be seen among the lower classes.
The whole female character seems ~ be
completely changed By the barbaroas prac-
tlcc IN question:: for the countcnancc OF a
beauty is always void of anIn?t'on' ana
somewhat expressive of the suffering which
her linaturcd feet may produce, while the
countcnancc of uncrippcd females are 'uI
of vivacity.--Dublin Magazine.
The Florida Fisheries appear to be very