The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-09-21
The chinese,
THEIR DRESS AND AprEAuAHcr.

ne boston advertiser plollSUeS
from the forthcoming work Of Os-
nond Tiffany, Jr., Of Baltimore, the
approaching publication of which,
by Messrs. J. Monroe & Co. of Bos-
ton, was recently announced, some
extracts illustrating the manners of
this singular people -
The summer dress of the common
orders is simple in the extreme; the
eternal Jacket is loopod almost inva-
riablv over the right breast with lit
tie gilded balls, and the pantaloons
being made very large at the middle
as well as below, they dextcrously
wreath portion around the waist,
combining it by folds instead of fol-
lowing the barbarian custom of
wearing suspenders.
These dresses arc Of blue cotton,
or a stuff resembling coarse crash.
Those who are thus alfred seldom
wear stockings or shoes, but in rainy
weather they invest themselves with
high-hceled slippers, that chatter on
the pavement like the sabots of the
French pcasantry.
Their enormous summer hats Of
strips ofhamboo, are six feet or more
in circumference, forming a striking
feature in the laborcrs costume.
The female of the same rank wear
them also, and at a short distance in
the fields it is difficult to distinguish
them from the men. But the dress
of the laborer, however common or
ugly it may be, resembles little that
of the higher classes or civil officers.
The great heat of six moths Of the
year compells all persons to adopt
as light a garment as possible, and
this is no doubt one of the many eau
scs of the general good health of the
Chinese, their dress admits Of per-
feet developcment Of their limbs.
A blue or brown silk gown, long
and flowing, leaving the neck bare
short breeches tied at the knees
stockings and shoes make up the or
binary costume. But think not rea-
der, that by stockings are ment those
knit and close fitting article of Ger
man or English importation, witt
which we associate the name ofhosc
oh no, those of Chinese gentleman
are of the woven cotton, gartercG
with blue ribbon, and set closely in
a series of graceful wrinkles; these
are introduced, not into highly pol.
ishcd boots, but thrust into clumsy
shoes of cloth, or satin, or variegatet
velvet, with enormous white soles.
The fan is indispensable, for il
summer the caps of the respectful,
portion of the community are dotted
and their bare heads would be I'M
sheltered from the sun, were it no
for the use Of this graceful articl
which is held in the right hand owe,
the head. Often it is elegantly en-
broidered, painted with figures ant
landscape, or incribcd with a maxim
from Confucius. In the warm month,
the grass-cloth, for which the Chi
nesc are Justly celebrated, is also
used extensively for dresses, and tn,
light cool material appears to grca
advantage on the person of a gentle
man.
One Of the most elegant Of th'
Chinese that ever saw was a tc;
merchant, and from the style Of hi
dress, lis fncness of texture, anl
the polished demeanor of the man, i
vas evident to the most needless oh
, server that the exquisite existed i
! China as we'll as elsewhere.
Over an under-garmont of figure
silk, flowed this graceful grass eliot
r toga, looped with gildcd balls; an
at the right breast was suspended
silk purse embroidered with pearls
e a brilliant fan case hung at the LEI
' side, and as counterpart, a waite
and worked pouch appeared upo
- the right A grass-cloth handkel
chief, the finest of China's loom. wa
e held in the left hand, which was i
t itself bcautiiied by nails Of sever;
e inch groth, the other waved gol
IS gcous fan. His stockings wei
snowy white, and the shoes wcr blac
n satin.
: His face was remarkably hant
l. some and more expressive than Il
u general countenadces Of his rae
il the pointed jet mustaches were Il
Of admiration Of all the foreign clerl
tie of Canton and his fine long Ia
St descending nearly to his feet, I
Is, especial object of envey to his cou
trymen.
m The dresses which we have Civ,
c a description of, are well adapted
burning climate, and are worn I
It, quite late in the autumn.
m But towards November, when
IS. the square, the broad ensign of