The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-03-26
From tho New York Herald.
The Celestial F,,npire
LEcrunE by DIR. pErrsEn, ArHorE ora ?,

Jtc'' Cohsiuerlng Tue advantageous po-
!. silion ofChinn, he said, its high state OF
cul,iyaiion,the extensive commerce and
SaSenlciprisc OF its people, their curious
Ecustoms and habits, China, ,he Oldest
8snnd still The newest nation in the world,
and standing, as il does, lace 10 fuce TO
our own continent, must form subiec,
Of peculiar intcres, TO every one Of us.
The aspect of.hc country is beautiful,
diversified by hills and valleys, and in.
ierscctcd by navigable rivers, and nu.
{ mcrous canals. The whole OF China is
(. in fact, one extensive garden. 1t pos
{ scsscs the greatest population Of any ma
tnn on the globe, being, according 10
the census Of lS47, about four hundred
and fifty millions. In order 10 supply
such vnsl number, all kinds Of grain
and vegetables are extensively culliva-
ted. A grcnt quantity Of -four is impor.
ted from Sidney, md their rico from
Java. 1t is in social life we see dis.
played the pcculiaritics Of people
their national characters and ideas.
The Chinese resemble the French great.
ly, ty frequently ussociating together.
They have tea. gardens instead Of our
coflcc-houscs. They 1.-Two very cheap.
All Eastern bathing, which is very
much indulged in, is also remarkably
cheap. They pay compliments by say
ing friend, or brother. Their sulu,n.
tions consists in howing, and doubling
their hnnIs. Their visiting cards are
some what ditferents from ours, being
considerably longer. Their dinners are
served up according to the French
style, and very sumptuous.
No naicn has carried the culinary art
so far us China. They are remarkably
fond of gclalinous food, particularly Of
several kinds Of sen weed. They use
chairs 10 sit upon, while all the other
people in the East do moi. In their
stores they have alsu seats for their Gus
toners. The food Of the common pco.
pic consists mostly Of ducks, pigs, eggs,
fish &c. The higher class, ngain, fare
very snmptuously. They have many
attendants, and live, in fact, in style
which is unsurpassed by any other ma
ton, and which could no, be sustained
anywhere else. Every kind Of trade is
considered by them Us dscredi,ublc.
The women are mover seen in the
streets. The price Of labor there is
about ten cents n dny. on an average.
First rate workmcn will, however, earn
forty cents day. The Chinese wear
tolls or queues; they use the mous,ache.
In habits, no people are more frugal
and more economical than they are, aud
none more cunning nnd polite. They
submit, to the ills of life with n great de-
gree Of resignation. Suicide, ,ha, in.
delibic blot upon the character Of The
western world, is scarcely known in the
cast. There are no houses or poor
rates, the poorer classes being maintain
ell by voluntary contributions. The
Chinese surpass the whole Of the cas.
tern people in enlightenment, and actv-
ity. Their institutions Indicate high
degree Of civilization. The Chinese
education, although the oldest, is The
best in the world, and somewhat sim.
lar 10 our own system. The govern.
ment contributes n portion nf the mon
ey necessary for the support of schools,
while The parents make up the rest.
1Htic every one eau Tchu.
Virtue and learning in both sexes are
strennously inculca,cd, and literally
rewarded. The first and greatest states
men, nl their public officers were, in
early life, the best scholars and The top.
most in their classes. In no country is
knowledge prosecuted with more energy
and indom,.5le zeal than in China. He
then alluded TO the little encouragement
fhe man Of learning has 10 expect in
this country, and TO the niggnrdly com.
pensalion for his labor. In the organi.
zation Of their government the Chinese
have seized upon two principles, which
ore parental affection and final oDedi-
ence. Hence their success, and hence
the extraordinary durability Of their
public institutions. Notwithstanding
these advantages, there are some rebel
lious and revolutionary movements
going OH. China has also her political
ngilators, her radical reformcrs, her So
Ca!islic Fouricri,es, and religious trans.
cendcntalists, who endenvor 10 incitc the
people 10 rebellion. The language is
very pecnlnr and interesting. ], con.
SiS'S OF the hlcToG!iphic, conOnallVe,
and symbolical characters. As spoken
language it is very harsh and unpleus.
ing, being both gutlcral and nasul.
When they write they use pencils and
not pens. The Chinese possess nj once
all the finesse and poli,cncss Of The
Frencl--all the gravity and tnciIurniiy
ofthe Germans, combined with all the
energy and enterprise Of the Yankees.
The tea plant has been cultivated in
China for more than thousand years.
II is scarcely TWO hundred years since
II was first Introduced into Europe.
The shrubs which produce the tea,
grow 10 seven feet in height. They are
very hardy, and are used as hedges
The soil upon which the plant grows is
sterile md rocky, exactly similar TO the
quality in which the vine is raised 1t
is the Same plant lha, gives the black
and the green tcas-lho difference lying
in the quality Of The ground and The