The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-06-18

simply III appropriate anecdc,e regarding
our subjects OF rsnark. the Chimes. Their
! funeral attire is white one IL the perfur-
manc's happening to come III in the pne-
sence of myslf and Young lnsliy now
on cf the finest o!licNrs in her Majssty's
navy and uephew Of Rajah Brooke; the
horrible solecism Of mates in rdas mourn.
my raised hs ire. and. being China ha'cr
he exclaimed, The internal beasts, they
can't even mourn like Christians, but take
an opposite color in their obsiinacy
! From rta.larNs an the Chinese funerals ]
naturally pass 10 the observation, tia, 'h~
funeral ol,eeqaits III thr dtc,aSsi arr per
formed with great strrines. In TACT mar
riagc is "prpctratei" amongst the Chi
nesc, no; 80 much for mere Purposes Of pow
er or pleasure, as for that Of raising up
children 10 ate 4 to tbe funeral olsssuies
uf their parents. Woe 90 the man who dies
u bachelor he is no, only deprived Of his
peac, in this world 81 uaich making and
designing Chinese manias. bat he has no
peace in bis grave through either bis tlmid
iiy or his anti-connubial procli,ties
Ore grand and resi,eming feature amongst
the Chinese il tlial obedience. In no part
Of the world is this principle more strongly
ncuIca,ei. or more practically carried out
derciction. in The slightest deTrcr, from
this domestic ,!aiy bcine locked upon with
grea, abhorrcncc.
! In their social relations the Chinese are
empently free and generous in their dispos
ton. They are passionstely fond oi tb,at-
rical entertainments. in which, as ! mention
cd before females are not allowed % bear a
part The Celestial comedies are. at times.
extremely amusing, though but too Often
very horntlous, AMI this llccnse is 10 be
found in It's extreme breadth the Chinese
not having, Us yrt. attained that high degree
Of civilization ihat enables our European
play-wrighis 10 dress up seduction and pros-
tim,ion in The attractive garb Of u Camille
or Traya,a. Vice is represented ON the
the Chinese stage. in lis actual light,
the COMEDIAN ruil,sing 10 take shelter uli-
der any miserable ,quB0qas In fact, he
acts much as DR. johnson did. who, upon
being called by one Of his fashionable ac,
q,iaintanccs a gommand, replied No,
madam. no. | am simply a giaton. The
Chinese tragedies are chiefly founded on his
torical incidents, treated with degree Of
poetic license that would horrify II bancroft
or Prescott. aud the Divine agency, which
is continually Jagged IN 10 hasten OF arrest
catasiropbes is often most amnslngly me
chancal
An exceslingly popular tragedy mean
popular with the very icw English that, in
my time. resided a, FuhchoW was one cram
mel full Of incidents Of a most alarming ma
ture, and pretty thnkly studded with good
" business throughout. The heroine falls
in love with prince Of an adverse party. IN
fact, Chinese Romeo her cruel and stony
hearted PARENT discover. the intrigue,
and condemns the young lady 10 death. She
is held by one eyccu'ioner whilst another,
armed with how. but without arrows
pulls the fatal string. On n suddcn--Do. |
should rather say. deliberalely-in walks a
guardian angel. got up regardless Of ex
pcns', ia d most extensive court dress, and
carrying oaa,rr1. OF horstail tiy flap with
which, ~ the cyecutioncr pulls the bowstring
hs whisk> away the fatal arrow. The
amour, Of Imagination required from. and
readily paid up by the popalaee, was mos,
refreshing 10 such b,,ss and unI,naginati,e
SINNERS ~ ourselves, who were obliged care
fully 10 stiiie onr amusement, through fear
Of offending the highs,rung sympa,hics of
the admiring audience.
Whilst giving mn account Of my espe-
riepcc~ IN china, have though, ii right Ia
give as full an insight into th,ir social and
domestic habits rs ! could and Ia present
ibo~e fine but distinctive traits 81 character
in minntia, that reader. are NJ; able To find
NJ all times, in books, and which each ira.
weller viii perceive in The lich, IN which they
first struck him. shall therefore, make no
further apology than the explanation con.
veys for the somewhat anecd",ic aud discpr.
sive nature Of this my -ccona, letter
Yours as before.
A CossoruLiTE ENGLrsBvAs.