Litchfield enquirer., 1857-09-24

oti Sdtf I1toh upOIl !t, uuu lAuh VI AiiAA who died that you might live
 i We are indebted to our friend, Doctor s Abrams. IL. D., for much valuable Eforma ton in reference to ti.is coin He has travel led extensively in the Orient and Levant an6 has very large collection of Ancient Coins H. is, besides, an eminent Hebrew Scholar and we'll calculated to impart information.
 The Chinese Houses,
 He will have very erroneous notions of Chi na and the objects to be met with there, if he takes the names applied to them by travellers or writers in the sense which those terms beal in English of the western languages. For in- stance, the Chinese words, hwangr hwangfu pau, pin, shu, have q ,liuition to Chinaman very different from what the corresponding words of emperor, magistrate, cannon, pencil book, convey to an American ear. The reas oll is that the objects, institutions and customs met with in the Middle Kingdom differ so wide ly from OUT own, and any we are acquainted with, as to have no words in common to ex press them.
 The architecture of the Chinese is unique What we express by the word house, for exam. pie, finds no corresponding term or idea among them From the hovel to the palace the tent type prevails as well in temples as in private houses are generally of one story, having nei- ther cellars, nor blsementS, and for the most part, without dormer windows or attics. They must not have ornaments appropriate to palaces or temples, or aspire to the height of the former. The common materials are brick but wooden LouScs arc not unknown.
 The general arrangement of the interior of Chinese dwelling house of a better sort, is that of series of rooms of different dimensions separated and lighted by intervening courts accessible along a covered corridor communca- ting with each, or by side passages leading through the courts The custom of cramping the feet and thus disabling the women in de- 1 gree from going up and down stairs, may have had the effect of making buildings low, and causing an expansion oA a level, in order to make thu necessary room rec uired for large or wealthy families. Door plates and numbers are unknown |; as a substitute for which, un- der the projecting caves, ha n% paper lanterns, , informing pl>scrs-hy of the name and title of the household, which, when lighted at night, serve to illuminate the street, and designate i his habitation
 The entrance into large mansions in the country, is by a tripple door, leading through a lawn or garden up to the hall but in towns a single door, usually elevated a step or two above the street, introduce the visitor into g ! porch or court. The intervening space is occu- pied hy tlle porter, Passing behind the nov able screen inside of the doorway paved, or open court, com monly adorned with flowers or a fancy fish pool, is crossed upon entering the principal halls. The floors are made of square tiles of brick or marble or hard cement, and matted, wooden floors not being common on the ground story. The rco Hs are dim even in a bright day. in the absence of carpets and fire places, and windows to afford from it a prospect abroad. The kitchen is small affair: for the universal use of portable furnaces ena- bcs tle inmates to cook wherever the smoke will be the least troublesome. Warming the houses in the southern part of the kingdom is not fir, ,qucnt, but in the latitude of Pck!n, it is done by c'osirg tEc crevces and construct ing ilueS under the rooms, which are heated by one fire.
 The poor build a sort of fire place, which is used for cooking by day and hy night for a bed, where all the family sleep, on felt carpets placed ol the warm bricks Fuel is scarce and l dear. The houses of the poor are dark, dirty 1 low, and narrOW tenementS, with neither floor nor windows, and but few apartments, wretch ; cd in the extreme. The door is mat swing ing from the lintel, and the whole family sleep, eat, and live in one apartment, auG pigs, dogs, and hens, dispute the space with the numer- ouS children and the furniture
 The best furniture Is made of a dark dura- ble wood, sem1Iiuy ebony but the rooms are filled with ornamental articles, such as large porcelain jars and vases copper tripods one screens, book shelves and stands, rather than with chairs, couches and tables. Though some ot them are not destitute of elegance there is want of what We call comfort. The bedrooms are small, poorly ventilated, except at night. \ rich bcdStead is a massive article made of costly wood, elaborateIy carved. and supporting d tester from which hangs silk cur tans with mosquito uets attached Matres, ses or feather beds are not used, and the pill low is a hard square frame of rattan or bam boo. X wardrobe and toilet usually complete the furniture of this part of the houses of the Chinese, who generally care little for theil sleeping apartments.
 The grounds of the wealthy are laid out iu good style, aud were not their tasteful arrange mcnt and diversified shru5bery abandoned tc neglect, sometimes to nastiness and offals they would please the most fastidious. An oper space within the enclosure is set aside for the necessary recreation of the women and children and something of this soil is secured, ever though it be only plat of flowers or bed o vegetables. In the imperial gardens, as wei as in others where the owner is able, the at tempt to make an eptome Of nature has beer highly succcssfui.--Ne~arkA Adrsrt,ss'.