Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-15
& Chinese Home.

privAte house was allowed him for the use of
himself and suite. The China correspondent of
the Boston Traveller, who accompanied MIR.
Ward, thus describes the place.
Let US look about the premises we are to oc-
cupy The owner was private gentleman of
wealth and standing, whose family had for the
time vacated them, not woman or q child ap-
pearlng while we tarried, though we often saw
the owner, who was quite courteous and
obliging. At the request OF the government, he
had consented to give us the use Of bis house,
or houses for there were two, both of brick,
and running parallel, and being about $50 feet
long, with court between about thirty feet
wide and paved with hewn stone. Like almost
all Chinese houses, they were of only one story,
and with roofs covered with tiles. Two or three
arches were thrown across the court, seeming to
divide the long space into rooms, and doors
opened into each building as they were needed.
The rooms, however, were lew, and dark from
the use of semi.transparent paper instead Of
glass windows. They were neat, and the walls
Chinese use but little furniture, and the most of
what had ever belonged to this had been re-
moved as unsuitable to our tastes and customs,
A gate, closed at night, opened into narrow
street, which led into the centre Of the village,
and with few rods travel out of it. Alto
gether, the buildings were commodious, neat
and in good taste. Nor had the government
and owner been content with furnishing the
best house in the place, ard supplying us with
the substantials and delicacies Of the country.
1t was the hot season Of the year, and, to relieve
their foreign guests from its oppression, posts
had been erected along the side of each house,
some thirty feet high, while poles of equal
height were planted in the centre, on which
bamboo ralters were laid, over which new white
mating was spread, which reached from roof
to roof, and quite shut out the sun, while, as
the sun changed its position, or set, or other
circumstances required, large windows could DO
made in the roof by pulling certain cords,
through which the air was freely admitted.
In the evening it added to the beauty Of the
scene to have large lamps suspended in various
places through the court, hexagonal in form,
two feet long and one in diameter, the frame
being of wood, and some of them having strips
of red cloth in their hexagonal sides, and others
stained glass. On the top an ornamental story
was added, foot high, of carved work, which
projected some half foot beyond the lantern
proper. They discovered good deal of art and
taste, and are for ornament more than for use.
Long strips of red cloth were hung up on the
walls in various places, as expressive of good
wishes.
But the most singular and yet touching and
beautiful usage is the fastening Of long strips
of red paper upon the door-posts, covered from
top to bottom with large gilt Chinese characters.
Of course they are unmeaning without an
interpreter, and, as we had three with us, one
of them, at my request, translated them for me,
and here give them to your readers.
Opposite the main entrance, was written in
large characters
GREAT JoY!"
Over door
" Receive all Heavenly happiness"
On the sides of the door
FeliCitous be the sun, and auspicious the
clouds "
and
Literature, like good horse, is vigOrousa
thousand autumns!"
Another pair Of sentences was perfectly
Chinese
The virtue of sages is like sweet wine
Heavens grace enriches "
and
" The words ola King are like silken sounds
The favors of the Kingdom are many"
The posting of such sentences over the doors
of houses and on each side is common practice,
generally expressing welcome and good wishes
to the guests and strangers who visit the house,
or else containing sentences from the Chinese
classics which are held in generation among
the people.
BADLY SODA little affair happened the
other day, which is too good to be lost. Mr.. A.
called on one of our farmers, and asked hin, the
price of oats, and was informed that they were
worth IS cents per bushel. lie agreed to pay
40 cents, on condition that he should be permit