Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-08
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH s, 1860.
ACHINESE HOME.

During Minister Wards late visit to Pekin,
a private house was allowed him Tor the use
of himself and suite. The China corresponi-
dent of the Boston Traveller who ACCOMPANY
ed Mr.. Ward, thus describes the place.
'.Let us look about the premises we are 70
oeeupy. The owner was private gentle
man of wealth and standing. whose ianily
had for the time vacated them, not woman
or aehild appearing while we tarried, though
we often saw the owner, who was quite cour-
icons and obliging At the request OF the
Government he had consented TO give US the
use Of his house, or houses, for there were
two both of brick, and running parallel,
and being about one hundred ana nifty ieet
long, with a court between, about thirty ieet
wide and paved with hewn stone. Like al
most all Chinese houses, they were OF only
one story, aud 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
rs they were needed The rooms, however,
were few. and dark, from the use OF semi
transparent paper instead of glass windows.
They were neat, and the walls and ceilings
covered with handsome paper. The Chinese
use bat little furniture, and the most OF what
had ever belonged to this had been remoy-
ed as unsuitable to our tastes and customs
A gate, closed at night, opened into narrow
street, which led into thecentre OF the village,
and with few rods travel out of it. Alto
gother, the buildings were conmodious, neat,
and in good taste. Nor had the Govern
ment and owner been content with furnish
ing the best house in the place, and supply
~ ~ ,Isfa al dalieaclaS
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 thlr-
ty feet high, while poles OF equal height were
planted in the centre, on which bamboo rat
tiers were laid over which new white mating
was spread, which reached from roof TO root,
and quite shut out the sun, while as the
sun changed its position, or set, or other
circumstances required, large windows
could be made in the roof by pulling
certain cords, through which the air was
freely admitted. In the evening. it add
ed 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, aud 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 a 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, coy
cred from top to bottom with large gilt Chi
nese characters. Ofcourse they are unmean-
ing 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
Joyw Over door Receive all Heavenly
happiness" On the sides of the door,
"Feiicitous be the sun and suspicious the
clouds" and Harmonious may be the bree-
yes and sweet the rainsl"