Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-21
A CHINESE HOME.

During Minister Wards late visit to Pekin
private house was allowed him for the use of
himself and suite. The China correspondent
of the Boston Traveller, who accompanied Mr..
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 for the
time vacated them, not a woman or child ap-
pearing while we tarried, though We often saw
the owner, who was quite courteous and oblig-
ing. AT the request of the government, he had
consented to give US the use of his house, or
houses, for there are two, both of brick, and
running parallel, and being about $50 feet
long, with a court between about 80 feet wide
and paved with hewn stone Like almost all
Chinese houses, they were of only one story
ard 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 thew
were needed. The rooms, however, were few,
and dark from the use of semi transparent pa-
per instead Of glass windows. They were neat,
and the walls and ceiling covered with hand
some paper. The Chinese use but little furni-
ture, and the most Of what had ever belonged
TO this had been removed 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 within a few
rods travel out Of it. Altogether. the build
lngs were commodiOus, neat and in good taste
tent with furnishing the best house. and sup
plying us with the substantials ana delicacies
OF the country. 1t was the hot season of the
year, and. to relieve their foreign guests from
lis expressions, 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 rafters were laid
over which new white mating was spread
which reached from roof to roof and quite
smut out the sun, while, as the sun changed its
position, or set, or other circumstances re-
quiIed, large windows could be 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 vari-
Gus 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 orna-
mental story was added. foot high, of carved
work, which projected some half foot beyond
tho lantern proper. They discovered n rood
deal of art and taste, and are for ornament
more than use. Long strips of red cloth were
hung up on the walls in various places as ex-
pressive of good wishes
But the most singular and vet 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 charac-
ters Of course they are unmeanng without
sn interpreter, and, as we had three with U.S.
one of them, at my request translated them
tor me; and here l give them to your readers
Opposite the main entrance was written in
large letters
'Great joy"
Over door
Receive all heavenly happiness,''
On the sides of the door
- FelicitOus be the sun, and auspicious the
clouds!'
and
Harmonious may be the breezss, and sweet
the rains,''
Over another door:
Happiness comes from Heaven, ~
On the side of another door:
Imagination, like great dragon, scars an
hundred feet"
and
Literature, like good horse, is vigorous
thousand autumns ~
Another pair Of sentences was perfectly Chi
nese,
The virtue of sages is like sweet wine
Heavens grace enriches,' -
and
:" The words of King are like silken sounds:
The favors of the kingdom are many"
The posting of such sentences over the doors
OF houses end on each side is common prac-
tice, generally expressing a 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 yeneration
among the people.