The national Republican., 1861-02-07

SMITHSONIAN LEcrURE-L. W. Williams,
ESQ.,, delivered the second lecture of his course
on China and Japan at the Smithsonian last
night, in the presence of large audience
discussing, more particularly, the Civilization
of the Chinese"
He observed, In commencing, that the Chi.
nese had been the objects Of more contumely
than any other nation on the face of the earth.
The world at large had drawn their opinions
from newspaper writer's, and these had, as a
general thing, merely stated their first impress.
sions, and formed their opinions by coming in
contact with the lower classes OF society in
China.
1t was true that the Chinese are far from
being cleanly in their habits they do not speak
the truth from any regard for it, and they are
also cruel when once aroused. But the Chinese
have cultivated the arts of peace, whilst all
other nations have cultivated the arts of war.
| There, civil officers take precedence of the mil
itary. The Mandarins, or military officers,
might be both cruel and extortionate, but the
people were not so.
A noteworthy feature of the Chinese was the
great respect they have for women. This is an
outgrowth of their ancestral worship, which
might be called their only religion. The po.
| sition and influence of women on society is as
high as any other nation which is not Christian.
Though there is nothing like mixed society,
yet the intercourse between men and women is
very free. Women occupy higher position
ana-hsve more influence than they ever had in
Greece, Rome, or Egypt.
1t was difficult to ascertain to what an extent
polygamy prevailed, though it was probable not
to very great extent One of the greatest
promoters Of this was the desire of the wife to
| kn,,a 10, ,,t hnrh hDr bn1l lrt,a
The speaker then proceeded to give an &C.
count of the manner Of courtship and marriage
among these people. The first overtures were
always made by the father, or some other per.
son, as a ego between" The offer is made by
one of these the present, carried by them to
the house of the intended, and the wedding day
arranged by these ego. betweens !" but the we'd
ding day is never set without consultation with
the astro!ogers. Everything being arranged,
the bride is sent for in a sedan. The BRIDE
groom does not go out of the house at this time
The bride takes an affectionate leave Of her an.
cesors and is then, as it were, dead to them.
Music is then played, and fire.crackers set off,
so as to drive sway all evil spirits the greater
the noise, the better.
Generally there is quite large number Of
sedans carried in the procession to the house
of the bridegroom. Que usually contains a
pair Of geese-a sign of conjugal affection. As
soon as she reaches the house of her husband,
she is received by two domestics, and by them
lifted over the threshold, so as not to tread
thereon. Sometimes a pan Of charcoal is
placed inside the doorway, and she is also
lifted over that. The husband then comes for
ward, and lifts the vail from her face. He
probably sees her then for the first time in lis
life. They both then knee before the parents
of the groom, and afterwards drink out of the
same cup together. On such occasions, the
company is generally very large, and in some
parts Of the country it is customary to have
the pleasure.making for FIVE or six days. This
is the wife; those taken afterward are not
honored with these ceremonies. Three or four
days after the wedding, the bride returns to her
parents on a visit. Sometimes the woman
finds out she has got man who cares nothing
for her happiness and in such cases suicide is
: very frequent.
The speaker exhibited pair Of shoes no,
more than three inches in length, which he
said had been taken from Chinese lady
weighing about $50 pounds. There are va
) rious times for beginning to compress the fee
of children. Sometimes they begin when thu
children are not more than three or four year
old sometimes not until they are nine or ten
The bandages are kept upon the feet night ant
day, and are so fixed as to throw the who'll
J. weight upon the heel, nearly obliterating tn
toes.
The amusements of the Chinese are not O
an athletic nature. They do not care much 70
, hunting or running, but prefer flying kites o
J; pitching coppers They also spend a grea
deal Of time in gambling.
The houses in the cities are generally bull
s Of brick, and are usually only one story il
;, height The architectural style is very pool
r and the houses are incommodious in many rt
: spects.
The people of China carry more clothn
:. than the people of this country, merely to max
/ up for the dampness Of their houses. Tn
: houses, being so poorly constructed, are easl
s destroyed, and extensive conhagrations ar
things of frequent occurrence.
The dress Of the Chinese at the present tim
7, is very similar to what it was 1000 or 80
:. years ago, with the exception of the hair, whic
J. has been altered in few triaing respects.
5. The Chinese people have now little or II
science, but have accomplished in times pas
" some important additions to art. 1t is gent
IS rally admitted that the compass came fror
: China; the art of printing was used by thel
!. 600 years after the birth of Christ and the
enameling on porcelain and copper is yer
I. superior. In embroidery they excelled mo
!, nations, the education of the lady not beiu
:, considered complete until she had acquired
D. knowledge Of this accomplishment.
Tea is but small part of the productions
China. Large quantities of cotton, rice mi
let, and tobacco, are also grown. The varnis
tree, which is very peculiar plant, is foun
IS in the central provinces. The production
h. cotton is far greater than that raised in tn
\. whole United States. Large quantities
gold, silver, iron, lead and other metals, are
te be found in certain portions
D. There are from inc to eleven million pound
I, OF opium used annually. nn!y though some ;.
brought from India-the Chinese not being alb