The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-11

cftiOL, ana oO Genus 1Or eaCh SUBSEQUENT.
~ Special notices 10 cents a Gi,e.
About China.
There is much of the intensely
ludicrous surrounding and investing
everything connected with the Chi
nese. All Christendom was in a
broad grin when the English cores
pondents, in 1870, during the Opium
War, reported the Chinese as en-
ploying gigantic gongs of terrific
sound, and trumpets and horns of
fearful blast, as a means of intimi-
dating their foes. The grin became
still broader, when it was also alleged
that In addition to these agents of
frightful sound and dismal melodies,
the Chinese likewise Haunted in the
faces of their enemies huge banners,
emblazoned with awful pictures of
dragons, gorgeous and chimeras
dire" confident in the belief that
English valor was no match for such
terrible appeals, addressed to the
ears and eyes of the s'outside barba-
rians." The Chinese disappointment
is said to have amounted to panic
and rout, when they discovered that
the gongs and dragons produced no
impression whatever upon the barba-
rous English invaders.
In an article recently contributed
to the Fortnighhy Recie,o by Sir John
.Bowring, appear some traits of Chi
nese character equally as ludicrous
and amusing as those we have Just
enumerated. Sir Johns travels and
residence in China made him init
mately acquainted with the habits and
foibles of this stronge people, and
his descriptions are given in o very
interesting and attractive narrative.
It is not uncommon in China,
when criminal is sentenced to death
for his offences, to obtain a substi-
tute, who, for reasonable compen-
sation, say five or six hundred dollars,
will act as the prisoners proxy in
undergoing the death penalty. The
authorities readily permit the substi-
tuition, because by their laws, so
justice is vindicated in the person of
somebody, it is matter of supreme
indifference whother he is the offender
or not.
On one occasion, six Englishmen
were brutally murdered at small
village on the Pearl river The Eng
ish Government insisted on the pun
ishment of the murderers, and six
men were publicly beheaded. It was
very certain they had nothing to do
with the crime, and the Chinese knew
it, but being unable to catch the true
murderers they thought the English
would be equally as well satisfied las
they would have been under similar
circumstances with the lives of six
other men.
Some Chinese troops once fired
upon the British settlement of Shang-
hal. No injury was done, but the act
was of a character which might have
led to serious consequences. A COM
plant was made to the great manda-
rim. On entering his tent, the Eng
hshman found six Chinese soldiers
kneelng by his side. Close at hand
was an executioner, and the huge,
heavy swords were visible which he
usually employed in his work. cit
was quite right to complain" said the
mandarin "it was quite fit those
who had committed the outrage
should be visited with the punish
ment. Inquiries had been made, and
it was quite likely the men present
we're guilty; at all events, they had
been in the neighborhood. Utter the
word and their heads shall fall at your
feet" Both the mandarin and the
terrified soldiers were much sur
prised (the latter equally so) when the
English asked the release of the men,
because unwilling that the innocent
SHOULD suffer vicariously for the
The mandarin dismissed the
merely telling them that
their lives to the clemency
- (utside barbarians.'
The French embassy was
X ~ the Peiho, an outrage was
d on q Frenchmar by
- Il IN, who was arrested and {,
ITO death. Adeputation waited
B ambassador, bringing with
an old man, whom they wished
hanged instead of the man who
II committed the offence. They
4 said it would make no difference to
the ambassadors whether the old man
Rr the young was executed. The death
either would show that punish
ent would follow injuries of that
pd done to the French. They were