The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-13
TIE CHINESE AT HOME.

Celestial Society, Customs, and Opinions.
Chinaman does many things in a way dia-
metrically opposite to ours. His compass is so
arranged that the south point is the chief one;
he stands when he sews, sits Gown at his carpen-
ter's bench to plane a board, his writing runs
down the page, ard not across it; in short, John
Chinaman seems to be a very contrary creature
indeed. Yet we know comparatively little of his
customs, and those who have seen most of the
Chinese of tie interior praise them most highly.
Messrs. Harper & Bros. have Just published an
interesting and valuable work, giving an account
of the habits and customs OF the Chinese which
will crafty the unsatisfed curiosity of many
readers. 1t is called "Social Life of the Chinese,
with some account Of their Religions Govern
mental, Educational, and Business Customs and
Opinions; by Rev. Justus DOolittle, fourteen
years member of the Fuhchau Mission OF the
American Board in two volumes, with over
one hundred and ffty illustrations" The author
Fays, in his preface :-"lhese volumes, IL Is
believed, will reveal to the careful reader many
phases of Chinese life and manners which he
will admire and commend. But if he should
tire with the senseless and useless opinions
cherished and the strange and super5titlous
customs practsed among all classes OF societji
let him reject that TOR over twenty centuries
China has been in bondage to the writings OF
Contucus and Mencius, and, for nearly the
same, period TO the religions of Tauism and
Buddhism. This fact satisfactorily accounts for
mnny of the absurd, superstitlous, and stereo-
typedi opinions and customs prevalent In that
empire"
OF these customs and opinions he gives the
most complete and interesting account we
know OF. We make below a few extracts which
show the quality OF the book
ADVANTAGES or NOT EATING BEEF.
The slaughter OF buffaloes for food is unIaw
ful, according to the assertions OF the people,
and the abstaining from the eating of beef Is
regarded as very mel1torlous. The dOme5tlCated
buffalo, on account of its aid in ploughing, is
considered as deserving of great praise, and as
having great merits; and therefore, men who
enjoy the benefit OF its toll should not consume
its flesh
In certain volume of over two hundred
leaves, having many of the moral maXims and
admonitory precepts OF the Chinese, are several
pages devoted to eXhorting the people against
the use OF beef. In one article, the spirit OF
buffalo, whose flesh had been cooked and eaten,
and whose hide had been made into dram
heads, and whose bones had been manufactured
into head.gear for v omen, and this all alter a
life OF drudgery IN tolng tor man, is represented
as appearing before one OF the rulers OF the
Chinese hell, and, with lamentation, making its
complaints. The ruler, deeply commiseratng
the circumstances of its case, answer5:-"Ehe
deceased killers OF builaloes are enduring pun
ishment for oheir sins in hell. Some are tossed
upon the tree OF knives; others are thrown upon
the hill Of swords. Some have molten brass
turned down their throats; others are bound
upon red hot iron posts. Through eternal ages
they shall not be born into the world again. or
if they are born again, they shall become buIa-
loes.n 1t is ADDED, apparently by the author
of the volume:-"Ihe consumerl OF beef who
angrly refuses to listen TO admontion on this
subject, and who derldes the notion that the buff
falo is meritorious animal, insisting that beef
is highly nutritious shall be overwhelmed with
calamity, his happiness shall be destroyed, his
children and grandchildren shall be poor and
his family or posterity shall be eXterminated."
PUNISHMENT FOR USING TOO MUCH WATER.
A large sheet is always put up for the inspec-
tion and information of the public when any eX-
penslve and attractive meritorious ceremony is
to be performed. This notification or advertise
ment specifies what kind OF performance is to
come OFF. 1t often gives the name OF the de-
ceased, the names of his children, and the names
OF the relatives who uniteGly make this effort to
secure his forgiveness, or a bGtterment OF his
condition in the other world.
The particular design of one ceremony is to
free the dead from any calamity which may be
sent on him as punishment for using in any
way too much water in this world, or for using it
in an unworthy manner. Such a course otfends
the god OF water and he very properly Furnishes
tbe sin in the other world certain classic or
formula, relating to this subject is chanted. The
recitation OF this particular formula makes the
distinction between this and other ceremonies
performed ON tho death of relatives. Ii children
on the death OF q parent, do not have this cere-
mony performed, they are liable to be charged
with deficiency OF filial regard for the happi-
ness OF him who, perhaps, is suffering from the
cause above specified,
CHNLsB ADVERTISING MEDIUM.
The employment of go-betweens or middle per-
SOILS between the two principals in the transac-
tion of many kinds of business Is one of The
peculiar institutions" OF society as existing
here, and probably all over the empire, with
local notifications. Tue native importer of
goods from another port does not personally
negotiate with the retailer or the wholesale
DuSpr. The owner of a hnusa in
ket for sale, or for rent may not be called upon
by those who wish to purchase or rent for
themselves. sort of professional persons
are employed, who are the acknowled 'go-
betweens" betWixt the owners and the buyers,
OF tie owners and the renters The system does
not extend to business between ordinary retail
ers and their customers, but 70 importers, whole
sale dealers, and owners of houses and lands.
Some men are go-betweens IN the sale and pur-
chase OF rice, others OF OIL others OF medicines,
etc. Generally the same person does not nego-
tiate the sale and purchase OF more than one
class OF merchandise or properly.
The pay OF these go-betweens is usually five
per cent. on the sum of money given by the
buyer to the seller. OF this percentage, the
buyer pays three and the seller pays two parts
which on large sans is a very handsome COM
pensation for his trouble and responsibility. 1t
amounts TO the same thing as clearing five per
cent. commission, all the expense of porterage
and transfer being betrayed by the buyer and
the middleman being at no expense for clerk,
Office, or store.
The eobetweens, who probably in Canton
alone amount to thousands are constantly on
the lookout for an opportunity to close bar
gam in view Of the five per cent. commission.
He acts the part OF an advertising medium-a
living, perambulating newspaper-Lhe use of
which costs the owner of property and the
prospective buyer OF it nothing, unless an actual
transfer is effected. He spends his time prnci-
pally in trayersing the streets, calling on the
wholesale dealers and the retailers, extracting
and giving information relating to his particu-