New-York tribune., 1873-03-18


derived by inheritance afford the most reliable evidence
Of professional skill where physicians are concerned
by the number size OF their druggists shops ana po
various exravagant pufs which are exhbiteu upIn
tender only display front Of tented ape aDg Ny
the side "The Doctor so-and 30, pny yd ne will
surgeon by descent for several generations anu o
rarely lack patient Prescriptions are with ns %f "a
sed eS ana ~ S ssse with our sccsors Of old faith
is put in the virtues OF strange herns woo roneYtes
The Chinese nevertheless fully alive 10 tne
Of many OF the NEST valuable drug aud areanenty
figure In pharmaeoppias. Sna With the prac-
tee Of medicine may here mention curIor the dis
which prevails everywhe IN ona escripgion is com
osed after having been made use or lnusons anu So
cOctons the favorte arsfy deposited in the
centre OF the street or highway ~ NV the horse
@ nan the spirit Of the TeD Star rides the resnit VIII
he Certain to be favorable for the patient Inc G
rnce non nyads and the spirit which inhahits 10 Is
believed TO patrol the streets nghty in oruer W eP
nt 70 proceed with the signboards There, next to
the physician is what we should cali an optean, VINO
a ut that he manufacture stal eye glasses Ter
Sonnr aud Old" Then comes tObscconist, who !" i'm
ports the special use OF bis establishment TOBACCO
from Fuhkien, ChefOO, and Hangch0w." Conveniently
posted on the opposite side Of the street s pipe MAKER
who gives cut that he has pipes manufactured ON pnr
again is chandler who constructs dips Mt for
presentation as tribute to ROYALTY" Next comes mus
flutes, banos, guitars, adde's and all KINDS OF muscn % a.
snt eVepV Season Of the year" Then Hoby" who
embroders boots in the newest fashions tIhe Doots
Of Chinese exquisite must DC ae nt
rival celestial colorBg Then another chandler, Wno
clsres that his wares are dou6ledipped and small
wickd and who goes 80 far as 10 quote from some
BESIDE tSe midnight amp And last for the category
must be ended somewhere Is sS Isereer, whose sign
agencies whose selection made for the market Of the
finest sorts Of sE in the or wner st OF
rich and pure silk, thread and moss slE slk ior poE
strings tsses and cords we give amy
fittings of Court caps in the newest feknB syie nc
make rnges for caps OF % an san or
gauze" Shops OF this last class, e. drapers haper
the paper in which customers purchases are wrapped
with conditions OF sale attached; such as customs bar
eXehanged or received back that have folded run
pied. or cut"
The process of opium smoking is another feature
which excites the curiosity of every stranger who
visits Chinese city, The dens in which the drug Is
doed out to its victims not easily dstinguisha-
be as the dealers have not got over the fear OF penal
consequences, which until the sale of opium was
legalized, always attended any connection with the
traffic Although situated in leading thOroughfare
with gaudy shops on each hand. the opium den is
usually remarkable for the mean filthy front which
it presents TO the street. The only sign or token
which indicates its existence to the uniDitiated is
diminutve grimy paper-lantern over the doorway,
bearing the inscription "As you like it," OF some
times the announcement foreign earth" is VEN
tured upon in small characters upon card stuck In
window. AS you step over the threshold, you hnd
one or two diapdated paper screens to protect the
visitor from outside observation. On the other side
of these screens, in dark, murky atmosphere, the
smokers lie stretched on wretehed platforms in all
stages of intoxicaton. Two three foul, ragged
attendants stOop over pans of the seethlng
mixture preparing it for consumption. When
ready for USE it has the appearance of moasses and
is about as thick as melting Indiarubber In this
condition it is presented to the smoker. He twists
up small quantity with the end of silver skewer,
placing it in the minute aperture on the top Of his
pipe bowl, and then holding it to the fame Of the
lamp sucks up the fumes. The process is quite diff
ferent from that of smoking tobacco. The fumes are
inhaled INTO the lungs and such portion as escapes
passes out through the nostrls Some smokers after
long habit manage TO nhale the greater part OF the
fumes The effect upon the individual is certainly
debasng. There is no vicious habit from which re-
eoyery is more doubtful At the time there is
great exaggeraton in the stories related concerning
its use 1t is not true that the opium he!ls are
abundant as the shops and crowded day and night
with infatuated wretches hurrying to their ruin.
Nor are the streets haunted by skeletons and whole
families beggared by drugged husbands and fathers,
can be safely asserted is that the vice is general
one more prevalent in districts the sea-coast
and great commercial centers. and that consider
able portion of its victims indulge TO ruinOus ex
cess The habit moreover, has been rapidly gaining
ground upon the people during the past few years
But the Chinaman confines his indulgence TO opium
smoking without adding drink to the vicious chains
by which he is enslayed.
The general character of the Chinese receives q
higher estimate from the author than it usually finds
in the prevailing public opinion. He does not pre-
tend that the Chinese are free from the common
vices of humanity but they are by no means such
paragons of evil they have been represented 10 be
in current report. Their sense OF honor Is keen,
although they are not swift to quarrel on account OF
fancied insults The educated classes especially
sensitive to disgrace and are often ready to sacrifice
their lives rather than to incur dishonor. Cases
have occurred in mercantile experience where ira
ders have preferred TO forfeit considerable Of
money rather than to belle their word, or permit
their credit to suffer damage. Though essentially
commercial people, they do not find it necessary to
take such precautions against fraud in the of
business as are common elsewhere. Written con-
tracts between man and man are frequently dis
pensed with, and they are never OF avery formal
character In frequent cases. the Chinaman's honor
is the sole guarantee to the merchant for the fulfill
ment of an agreement. Transactions are closed by
simple entry in the foreigners book, to which the
Chinaman is supposed to attach his signature, al
though ne cannot read word of what is written.
Honesty is not a virtue with the Chinese. Even
the servants do not steal. The foreign houses
filed with articles of luxury, but the occupants
never think Of locking up their valuables.
The peculiar characteristics of the Chinese, ac-
cording to the author, sngularly fit them for com
in, fba roat 1abo rkets of he