, 1874-06-29
Alumni Association of the Cons1cctt
ctak Literary Knststutton.
Chinose Ideas About Death,

Tho Chinese are almost Indifferent to the
Phcuonlenon Of dissolution, and frequently ccnl-
pasa their own end when lie becomes waara-
somo. wiie sometimes oleots to follow hor
husband on the Htarlit road Of death; and
pazonta will destroy their offspring III timoH Of
famine and great distress rather than allow them
to ruler. bti!! naofe remarkable 10 tho custom
Of Boiliug their llvos in order that they may pur
chase tho superior advantage Of obaeqn1ea.
which are considered to insure The body in safety
for the tuturo resurrection. A wenltly man con-
aomuod to death will arrange with his jailor to
buy him substitute tor certain SUN Of money,
to be spent upon tho poor Wretoho's lbterment
and preservation Of bis body. Should he havo
pnronts 80 much ls usually paid to them in com
peusation for their sons lifo. Ohinanlen invari-
ably help to aupport their parents; nl,nl respect
and devotion Is tue great Chinese virtue and
religious preccpt, IN which they rarely fall. Ro'
gazdiag death rs Inevitable, he makes the host
or Of bad bargain, and & eunningly mud 60 oomicallly l
the result Of inaiNoTonce. Honce tho massacre
OF Europeans, 30 terrible to us, seems to them
mattor 1T littla moment. aud shoy cauuot COM
prebond Why we should mako q fuss about
much % NO might tseat Out rate ne'Ehhor whose
dog ne had shot. "Well, we'll, bo pacified; II It
was such . fagosise, | an sorry; but 1t IL only .
dog, and there arc plenty more: How much do
you want 70 ba pai1 for 1t :" You Englisl think
50 much Of Mfe," argues tho chineas; "haye
you not plenty Of people at homo?' Death In
China ia awerded aa the puniHhment TOR tho moat
trivial oifonHos, and frequently for uono 1t all,
except being In somebody's WAY. 4 asosy wss
told to mo as fact that during the visit Of ono
Of our royal princess, theft wa8 committed OF
q chain or watch belonging to tho Royal guest.
Tho unfortunate attendaut wan caught With tho
property upon him, aud. without further ccro-
Inony, LIS head was chopped of. THO mandarin
IN attendance Immediately announced tho
tidiugs to tho Prlnco as delicate
attention, showing how devoted ho waH
In hia SERVICE 10 hie aston'shmeut the
Prince expressed his great regret TINT
tho mans head had been takon or. "Y0ur
Highnoas," cried the obsequlous mandarin. bow
Ing to the ground, "ls shall immediately DO put
Oh again II 30 little did he understand that the
regret waa for tho lilo takan aud not the aeyerea
head. In times Of insurrcctlon or famine the
moving down Of human Ito is like oosn-Htalks
at harvest hno, appalling to En- ropean ideas. !
uuat conteHs to nervous aludder;nY when
stood upon tho execution ground ut Ganton-a
narrow lane OF pottcr's fotd-whero 30 many
hundled had been butchercd per diem during
WeekB together. the eIeuutiouer requiring the
aid Of two smiths to RlaEpou his swords, fol
many of the wietched victims wore not allowed
to be destroyed at Que foil swoop, but sentenced
to ba "hacged to pieces" by twenty 10 tifts
blows. was infotmad by E uropoau who had
travelled much and seen moat Of tho frightfu
aides OF life, tha' witnessing Chinese exeoutionf
TaH more than ha IRON nerves could stand; allC
In some Of the antai]s which he was narrat,ng
I was obiiaod to beg him to dosiat. And yet he
sai1 snera was notnipg soiomu about 1t, and tn {
spectators looked III amused, 1t was tho hor-
rible and the grotesguo comb!ned.-1eMpts Bar