Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-02-06
The Chinese at Home.

THE first objects of interest to a stran-
ger on entering the streets of Chinese
city are the shops. Most of them consist
of one dingy, dirty room, with the entire
front open to the street, and the small
stock of articles exposed for sale in show
cases upon the counter, or upon narrow
shelves arranged along one side. The
back part of the room is generally used
for the manufacture of the particular ar
ticles on sale, and for cooking and other
domestic operations.
These shops are provided with plenty
of expert statesmen who know how TO ask
a foreigner three or four times as much as
an article is really worth, but are ready
to sell to a native at reasonable rates. If
| wish to buy, | offer the man half or
two thirds his asking price. At first he
declines, but soon offers the article in
question for a sum little less than the
first which is a sure indication that he
intends finally to come to my terms.
refuse and politely bid him good. by, when
he seizes his abacus "a light frame of
balls, strung on wires, used for reckoning)
and with many professional flourishes
goes into profound calculation as TO the
original cost of the article, and the legiti-
mate profit upon the same; at the close
of which, if remain Indifferent, he ac-
cepts my offer with the sorrowful declars-
tion that l have bought it too cheap-in
fact to do business IN that way would
soon ruin him and all his relations. go
away elated with my sharp bargain. But
my wicked pride is doomed to a speedy
downfall, when the first foreign resident
| meet laughingly informs me l have
paid double its real value. The only
safety is to make my purchases through
a native servant, who himself must have
a small percentage on the transaction by
way of "squeeze;" for a shop-keeper
would prefer to keep his goods rather
than sell them to forei Sner for the price
native would pay.
The coin used in all trade among the
common people is the "cash," round
brass piece with square hole in the cen
ter for convenience in stringiDg them
together by hundreds, which is the com
mon method. The value of the silver
dollar, in cash. varies somewhat in diff
ferent markets. At Shanghai we found
the dollar equivalent to 1880 "cash," in
Foo Chow TO 1140 "cash," and in Canton
to 100, thus averaging about IL cash"
to our common cent. Brokers' stalls,
for the exchange of silver into this cum
bersome coin, are seen every few yards
upon any business street, and almost
every passer.by has "rope" of it slung
overhis shoulder, or perchance a coolie
following after with several thousand
suspended upon the ends of his bamboo
pole.
The signs of the various places of bust
ness are a great curiosity In their way
They are covered with large gilt charac
ters representing the name Of the concern
and the commodities sold These char
acters are upon both sides of the board
so that they can be read at some distanct
by those passing in the street. They
never bear the name Of the proprietor ol
firm, but, instead, some felicitous expires
sion, such as Perpetual Success" ''Ce
"One True Price," by which the estab
lishment is known, and which is used il