Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-06
Chinese Women.

The Chinese harem is nothing like so
closely kept as the Mohammedans, yet
ladies of rank and position do not re-
ceive visits or hold any conversation
with gentlemen who are not immediate
relatives. Two Chinese merchants,
or mandarins, however closely allied
in business or pleasure, would never
see each others wives, or pass in that
portion of the dwelling into which [
was about to be admitted. The middle
class of china women mix freely with
their own countrymen, as also foreign
ers, whereas Turkish women must be
quite degraded to appear before man
without the yashmack. Probably the
difference is that the Chinese regards
this practice Of MIXING in familiar
intercourse with the other sex as I'M
lady-like and unbecoming, while the
Turks regard it as immoral.
Thus, little love-making or intrigue
might possibly be carried on in Chi
nese establishment without fatal conse-
quences, when such a proceeding in
Turkey could have no other terminal
ion than sack and the Bosphorus for
the lady, and a poniard for the lover.
So strict is this mode of justice, that
even the allied armies consent to yield
up any such offender of the Mohamme-
dan law. To be sure, in a Chinese
house any love-making, except by pan
tomine, would be attended with insJ-
perable difficulties. Certainly, no tete-
a-tete could take place with the small
est degree Of comfort or safety, there
being no doors to shut, and no boudoir
where the prying eyes of half dozen
wives could not spy around corner;
but the Chinese rarely experience love
as a sentiment. They know nothing of
the "sad and mad, but, alb! so sweet -
of the poets love, and are married in
the adolescent state. Affection and
passion exists, but very little romance.
There are no lovers walks, no paths
being wide enough to admit Of two
walking comfortably together; no bug
gy rides, no sleigh driving, no umbra-
geous bowers, or chlro-oscura corners
in churches, cars Or theatres. There
seems to be too many people in China
for any two to get a private nook for
themselves. Nevertheless in spite Of
paganism and polygamy, it is my opin-
ion that Chinese woman is both modest
and moral. She is married young, and
is rarely unfaithful to her husband, TAX
ing meekly at first Or a fifth share of
affection. IF he dies she remains a
widow, and seldom marries again. If
in the lower classes, she works for her
own living until her children can sup
port her, if in the upper grade she re-
mains an inmate of her hus bands fam
Of
through a long life is more highly es-
teemed in China than any other coun-
try. Temples are raised in the honor
of virtuous women, as, III other coun-
tries monuments are erected to heroes.
In the temple consecrated to pure
women there is female figure upon
the altar, the goddess Of chastity
should prefer saying the patron saint, as
believe it ought to be-and around
her, in small frames are inscribed the
names of such woman as had been faith
full to their widowhood until they have
attained the age of &C. Sometimes
they are virgin widows, their husbands
having died Immediately after their be,
trothal. In this event the CIR
goes through the marriage ceremo
MES with paper bridegroom, ano
is then escorted in the usual way, to the
residence of his people, where, if she
lives all of her life true to his memcry,
she becomes one of the elect in the tenn
pie of chastity, and is honored for he1
celibacy. On the other hand, the GUS
tom is not unknown, though compar
atively rare, for wife to destroy her
self on the death of her husband. Sht