Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-07-22
CLEARFIELD Pa, WEDNESDAY, JULY %, 1874

wiring its neck, being under the impress
sion that that cruel proceeding alone
could save them from the evil which
they fancied was impending over them
The Chinese hail with joy the advent
Of swallows, and believe that the own
ers Of the buildings where they make
their nests are sure to meet with pros
pcrity. The cry of the owl is every
where heard with dread, as portending
an approaching death. Besides the
foregoing, the Chinese also derive
omens from the changes in the appear
ance of certain flowers and in several
other ways "But the strangest and
most accountable of the Chinese super
stitions is what they denominatc foong
shuey (called feng shuc' in the court
dialect wind and water-a species Of
geomancy or a belief in the good or III
luck attached TO particular local situa-
tions or aspects. Before houseis built
or burial place selected, il is necessary
to consult certain professors Of the oc-
cult science, who, at the price of ade-
qua'c ices proceed WIN much soiem-
nty 10 examine ,he sltuation. AFTER
frequently perambulating and cxamin-
ing the ground and even deferring their
decision Tor months they viii fix on
some particular place IL, after all the
expense ana trouble OF consulting the
cnea's VINO profess tne ART, iiilortune
ratner tnah good should attend the
parues, 'hls IN, OF course, attributed TO
ahythihg except the ineihclency of the
ioong shuey' ms term may IN gen
erai De construed py the WORD luck, and
~ mas peeh supposed That IN a country
llke emma, where nearly all long jour.
neys are performed py water, good
wihd ana water, or IN other words
good iuck In Journey, mas by degrees
come 10 SIGNIFY good luck IN every CIR
cumstance ana condition OF life" We
are ihciihed 10 think that Sir John
DAVIS, writing as he did at time when
tne manners ana customs OF the En-
pre- were not so well understood by
Foreigners as they are now, does not
iny suifcient stress on the Importance
winch the Chlnese attach to their doc
trine OF feng shui, Tor It. is undoubtedly
very serious stam6lng-block IN the
way OF progress OF European clyiliza-
tion IN the country. when the Chinese
have no other argument left to urge
against an innovation they take their
stand on the Feng shut, and it would
seem as II no amount OF reasoning were
sufficient to remove the obstacle, which
to a civilized mind appears nothing
more than II ridiculous superstition.
In conclusion, we would say few
words respecting the dragon Lung),
winch holds a striking position in the
affections OF this superstitious people.
With them "it is frequently represented
as the greatest benefactor Of mankind /;
ana II II the dragon which causes the
clouds to form and the rain to fall"
The true dragon, with five claws on
each OF its four feet, is appropriated to
the Emperor, as the emblem of imperial
power. Its likeness is embroidered on
his robes OF state, and his throne is
called the dragons seat. 'Crhe Empress
Is represented by the phenix-feng)
Dr. y, Wells Williams, in his middle
hingdom observes with some quaint
ness; "lhe old dragon, 1t might be al
most sa, sad has coiled himself round the
IIInInEnE nv