The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-07-11
Chinese Ideas About Death,

lHE CnlQcSC are almost 1nOl0erenC 10
the phenomenon of dissolution, and fire.
quently compass their own end when life
becomes wearisome. A wife sometimes
elects to follow her husband on the star
lit road of death; and parents will de-
stroy their offspring in times of famine
and great distress rather than allow them
to suffer. Still more remarkable is the
custom of selling their lives in order that
they may purchase the superior advan-
tage of obsequies, which are considered
to insure the body In safety for the fu-
ture resurrection. A wealthy man con-
demned to death will arrange with his
jailcr to buy him substitute for a GER
tain sum OF money, to be spent upon the
poor wretch's interment and preservation
of his body. Should he have parents, 50
much is usually paid to them in compen-
sation for their sons life. Cinnamon in
variably help to support their parents;
Chinese virtue and religious precept, in
which they rarely fail. Regarding death
as inevitable, he makes the best Of a bad
bargain, and cunningly and comically gets
paid for dying. The wholesale destruc-
ton Of life in this country is greatly the
result of indifference. Hence the massa-
Gre of Europeans, so terrible to US, seems
to them a matter of little moment, and
they cannot comprehend why we should
make fuss about it. They regard our
indignant protestation very much as we
might treat our irate neighbor whose dog
we had shot. "Well, we'll, be pacified; if
it was such favorite, ] am sorry; but it
IS only dog, and there are plenty more.
How much do you want to lie paid for
IL" " You English think so much of a
life argues the Chinese; have you not
plenty of people at home?" Death in
China is awarded as the punish
ment for the most trivial otfenses,
and frequently for none at all, except be-
ing in somebody's way. A story was
told to me as fact that, during the visit
of one of our royal princes, theft was
committed of watch or chain belonging
to the royal guest. The unfortunate at
tendant was caught with the property
J upon him, and, without further ceremony,
his head was chopped of. The mandarin
in attendance Immediately announced
the tidings to the Prince as delicate at
tention, showing how devoted he was in
his service. To his establishment the
Prince expressed his great regret that the
mans head had been taken off, "Your
Highness," cried the obsequious manda
rim, DOWlng to the ground, q it shall i'm.
mediatcly be put on again. 20 little did
he under tand that the regret was for the
life taken and not the severed head. In
times of instruction or famine the NOW.
ing down of human life like corn-stalks
at harvest time is appalling to Euro
pean ideas. must confess to nervous
shuddering when stood upon the exc.
cution ground at Canton-a narrow lane
or Potter's tield-whcre so many hun
dreds had been butchered per diem during
| weeks together, the executioner requiring
the aid of two smiths to sharpen his
swords, for many of the wretched vic
tins were not allowed to be destroyed at
one fell swoop, but sentenced to be
hacked to pieces by twenty to fifty
blows. was informed by European
who had travelled much and seen most OF
the frightful sides of life, that witnessing
Chinese executions was more than his
iron nerves could stand; and in some OF
the details which he was narrating I was
obliged to beg him to desist. And yet
he said there was nothing solemn about
it, and the spectators looked on amused
1t was the horrible and grotesQue com
bined.-1emple Bar.