The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-11-15
CHINESE INDIFFERENCE TO DEATH :

4uo OuIuo66 are almost 1lQ1uerenC TO
the phenomenon of dissolution, and
frequently compass their own end
wht n life becomes wearisome. 4 wife
SON metimes elects to follow her husband
on the starlit road Of death; aud pa
rents will destroy their offspring in
time Of famine and great Distress,
rather than allow them to suffer. Still
more remarkable is the custom of sell
ing their lives in order that they may
purchase the superior advantage of OBJ
sequies, which are considered to insure
the body in safety for the future resur-
rection. A wealthy man condemned
to death will arrange with his jaiier to
buy him q substitute for certain sum
OF money, to be spent upon the poor
wretoh's interment and preservation
Of his body. Should he have parents,
so much is annually paid to them in
compensation for their sons life:
Cinnamon invariably help to support
their parents; flial respect and devo-
ton is the great Chinese virtue and
religious precept, in which they rarely
fail.
Regarding death as inevitable, be
makes the best of bad bargain. and
cnnningly and comically gets paid for
dying. The Wholesale destruction of
life in this country is greatly the result
Of Indifference. Hence. the massacre
OF Europeans, SO terrible to us, seems
to them q matter of little moment, and
they cannot comprehend why we
should make fuss about it. They re-
gard our indignant protestatioE very
much as We might treat our irate neigh
Dor whose dog we had shot. "Well,
we'll, be pacified; if it was such q fa-
vorite, 1 am sorry, but it is only dog,
and there are plenty more. How much
do you want to be paid for it?" s.You
English think 30 much of life," ar
CUES the Chinese; shave you not plen-
ty of people at homer" Death in Chi
ma is awarded as the punishment for
most trivial offences. and frequently
Tor none at all, except being in some
body's way.
A story was told me as fact, that
during the visit Of one of the royal
princes, theft was committed of
chain or watch belonging to the royal
guest. The unfortunate attendant
was caught with the property upon
him. and without further ceremony
his head was chopped of. The man
DARN in attendance Immediately an
nounced the tidings to the prince as a
delicate attention, showing how de-
voted he was in his service. To his
aatonishment. the prince expressed his
great regret that the mans head had
been taken off. "Your Highness.
cried the obsequious mandarin, bow
ing to the ground, sit shall immedi-
ately be put on againl" so little did he
understand that the regret was for the
life taken, and not the severed head.
In times Of insurrection or famine the
moving down of human life is like
corn.stalks at harvest time, appalling
to European ideas. must coufcss to
nervous shuddering when I stood
upon the execution ground at Canton
narrow lane or potter feld-whero
30 many hundred had been butchered
per diem during the weeks together,
the execntioner requiring the aid of
two smiths to sharpen his swords, for
many of the writhed victims were not
allowed to be destroyed ut ono fell
swoop, but sentenced to be "hacked to
pieces" by twenty to fifty blows. I
was Informed by European who had
travelled much and seen most of the
:rightful side of life, that Witnessing
Chinese executions was more than his
iron nerves could stand; aud in some
OF the details which be was rur:utipc
! was obliged to beg him tu d.sist.
And yet he says there was nothing
solemn about it, and tho spectators
looked on amused. It was tI., horri.
bic and grotesIue combined.
white man, named w. C. Morrgu,
while sitting with his family, in San.
Qersville, Gn., Il few nights arn was