Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-07-13

From Temple Bari
The Chinese are almost Indifferent to
the phenomenon of dissolution, and fire.
quently compass their own end when
life becomes wearisome. A wife some
times elects to follow her husband on
the starlit road to death; and parents
will destroy their offspring in times of
famine and great distress rether than
allow them to suffer. Still more re-
markable is the custom of selling their
lives in order that they may purchase
the superior advantage OF obsequies,
which are considered to insure the body
in safety for the future resurrection. A
wealthy man condemned TO death will
arrange with his jailer to buy him a
substitute for certain sum OF money to
be spent upon tho poor wretch's inter
ment and preservation OF bis body.
Should he have parents, so much is
usually paid to them in compensation
for their sons life. Cinnamon in
variably help to support their PARENTS
filial respect and devotion is the
great Chinese virtue and religious pre-
cept, in which they rarely fail. Regard
ing death as inevitable, he makes the
best of a bad bargain, and cunningly
and comically gets paid for dying. The
Wholesale destruction of life in this
country is greatly the result Of indiffer-
ence. Hence the massacre of Euro
peans, so terrible to us, seems to them q
matter of little moment and they can
not comprehend why we should make a
fuss about it. They regard our indig-
nant protestations very much as we
might treat our irate neighbor whose
dog we had shot. Well, well, be paci-
fed; if it was such favorite, | am
sorry; but it is only dog, and there are
plenty more. How much do you want
to be paid for it2 You English think
so much of life" argues the Chinese;
have you not plenty of people at
home?" Death in China is regarded as
the punishment for the most trivial Of
fenses, and frequently for none at all,
except being in somebody's way. A
story was told to me as a fact that, dur
ing the visit of one of our royal
princes, theft was committed OF a
chain or watch belonging to the
royal guest. The unfortunate at
tendant was caught with the property
upon him, and without further ceremony
his head was chopped off. The manda-
rim in attendance Immediately announ-
ced the tidings to the prince as delicate
attention, showing how devoted he was
in his service. To his astonishment the
prince expressed great regret that the
man head had been taken off. Your
Highness," cried the obsequious manda-
rim, bowling to the ground, it shall i'm.
mediately be put on again. 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 now
ing down of human life is like corn stalks
at harvest time, appalling to European
ideas. ! must confess to a nervous shud-
dering when stood upon the execution
ground at Canton--a narrow lane or pot
ter's field-where so many hundred have
been butchered per diem during weeks
together, the executioner requiring the
aid of two smiths to sharpen the swords,
for many Of the wretched victims 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 q European who had trav-
eled much and seen most of the fright
fol side Of life, that witnessing Chinese
executions was more than his iron nerve
could stand; and in some of the details
which he was narrating had to beg him
to desst. And yet he said there was
nothing solemn about it, and the specta'
tors looked on amused. 1t was the hor
rible and the grotesque combined.