St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-11-16

" nv iOOh OCuCtttn bHc SuIldCc VI Julu&S.
The Chinese do not care to adopt any
OF our manners, habits or customs, and
when they die here they even want
their bones sent back to the land of
their birth. They strictly and rigidly
adhere to their inherited forms, tradi-
tions and teachings. They will not
"make over,n no matter what influences
are thrown about them. AS they are
taught to do a thing, so will they al
ways do it, and they can never unlearn,
but copy very accurately what they see
done. There are rs Chinese firms in
the city engaged in the manufacture of
boots and shoes, innumerable cigar
makers, merchants of every kind, and
some of their stores are very handsome,
with very attractive goods and expen-
sive wares, and what branch of bust
ness you cannot find them in is yet to
be discovered. What this "heathen
Chinee" cannot do remains to be seen
what he has done is the closely agitated
question of the day here; what results
will follow is an anxious query to think
ing minds.
The Chinese women are remarkable
for their small feet, which is mark of
aristocracy among them. A curious case
came before the police court, recently,
of grandmother and young girl of 10
years. The little thing was tottering
along the street, and attracted the at
tentiOn of an officer, who, examining
its feet, thought them to have been bar
baIOusly cut and compressed to make
them small. The woman was accord
ingly arrested, but it was found that
the toes had merely been folded under
the foot in infancy, according to the
usual custom. The child undid her
wraps and took off her shoe. The foot
had been folded about the big toe as a
pivot, and the four small toes, a trifie
enlarged, formed the sole of the foot,
which was cone-shaped. The child said
it did not pain her, only when remain
ing unwrapped, and that she always
slept in her shoes, taking them off once
a week for a little rest. A Chinaman
here, who is book-keeper in Oakland,
told me that his little sister at home
often cries bitterly with the pain they
give her. We occasionally see in the
streets Chinese women that can scarce
ly walk, and we marvel how they can
navigate at all upon their little apology
for feet.
At the Methodist Chinese mission
quarterly prayer-meeting, the other
night, two Chinese women took part by
leading in prayer; 35 men were present.
At the Trinity Episcopal church there
are two members nearly ready to be or
dained. In the city there are several
missions, where good men and women
labor for their conversion, with only an
occasional instance where patience has
| -, &c fhax- ho ~,
utter contempt for other civilizations.
1t is said that missionary enterprise
scarce retains footing either in China
or on the Pacific coast, that some de-
nominations have practically abandon
ed their efforts in both places, and 9TH
ers slowly await the development OF
Chinese intellect in the ways of English
art, science and literature, before at
tempting to divert it from its peculiar
materialism. The habits, opinions, su-
perstitions and teaching of centuries they
still adhere to, and although surround
ed by influences which would work a
radical change in almost any other for
eign element, they still remain an alien,
isolated people.
AS for patient endurance and enter
prising spirit, activity in work and
economy in living, John has few to sur
pass him. He is the best of imitatOrs,
but seldom deviates from the rule he
once learns. Whatever he earns he
keeps or sends back to China. He is an
employe of the white people, but spends
most of his money among his own kith
and kin. He certainly is an industrious
animal, that is an undeniable fact, YET
he has Lo ambition to have home
domestic ties, or hold social relations
outside of his own clan. AS Congress-
man Meade says in his paper on the
i Chinese, read before the Social Science
association recently, they are "alien in
habits, alien in morals, alien in educa-
ton, alien in aspirations and almost
every characteristic which goes to make
up an enterprising, progressive, law.
respecting, God-fearing people," A
: Chinese embassy is soon to be perma'
nently established here, and consul
{ ship in San Francisco will tend to
better understanding of this remarkable
people, and the resources of the coun
try, while a professorship of Chimes,
literature, just established by one o
, our leading colleges, will explain The
mysteries of its philosophy, science ant
and art but the dignity of American
labor and citizenship, and the welfare
} and renOwn of the white race, and al
elevated and Christian civilization alik,
demand the exclusion of the coolie i'm
migrants.
We attended the Royal Chinese thea
ter one night, chaperoned by one "Quicl
Choy," who is very gentlemanly Chi
naman, and boOk-keeper for firm tina
employs 500 Mongolians. He has beer
in this country seven years, having beel
, home once in the time. He came fo
us in carriage and held it in waitin.
until our return, ushered us into al
opera box, and had an English version
of the play which he said was one O
, their best. Here it is: Scene, China
time, 2O75 years ago. China was thel
5 divided into seven kingdoms, each de
sired supremacy, and wished to con
, auer the rest. Consequently there wa
a state of chronic war between them
8 In course of time there arose a wis
: man named Low Chun, who, by tn
5 wisdom of his counsels, prevailed. /
+. general peace was accordingly proclaim
ed and Low Chun was installed ministe
of state. Each king by royal proclama
e tion instructs his general officer to con
S vey Low Chun to his home in grea
e pomp and splendor, who spends the re
4 mainder of his days in the enjoymen
Y of great public esteem. Now thes
D plays often run as long as one of th
:, New York Weekly serials, and it ma
e be the 295th act of the drama you al
d witnessing. The theater is rival {
Y the one across the way, and is dingy
y shabby and devoid of all attractivenes
g The body of the house was well file
S with Cinnamon of all ages, classes an
| binds nf facaS Hatc yaro oil on mo.