The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-12-05

note any great change in the country
and people, mean any evidences OF
progress?'
'In the seaport cities I noticed
good deal of progress, but in the coun
try places things were about the same
rs I remembered them. There is little
progress TO be looked for amoug the
masses of the people, who are content
to follow 10 the footsteps Of their faith
ers But in the matters Of commerce,
shipping, etc, there have been pro
gressive changes The Government
ships of war and merchant ships are
nearly altogether modern, with equip
ments and discipline somewhat like
those Of the United States. The ar
mics OF China have European equip
meuts and systems Of formation, drill
and discipline But rhe country has
90 railroads. Ny journeys en- land
we're made in a bamboo basket or pail
auqUia slung on poles aud carried on
the shoulders Of two men. l found 1t
slow coaching, | assure you, after beS
. lug 80 accustomed to rapid transit by
rail- "a this country. They are about
to bald a railroad, l understand, from
Tsiu~Tsio, which is some siS orseven
hundred miles inland from Shanghai,
to point on the northern frontier Of
the kingdom The bulk of the heavy
I trans portatIon from the interior to the
seaboard Is done by water, on the riv-
/ ers and canals
Have they any newspapers in
China p
They have none
How is news of things Of interest
spread p
Every town has its market. and
two markets are held daiIy-morning
and evening. All events Of importance
are buletiued in the market place
every day at the expense Of the mu-
nicipality"
There i, I suppose, . great deal Of
correspondence carried on among the
people,
The amount, considering the popu-
la,iou, Is small. There Is no mail sys-
TEN in China If man wishes TO
write TO a friend in q distant place he
must wait until he finds some one going
I to that place, and intrust his letter to
/ him for delivery. Ia such service
there is no surety of the letter reaching
its destination This is realized By
4 Chinamen in this country, who get
only very few of the letters sent to
them by their friends, while their let
! ters in turn very frequently miscarry. p"
Then the people of China are not
( troubled with curious orders from
post ofice department in regard to the
directions on their letters, and perhaps
that Is D comfort Are the masses Of
the Chinese we'll educated ?'
No ont good proportion can read
aud write
( rs there any public school system
IN China p
"No Education is all paid for by
the parents of pupils. Only college
graduates, however, are allowed to
teach "
How 90 people live IN China ?'
"In their way much as people do
here, according TO their means. The
I poorer classes live on two meals a day.
The hard workers, on farms, on the
waters and in factories, however, must
have three meals day. Rich people
have four meals, namely: breakfast only
I in the morning, lunch at about noon,
dinner at o'clock, and then supper at
night
Have they temperance socie ties and
prohibiiory laws in China p
NO, indeed They do not need
anything of the kind There are no
liquor saloons 10 China The people
drink spirits made from rice, as well
as gin, aud, among the wealthy, wines,
liquors, brandies, etc, are used; but
this use of spirits is mostly during meal
time Tipling IS unknown in Cbina.
/ If man wants to drink, be can buy
his liquor at the grocery store and
carry 1t to his house for use. No Ii
oensc to sell IS required. Any dealer
can sell it freely"
Is intemperance prevalent in China?
at is not. During my stay of over
eleven months in that country [ did
not see an intoxicated person.
"What is the staple food of the
! people?'
Rice, meats of various kinds, poul-
try and fish. A man can live on If
/ teen cents day in Ghina-twelve for
meats and three for rice. All classes
use rice, which is the main article OF
food in the kingdom"
/ Have they a weekly sabbath or
day of rest in China ?"
No. There is no stated day Of rest
I - u l.,
/ in the month-tho first and the middle
are set apart by custom on which to
attend worship at the churches; but
even then there is no eompulsion.
People can work when aud as long as
/ they please; can go to church every
/ day if they wish, or can stay away.
On the day set apart by custom for
attending church, business goes on as
usual. The Buddhist Is the pre- valent
religion in China"
The Chinese have some peculiar
religious rites as we'll as social customs,
have they nOt?"
eyes, many very curious ones that
| is. they might seem curious TO Ameri
| cans As marriage and death are two
of the three great events in human life
birth being the frst, or greatest, to
the individual-perhaps the readers of
the Herald would like to know some
thing about them. There is no such
thing as courting among young people
in China. The bride and bridegroom
never see each other until they are
about TO become mau and wife Their
courting is all done by their parents.
Let US suppose that you have a son
and | daughter OF marriageable age,
and we are friends. You tell me you
want to get your son married, and ask
if am willing to give my daughter to
him. l say yes. have seen your
SON and ike him. but Vou have not