The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-06-19

as everywhere else, prevailed. The sight
OF criminal chained to an upright stanchion
that supported the beams overhead at the
entrance to the corridor, along which are
several cells with strong wooden doors and
curious Chinese locks, was pitiful. He was
rccapturcd fugitive; and was to be taken
three times a week TO this stanchion, the
ground under his feet being strcwn with Jag
ged stones, and broken glass bottles, and on
this compelled to walk, probably with no food
save what relatives or friends brought him.
The glass and bottles, broken fine, did not
cut much, but to judge from the painful
expression on his squallid features he must
have suffered considerable. In an adi0in-
ing cell four human beings were confined
carrying around their nccks boards about
two feet square, which were casped on
them when first brought up for punishment
and are not removed until their terms expire
, Brass nails were driven through and pro-
trudcd at least al inch at tho bottom, serv-
ing to keep the shoulders Of the poor men
raw with the pricking caused by the slight
est move. Holding out their thin, trembling
hands they beg for food. a female was in
the room, Il sister of one Of the criminals,
bringing him food and bathing his head and
shoulders. | gave her Il few silver pieces,
aiId gave her to understand through the
guide that it was to be used to procure food
for her brother and companions. These
five being all the inmates at the time, we
started for the purcr air outside the walls.
AS Il general thing, long terms of coniine-
ment arc customary in China; grave often
scs are punished by dccapitntion, theft in
many being thus punished, lesser otIcnscs
by punishment like those just-witncsscd
and tlogging.
On our way out we passed that group of
dying wrctchcs in the open square, and no.
ticcd that one Of their number had disap-
peared; he expired few minutes after we
passed, and was by this time under ground.
Breathing the pure air again, and away from
80 much filth and misery, | could not help
being struck by the contrast of the fine
buildings, the handsome cqupngcs of the
wealthy, and the scenes Of human misery
and wrCt cfctlncss just Witnessed | found
my friend, who had chosen to examine the
more agreeable curiositics, in the rcsta,lran.
of the hotel dc Colonies, in conversation
with It's genial manager, MIR. Brown, Bal
tmorcan of fifteen years ago. 1t is truly
said that of the horrible stcnchcs the stencil
of dirty Chinese city, with its narrow
streets, its inhabitants, numbering many
thousands, is the most dsagrccablc.
READERS will please notice that the
few facts and incidents given are from the
dark side of Chinese life; they arc not all
of this one type and class. Although the
majority OF them may be rightly formed II
miserable, supcrsitious class of people, the
minority show to II decidedly better advan-
tagc They comprise merchants, mcclan-
les, servants, and followers of all vocations.
They dress more tastcfuly. In fact, II
Chllmmun In good circumstances wears np-
parcl consisting chiefly of silkcn and other
rare materials, his head and cue are always
kept in applc-pc order, and his features
are of more refined and agreeable cast.
Educated in the different branches of their
native language, great number of them
have mustered the English, and read and
write to perfection. They arc shrcwd in
business, and accumulate with lupidity.