The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-12-05
The s'eina Of To-Day.
Boston Herald.l

and vicinity as 4 tea merchant aud the
first native OF China who became q
permiuent resident of Boston Scame to
this country aud established himself 10
the tea business, which he has carried
on for over twenty years on Union
street Mr. ar Shove married au
American lady, who died of cancer
nearly two years ago. leaving three
children by their Uuion-a son and
two daughters About nineteen years
ago Mr Ar Shove became a citizen of
the United States, being the first of
his race to apply for citizenship in
this country After the death of his
wife he sold out his interest in the bust
ness be had been engaged IN fer so
many years, and prepared to visit his
natise land. Something over 4 year
I age he went to China, aud remained in
that country eleven months, visiting
his native place and other parts of the
"Flowery Kingdom" He returned
to Boston a few weeks ago. and pro-
poses to resume business here He Is
lifty-&Ve years of age, but does not
look much over forty. He was sought
out by the Herald last week, and gave
his impressions en- China after long
absence. Said he:
"Eyerything in China seemed al
most as strange to me. when returned
there after an absence of over thirty
years. as it did to me when ] first came
to Boston. Living here during the
most active and mature portion Of my
life, I iubibed the tastes and habits of
the American people, and only thought
of my native land as a memory of long
ago. Everything, almost, seemed
strange to me when returned, and for
tine ! felt ike a stranger among a
strange people, though after time the
old habits and old associations seemed
TO come back to me and reconcile me
in part to my surroundings l. how
ever, found some difficulty in recalling
the language, when speaking 20 people
of education"
Would you Ike to live again in
Ching
well, I don't know 4 man cao
live there, I think, - happily as here
though. after becoming accustomed to
the Convenience Of
AMERICAN CIVILIZATION,
there are many things 10 that country
that would not suit him There is not
the opportunity for business there that
there is here. Still, it q man has pleu-
ty of money, ne can live we'll iu China
and enjoy himself
DO you think the Chinese civiliza-
ton is equal to ours2'
Il thiok it Is aot, especially so far
as the liberty aud Individuality Of men
and their opportunities for self devel
opmeut and enterprise are concerned
The Chinese are a very conservative
people They have their castes, and
II man outside the treaty ports or cit
ies-that Is, among the ungdujterated
Chinese p0pIlatiOn-were to attempt
TO assert his individuality by cutting
off his pigtail, weariog his hair ike an
American, or dressing ike one, ne
woul4 = laughed az aud made fun Of
BY everybody Individual taste, If it
leads 10 a deviation from the set forms
of society. is ir0wued down, and so
long as this feeling is prevalent IN Chi
IA, its people are slaves to custom, opin-
iou aud usage. But Chinese civiIiza..
ton has its good points Family ties,
blood relationship and 6lial respect and
affection are strong 10 China The fa-
ther is not held responsible for his
sons debts, but the son is responsible
for the debts of his father lie is
bound to support his father, if neces-
sarV. until he gets married and has a
family of his own to support Ii he
abuses his father-and even should the
latter become dissipated aud seem to
deserve 1.-THE law Furnishes him, and
not only Is be punished, but his
ueighbors living on all sides OF him are
fined. in addition, for not interfering
ard preventing the ilItreatment
Are quarreIs, assaults and murders
of freqent occurrence?
"AmoDg the lower and more brutal
classes these things occur as they do
here, but usually the people are quiet,
aud not given 10 strife.
"How are criminals dealt with?
Have they juries in China?'
.'No. there are 20 juries. Cases are
tried before a mandarin appointed for
this purpose, and the result is a good
deal like it IS here.
THE slIARTEsr LAWYER WINS THE
CASE
"Has money much influence in Sc :
curing immunity from punishment?'
Money is alI-powerful in China
It will do anything there as we'll as 10
other countries
"You don't mean to say that Govern
meut officials are corrupt in China?'
Il mean to say they are as corrupt
there as anywhere. Here is a high
officer who has charge of some large
Government work lie lets it out at
such price to some favorite, who
gives him 80 much for the job Or, if
fort or palace is to be buIlt, the man
DARN who has charge of the work may
get another to take the contract, while
he is really doing it HIMSELF"
You spoke of castles in China.
What are they2"
There are three general castes below
the Emperor, none of them hereditary
Tie first is the mandarins These are
of two classes-those who are in the
Government service and acquire their
title Of nobility By learning and schol
arship, and those who can purchase
the title. Of the latter, six grades,
namely of the red, blue, glass, porce
lain and gold buttons 4 mandarin
Of the red button ranks highest. while
be Of the gold baton ranks lowest.
In the higher class of mandarins the
gold button differing iu form from
that of the other class altogether) is
worn by men of the highest rank
The second caste comprises the mer
chants and men of wealth, and the third
the artisans and laborers."