Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-12-05

They wore wider shoes than their
mother-perhaps to accommodate the
bandages with which their feet were
probably being compressed-and, like
her, each had a bangle of twisted silver
on the right wrist. The whole flock
ranged themselves near her, standing,
and gave the utmost attention to what
was going on. Their faces were bright
and full of intelligence, and they seemed
of about the ages OF fourteen, twelve,
seven, and five. There was baby, but
we did not see it. The mother held up
her fingers to signify that she had five
children.
AS the professor and interpreter did
not appear, they were inquired for; and
she said "Bos-son," waving her hand
to indicate that they had gone to Bos
ton. She took our cards, and endeav-
ored to repeat the names which were
pronounced for her, and the children all
did the same; and the whole party
seemed extremely eager to learn. Her
manners were very gentle and pleasing,
and thoroughly those of a lady her face
had docile and rather winning expires
sion, and must be considered very pretty
according to the Chinese ideas of
beauty. whose highest type must have
jct-black hair, a large forehead, small,
well set eyes, a short nose, rather wide
mouth, and broad face. Her features
were regular, after their pattern; her
olive complexion had fresh cast, and
she had an animated expression when
trying to talk.
She is below the average height of
American women, and evidently slight,
although the Chinese fashion of dress,
which is intended with both sexes and
all ages to conceal the form, instead of
displaying it, as with us, is such that
nice distinctions of size and shape are
out the question.
She also had the long finger nails
which are so noticeable in the Chinese
upper classes, supposed in the origin of
the usage to have been intended to in
dictate that their owners were not under
the necessity of working for q living,
although hers were not like those of
the opulent and aristocractic lady whom
Senator Stewards family visited. which
were not only polished and stained to
resemble tortoise shell, but were pro-
tected each one by gold case like a
short thimble. Her hair which was
combed straight back, was made into an
oval knot low down at the back of her
head; and lengthwise over this was IL
broad clasp shaped like q sword-hilt,
in variegated colors, and crosswise
through it was long bodkin like bon
net-pin with colored knob.
She had on petticoat of blue silk,
and a loose upper garment of lighter
blue fitting close round the neck where
it was finished with gold braid, with
which the edge that Tapped across the
fl ont was likewise trimmed. Besides
this. there was a band of colored en-
broidery about the shoulders.
These Chinese silks, such as are worn
by their own people of rank, and which
are seldom sold to go out of the empire
any more than their choicest favored
teas are-have peculiar crinkle and
luster and elasticity which no manu-
| facturers in Western countries have ever
been able to attain to; as is true, also
of their elaborate embroidery, which is
done in very dainty patterns and in
marveilously- brilliant colors, and often
finished so that both sides of the work
are alike, all the ends of floss and gold
thread being carefully concealed. There
is such i quality of springiness about
these silks that you can squeeze yards OF
the fabric into the smallest possible com
pass and it will come out without a
crease, and will wash like linen and last
through years of wear. The story is
that this is owing to their methods of
managing the silkworms, which are so
sensitive that they are affected by noise,
want ofcleanlinessa and rough handling.
1t is further said that great deal de-
pends on the process of weaving, which
is all done on hand looms set on the
ground, from the belief that the mois-
ture of the earth causes a gloss not
otherwise to be had.
We had been told that where callers
had found the Mandarin at home, he
had appointed day on which tereturn
the call, probably according to the ma
tional forms of etiquette; so we were in
daily expectation of their appearance al
our door, and anxious to be at home
that we might not miss the pleasure.
Meanwhile, the family were to be seer
going in coach to .pay visits which
came in order before ours. Sometimes
the interpreter was to be met in the
market buying chickens, if on rainy
day, with dark.blue Chinese umbrella
over his head at other times the Man
DARN was observed out walking in {
black silk gown with blue sleeves
green silk trousers, black skull cap anC
white shoes trimmed with light blue
moving along in dignified and mea
sured way, while the interpreter fol
lowed, keeping the distance of abou
four feet always between them.
On the fifth day, while we were a
dinner, the door bell rang, and the gir
who answered it came into the room
, With two cards in her hand, announcin,
to us with looks of mingled amazemen
and dismay that "there's whole loa,
of colored folksn"
But we all, with one accord, cried
"Why, they are the Chinesew and witt
one accord, likewise, we sprang up fron
! the table, and rushed to the parlor, th
, venerable head of the house tagging be
n'nd, however, to put on his bettermos
r coat. in which to do honor to the Man
= DARN. The cards, let me say, were sim
l pie visiting cards, on one of which wa
/ engraved, "Mr. Ko Kun-Hua."
l The coachman, having seen them a
4 out, had returned to his seat, add the
e were coming along the piazza, whic
;, they almost seemed to cover with thei
f ample robes, being so many, the pro
fessor and his wife, the two girls, an
:, the interpreter. The lady came in frs
g with sort of grace in spite of her feet
r then her husband and the children, eac
q shaking hands all round before takin
d their seats.
Il And now tremendous mistake WI
:. made-the interpreter was offered
k chair. And he is never allowed to sit
is he would never presume to do such
e thing in the presence of a mandarin
n Consequently he remained STANDING
/, though one after another of the fami
ir said, "Take n seat" Then arrived {
lie the scene the laggard gentleman of ii
ID house, who had been all this time &c
Z, ting on his coat; and he, after the han
il shaking was over, said to the interpr
/ ter. who still stood as firm as q nos