New-York tribune., 1880-02-29
THE HELPLESS CHINESE LADIES.

From Mrs Grcys " Fourteen Months IN Canton"
was quietly watching all the movements around
me, and saw an amah take a little sponge cup
pudding into her hand break II into pieces and feed
her mistress with It. The same thing also happened
with the fruit A Chinese lady IS most dependent
upon her amah, she does nothing Tor herself; aud
they say that her garments are taken OIL by tho
amah at night and that she is lifted up and put
into bed like an infant.
ladies; they say. You all same as mon." They
certainly do not admire us neither our manners.
nor our dress. nor our Independence. They ask me
why do not dress like them, why do not rouge,
etc The ladies were very abstemiOus, only tasting
the champagne and sherry. The tea was evidently
a great comfort 80 them as IL was served IN their
own fashion. When our dinner was over, the ladies
proposed that ! should take them TO the Shameeu
gardens, which are at ten minutes distance from the
chaplancy. You would have been diverted
If you could have seen our party start
from the house. The ladies wore beauli-
fully embroidered robes; the undeIskrt
was I'm dark blue silk with raised embroidery
of shaded light blue flowers. The skirt sets ex-
tremely close, aud H. in fact, very narrow the
front piece OF II Is ald on and Is st with embrOd-
cry. Al the sides and back 10 Is folded INTO tiny
plaits and the embroidery IS worked on the outside
of each plat. There was border OF pale blue
shaded flowers round the edge OF the ladies skirts;
The trousers made IN plain dark blue SIX, ana
fine tunic I'm the same color and material. made
with wide flowing sleeves The throat aud sleeves
were edged with the shaded pale blue embroidery
The ladies. Oh arriving, apOlOUZed that tleY had
not on their best red costumes, saying that they
could not wear them on account OF their mourning.
The two Miss lIONquss dresses were planer IN
style than the DRESSES OF the elder ladies'. Their
shining long hair was worn in long plats. tied at
the end with blue ribbon. All my visitors Il mean
the lades were small-iooted excepting Mrs. How
qua. r,, u.,
fer in true Chinese style. and we started on our
walk. fet little shy OF stepping on to the public
prumeua ade with my Chinese friends Ihe young
ladies hObblcd "A few steps, but they soon became
tired and mounted the backs of their amahs. The
voung married lady was carried IN this manner all
4. | mn say I l.
being carried. The lady passes her haad around
the amahs neck, and places her knees In the hands
of the servant, which are held out behind her Our
nrogross was very slow and IL believe the distance
seemed immense TO the ladies, VINO are wholly uiI-
accustomed To walk outside their gardens. Mrs.
UOwQua rested on each bench 10y tho way. ana we
took halt hour OF more to walk the snort dis
tance. -,
we reached the chaplaincy tho amahs handed the
Iadie. long pipes, from which they took whit or
two The attendant stands behind and prepares
the pipe. When II is ready, she puts the end OF
the long tubo to the ladys lips who takes ono Or
two Whit, only. The ladies now enjoyed II quiet
GOSSIP with each other. / have not yet told YOU
that tho three young children belonging TO the
widowcr were dressed in street mourning. lie Ittle
girls wore plain cotton tunes and trousers, ana bad
no flowers IN their hair. Iholr shoes were PLAIN
white. bound WITH Dlue Inc lttle DH{ wore pam pam
ribbon he wore also white Shoes and his taIl was
tied with blue. The gentlemen expressed much
satisfaction with the dinner and also with the
wines 10 which heard they had done ample JUS
toe Mr. llOwqua came up 10 me and said. Thank
YOU No. good dinner"
All were now IN the yeranda. aud tea was again
handed The ladies sat apart from tie gentlemen,
not addressing them, only speaking 10 each other.
Ihey at last rose to take leave, and we ordered their
chairs to he brought into the hall. With many
bendings mods and chin chins, they now entered
their chairs, akingihe children with them, ana were
earned OIL The gentlemen LETT soon aftor, about Z
o'clock. they sent their visiting cards (which are
made of broad strips OF red paper having the names
written ON the right hand side. to us immediately
on reaching thor house. This Is an Eastern CUSTOM
sgniiyng that the guests have arrived hOine III
SAFETY.