The Osceola times., 1882-02-25
The Chinese AZ Home.
n. Y Tribune.

A large audencc gathered in the hall
of the Cooper Union last evening to
hear lecture by +. b. Drew, Commis-
sioner of Chinese Imperial Maritime
Customs. His subject was THE Chinese
at Home"
The CHIEF characteristic Of the Chi
nese, as nation, the speaker said, is
industry. Their working day begins at
dawn and lasts till sunset. Schools open
at sunrise and do not close till p. M,
there being but one short recess during
the day. The emperor and his court
rise soon after midnight, and court au-
diences are given between and s
O'Clock in the morning. This same in.
dustry is exhibited by all CLASSES. At
ter sunset very few people are in the
streets, the Chinese, like domestic fowls,
retiring early to rest. There is no day
corresponding TO Sunday, and only few
holidays Ia the year. Busily AS they
toll, these people are never in hurry,
are never nervous, and are not given to
worrying; but are steady, cheerful and
sober. They rarely quarrel, and oven if
they do, seldom come to blows. There
will be a little queue pulliag some call
ing Of hard names, and then the by
ISLANDERS will quietly separate the com
batauts. II is not physical timidlty, but
d sensitive consciousness of the disgrace
Of lighting that keeps them from eugag-
ing in brawls. That they are not cow
ards is well proven by the fact that they
submit without flinching to the most
severe surgical operations without ever
using anasthetics. They maintain that
ii is very injurious TO health TO be
nervous, to worry, or to give way 10 an
ger.
As people the Chinese do not desire
= voice in the government The common
people are not public spirited and are
not only, through ignorance, indifferent
to beneficial reforms, but they oppose
them strongly il they are apt to increase
the taxes. The government of China is
not nearly so aristocratic as foreigners
are accustomed to think it is, but when
the popular voice is once aroused il is
sure TO have great force. In any case
where there is a conflict between the
mandarin, or governor Of district, and
the people, il the people are patient and
commit no acts violence, the mandarin
either yields or is removed by the
government. The people have the pro
fOundest respect for precedent and are,
in fact, constitutionally conservative.
Although in the main they use the same
implements and materials known to
them for thousands OF years, vet their
religion itself is an importation from
India, and they use foreign watches,
needles, kerosene, sulphur matches, cot
ton fabrics, etc. They are, as a people.
excessively polite, and their ceremonial
OF social intercourse is to foreigners
painfully elaborate II is an error to
suppose, however that they are a cring-
ing race; they assert their rights vigor-
ously enough when occasion calls.
They are not truth telling people.
They give false evidence in trials, furn-
lsh false statistics, aud even officials
present reports that are tissues of false
kood. II is impossible to shame them
by exposing their runtruthiulUess. They
kre not addicted TO thieving, however.
p'here is much said about the gross i'm
morality Of this people. In China, at
least, if it exists It is not seen. There
kre societies for the suppression of inn
)noral books. The sacred writings con
Jain not one indecent word and their
paintings and sculpture are perfectly
ure. Vulgar language is never heard
ebpVe the lowest classes All Cinnamon
rrlnk some wine, a native beverage
hade Of rice, but drunkenness is abso-
|ntely unknown, 50 that there are none
pf the evils of intemperance there so
common hefe-wiie beating, brawling
1nd violence of all kinds. The habit
3hat curses the ma tion, opium smoking
fnervates the physical, mental and NOR
y nature but does not lead TO yio-
cnce,