The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-03-16
THE CHINESE AT HOME.
The Habits of Quiet and Industrious, if
Not Truthful, People.

From a Lecture Delivered by E.B B.Drew at New York
The chief characteristic of the Chi
nese, as nation, the speaker said, Ii
industry. Their working day begins
at dawn and lasts till sunset. School.
open at sunrise and do not close till
p. m., there being cut one short recess
during the day. The Emperor anC
his court rise soon after midnight, anC
court audiences are given between
and 9 o'clock in the morning. This
same industry is exhibited by al
classes. After sunset very few people
are in the streets, the Chinese, like
domestic fowls, retiring early to rest
There is no day corresponding to Sun
day, and only a few holidays in the
year. Busily rs they toll, these people
are never in "a hurry, are never nerv-
Gus, and not given to worrying; but
are steady cheerful and sober. They
rarely quarrel, and even if they do,
seldom come to blows. There will be
little queue pulling, some calling OF
hard names, and then the bystanders
will quietly separate the combatants.
1t is not physical timidity, but sensi
tive consciousness of the disgrace OF
fighting that keeps them from engag-
ing in brawls. That they are not
towards is well proven by the fact
that they submit without finching
to the most severe surgical operations
without using anesthetics. They
/ aint in that it is very injurious to
health to be nervous, to worry, or to
give way to anger.
AS people, the Chinese do not de-
sire voice In the government. The
common people are not pu bile spirited,
and are not only, through ignorance,
Indifferent to beneficial reforms, but
they oppose them strongly if they are
apt to increase the taxes. The gov
ernment of China is not nearly so
aristocratic as foreigners are accus-
toned to think it is, but when the
popular voice Is once aroused it is
sure to have great force. In any
case where there is conflict between
the mandarin or Governor of a dis
trict and the people, if the people are
patient and commit no acts of vio-
ience, the mandarin either yields or is
removed by the government. The
people have the profoundest respect
for precedent, and are, in fact, con-
stitutionauy conservative. Although
in the main they use the same imple-
ments and materials known to them
for thousands Of years, yet their re-
ligion itself is an importation from
India, and they use foreign watches.
needles, kerosene, sulphur matches,
cotton fabrics, etc. They are, as a
people, excessively polite, and their
ceremonial of social intercourse is to
foreigners painfully elaborate. 1t is
an error to suppose, however, that
they are a cringing race; they assert
their rights vigorously enough when
occasion calls.
They are not truth telling people.
They give false evidence In trials, fur
nish false statistics. and even officials
present reports that are tissues of
falsehonds. 1t is impossible to shame
them by exposing their untruthful-
ness. They are not addicted to thiev-
ing, however. There is much said
about the gross immortality of the
people. In China, at least, if it exists
it is not seen. There are societies for
the suppression of immoral books
The sacred writings contain not one
indecent word, and their painting and
sculpture are perfectly pure. Vulgar
language is never heard above the
lowest classes. All Cinnamon drink