Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-02-15
Home Life of the Chinese.

The chief characteristic, said a re-
cent lecturer on the Home Life of the
Chinese, of the sons of China is their
untiring industry. Their work begins
with the dawn and continues until dark
ness comes. The Emperor and Court
rise soon after midnight and receive the
Ministers and delegations until s a. M.
The schools open at sunrise and close
at p. m. In the tea cleaning rooms
one will see dozens of chattering women
at work with countless children under
their feet, and these women work all
day for SIX cents each. The New Year
is about the only time when they take
any relaxation. and that lasts for five or
ten DAYS, This is a season Of feasting
and pleasures, of professions, open air
theatricals and paying debts, and at its
close the same round of ceaseless toll
begins again for another year. On one
occasion while party of us was passing
through country town Open-air theatri-
Gals were going on and the whole popu-
lation was out to witness them. We
had almost passed by without being no.
ticed, when one of the native saw us and
at once the cry of ''Yung Kretza. which
means "foreign DEVIL" was raised, and
the whole crowd. followed by the heavy
villain and the prima donna of the
company, were in hot pursuit of us.
''Foreign deyil" is the appellation given
to all foreigners. 1t was simply cu-ios-
ity that led them after us. and we
were only moles ted by their shouts and
curiosity.
The Chinese seldom get excited when
working, and muleteer when his ami
mails gets stuck in the mud takes out his
pipe and smokes until they get rested
and then carries half the load himself
instead of lashing the anin. They
are also very peaceable and seldom re-
sort to blows or knives. They pull each
others queues and shout and then are
separated. They are not cowardly
race, for, as soldiers, they have been
tried and found brave. They also will
endure without wincing the most pain
fuI surgical operations. They are not
an aggressive or fighting race, but when
once aroused and on fire become as
bloodthirsty as other nationalities. They
believe in taking thing easy. and ''Bea
chow che," which means don't worry
or get angry, is a much used express
sion.
They are Indifferent to new measures
or reforms, or changing any of their old
customs. The common people are gen.
orally too ignorant to understand the
benefits of the proposed reforms, ard
especially opposed to them if they bring
any increase of taxes.
They are constitutionally conserva-
tive. A certain Mandarin was asked to
present a cup for race one time, and
said that, as his predecessor hadn't
done so, he of course could not think OF
doing so.
What is and has long been they hate
to change. 1t is almost vain to try
and sell hoes and plows in China, as
they still use their old Implements.
There are, however, some innovatio Is
taking place. Vaccination has been
in vogue among them since 1905; glass
is used instead of paper, and kerosene
is rapidly replacing other oils on account
of its cheapness.
A guest is treated with the most pro-
found politeness and many salaams. In
fact, poGteness ia a principals trait Of
their character. The guest gets the
seat Of honor. The host and the guest
sink simultaneously into their seats, and