St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-06-16
The Chinese AT Home.

The chief characteristics of the Chi
nese, as a 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 re
cess during the day. The emperor
and his court rise soon after midnight,
and court audiences are given between
five and eight o'clock in the morning.
This same industry is exhibited by all
classes. After sunset very few people
are in the streets. the Chinese, like do
mestic fowls, retiring early to rest.
There is no day corresponding to Sun
day, and only a few holidays in the
year. Busily us they toll, these peo-
pie are never i'll a hurry, are never
nervous and are not given to worry
ing; but are steady, cheerful and So
ber. They rarely quarrel and even if
they do, seldom come to blows. There
will be little que pulling, some call
ing of hard names and then the by
ISLANDERS will quietly separate the com
batants. 1t is not physical timidity
but IA sensitive consciousness of the dis
grace of fighting that keeps them from
engaging in brawls. That they are
not towards is well proven by the fast
that they submit without flinching to
the most severe surgical operations
without ever using anHsthetics. They
maintain that it is very injurious to
health to be nervous, to worry or to
give way to anger.
As a people, the Chinese do not de-
sire 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 if they are
apt to increase the taxes. The govern
ment of China is not nearly so aristO
cratic as foreigners are accustomed 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 Il
conflict between tie mandarin or gov
ernor of district and the people, if the
people are patient and commit no acts
of violence, the mandarin either yields
or is removed by the government. The
people have the prOfoundest respect
for precedent, and are, in fact, con-
servative. Although in the main they
use the same implements and materials
known to them for thousands of years,
yet their religion itself is an importa
ton 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 il truth telling people.
They give false evidence in trials, fur
nish false statistics, and even officials
present reports that are tissues of false
hoods. 1t is impossible to shame them
by exposing their untruthtulness. They
are not addicted to thieving, 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 writ
ings contain not one indecent word,
and their paintings and sculpture are
perfectly pure. Vulgar language is
never heard above the lowest classes.
All Cinnamon drink some wine, and Il
native beverage made of rice, but
drunkenness is absolutely unknown,
so that there are none of the evils of
intemperance there SO common here
wife heating, brawling and violence of
all kinds. The habit that curses the
nation, opium smoking, enervates the
physical, mental and moral nature, but
does Iot lead to violence. .- f. b. Drew.