Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-04-13
Liz Ia china.

Family ties, blood-relationships and
flial respect and affection are strong IN
China. The father is not held RESPONSE
bic for his sons debts, but the SON la
responsible for the debts of his father.
he is bound TO support his father, il
necessary, until he gets married and
has family Of his own to support. III
he abuses his father-and even should
the latter become dissipated and seem
to deserve 1.-THE law Furnishes him,
and not only is he punished, but bis
neighbors living on all sides Of him are
fined, for not interfering and prevent
ing the i'll treatment.
There are no newspapers in China.
Every town has its market, and two
markets are held daily-morning and
evening. All events of importance are
buIletined in the market-place every
day at the expense of the municipality.
There is no mail system In China. IL
man wishes to write to friend In N
distant place, he must wait until he
finds some one going to that place, and
intrust his letter To him for delivery.
in such service there is no surety of
the letter reaching it's destination. This
Is realized BY Cinnamon in this country,
who get only very few Of the letters
sent them by their friends, while their
letters in turn frequently miscarry.
There are no liquor saloons il China.
The people drink spirits made from
rice, as well as gin, and, among the
wealthy, wines, liquors, brandies, etc.
are used; but this use of spirits is most
ly during meal time. Tippling is un-
known in China. If man wants to
drink, he can buy his liquor at the gro
cery store and take ii to his house for
use. No license to sell is required.
Any dealer can sell it freely. During
my stay Of eleven months in that coun-
try, says writer, T did not see an
intoxicated person.
Rice, meats Of various kinds, poultry,
and fish, are the staple food. A man
can live on fifteen cents day in China
twelve for meats and three for rice.
All classes use rice, which is the main
article of food in the kingdom.
There is no such thing as eourting
among young people in China. The
bride and bridegroom never see each
other until they are about TO become
man and wife. Their courting il all
done by their parents. Let us suppose
that you have son and daughter
OF marriageable age, and we are friends.
You tell me that you want to get your
son married, and ask il 7 am willing to
give my daughter to him. I say yes, r
have seen your son and like him, but
you have not seen my daughter. But
yon hire female broker to go and
inspect my daughter, which she does,
for a consideration. Indeed, this is a
regular business, and many make good
living out of it. She visits my house,
sees and talks with my daughter. finds
that her feet are so small that she can
hardly walk-that absurd custom Of
deforming the feet is still very prevalent
in China-and returns and makes most
fattering report. Then you and I come
together, and give you written paper
embodying my consent to the union,
while you, in like manner, signify your
approval, and give me the paper signed
BY you, and the engagement is COM
pleted. You then cause great num-
7 Der cf sweet cakes to be sent to my
daughter from your son, and these are
given around to our friends as an an
nouncement OF the betrothal of our
daughter. The marriage itself may not
take place for month, SIX months or b
year after the engagement, according
to agreement. There is no religious
ceremony Of marriage il China. "A
friend Of the bridegroom's family
usually man Of responsibility and po-
sition-is chosen, who reads the mar
riage ceremony from book which
binds the couple; who. before that time.
had been strangers to one another, to
live together during life. It is rare In
deed that these marriages turn out un-
happily.
In case tried recently At Somervilles
Tenn, the color line was conspicuous
but equitable. The jury was composed
Of six white and six black men. The
counsel on one side was black and tho
49, ~m1err