The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-12-19
A BABY OF HIGH DEGREE,
THE INFANT DAUGHTER OF THE
CHINESE MINISTER TO THE
UNITED STATES.
The Fetes that Have been and WIN he
Given In Her Honor.
From the National Republican. |

Minister, and the representative OF the
RepHJHcan had called TO inquire about
the health Of the Ministers baby daugh.
ter. Tsu Shan Pung, First Secretary
OF Legation, had said that the very
young lady was in excellent health and
spirits and was growing rapidly. Then
the reporter said he had very delicate
question to ask, and begged the Secre-
tary not to be offended, but If the in.
Qniry was a violation OF Oriental eti.
quette to at once inform him and they
would talk about the weather or some
other harmless subject at is custom
airy, you know" continued the reporter,
'fn this country to publish quite min.
ute details Of the private life OF high
bonn babies. and"
~ understand" said the Secretary,
over whose face there had crept smile
Of appreciation and amusement, "you
want to Know about the baby's feet
Some one has said that they are already
bound. assure you that il is no such
thing. Her feet are just like any Amer.
lean babys."
Bat is it not true that the growth OF
the feet OF noble Chinese girls is stopped
early in life?'
Certainly it il true, Just as it is true
dat the waists Of all high born hmeri-
can ladies' are compressed, ind the Sec
rotary illustrated by COMPRISING his
own rather slender waist with his two
hands. "Io make the ladies' feet mall,
lie continued, 'is Chinese fashion TO
make their waists small an American
fashion. II is demand of fashion or
custom in both cases, and nothing
Iaorr.'
IS whnt age are the feet bonnd?"
"Whcn the little girl is Fix on seven
years old. The process is 20 gradual,
that, think, there is 10 pain about it
whatever; no more than when al Ameri.
can girl binds her waist"
ais there nothing peculiar, then about
the very early life Of Chinese maiden =
"Nothing in the world. She il inst
like an American baby. About two
months ago the members Of the Chinese
Embassy celebrated the day when she
was q month old by dinner at Worm
lcy's. The next celebrationin her honor
will he when she is old enough to 90 to
school Then there will be another din.
ner. There will be no more festivities
! for her then until she is married."
"Whon will she be old enough to go
to school ?"
when she is seven or eight years
old"
~ suppose you mean by going to
school that M insiructress will be
brought into the iamiy?"
mot always. Sometimes rich little
Chinese girl will have n governess in the
house, but often several wealthy families
employ n tutoress together and send
their children to her for instruction. II
is q private school"
just then there came down from the
upper regions Of the house long, vigor.
ous, infantile wall.
There" sad the Secretary, laughing
''is n Chinese baby crying in good Eng.
lish."
as sho the Minister'S first child?"
ooh, no. He has several children at
home, but this is the first one and the
first Chinese baby born III Washington.
She IL great pet for the Minister and
his wife"
"And would be of all the Embassy, |
suppose, if she was only boy ?"
ooh, that makes no difference. Lit.
tic hoyB and girls are treated alike. II
is only when they are grown that our
etiquette requires the seclusion of the
ladies'.
Tho reporter inquired with much eau
ton and fear OF offending why il was
that the Chinese Minister'S wife did not
receive and did not so ont at all.
"Thnt, said the Secretary, "is only
because she does not speak English, and
it would he highly improper, according
to our etiquette, for n gentleman 10
J translate for her. Neither does the Min.
jster speak English, and there il no one
who could translate for his wife"
Glow is it that the Minister cannot
'peak English when you speak it so
well ?"
ii acquired tho language in Hong
Kong, but the Minister is now mn OH
man, about siIty-one years old; never.
llclcss he is studying the language
hc'urnng tothe more interesting sub.
leci OF tho ladies', the reporter suggested
that the wife Of the Chinese Minister at
Paris WIG quite a inyorite in society and
went on % '.
"Fhat is" said tho Secretary. "be-
cause thc has very charming lady
daughter, highly educated, and SPEAK.
mG European languages well. She can
lransntc Tor Lcr mother"
us tho Ministers wife the only Chi.
nesr lady hcre?"
"Ycs; The other members of the En-.
missy. if they arc married. must leave
'hClr wives Mt home. Tho Minister'S
wife has two Chinese maids with hor.
Int there is really no room for any more
ladies' in tho house," said tho Secretary.
laughing Ito then explained that the
Term ot office OF the members of tho En-.
baS.Sy was three years, after which thew
md ak months leave of absence in
which to go to China and visit their
inmliles before returning, if they did 70.
ulln, which WAS optional with them.
The present is the second Chinese en-.
oes9y, and there ARE but two members
OF 1t who were here with the first En-.
bassy.. As the Secretary said, three
years Is quite long enough to be separo.
ted from ones family. The seclusion Of |
no Minister'S vito has not been pencr.
any understood, but the Secretary Stated |
hat the reason given above was tho only
one. She occasionally goes out riding.
9nt makes no calls and has no society
me advent OF the baby must have been
a blessing to her secluded life.