The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-03-15

once for the ste tow or first shave.
This ceremony, in n religious sense. cor
responds to infant baptism as practiced
by most Christian denominations of
this country; but il is attended with
more expense. The ceremonies are also
OF more animated and joyful nature
The eventful day having arrived, all
OF the aged men and women relatives
OF the family being present by invita-
ton, great feast is spread, of which
all partake. During it progress three
venerable old ladies, with three gentle
men also of venerable appearance, are
selected to perform the ceremonies.
The first part consists in Offering a sac
rifice of burnt offerings to the gods
above and the gods below. Such burnt
Offering consists of whole pigs, chick
ems, fowls and incense-sticks. While
these are burning the parents join in
offering up their heartfelt thanks, CRATE
fully and with joy acknowledging them
selves the recipients of the choicest
blessing Heaven could bestow. This
part of the ceremony over, the three old
ladies proceed to roll up their great
silken sleeves preparatory to giving the
fortunate youngster his first shave,
| which, by the way, is not performed
with a razor upon the chin, but with a
pair of shears upon the crown of the
head.
We use the word shaving" but it
would be nearer the correct word if we
should call it ''shearing." The manner
of performing this shearing, as well as
the queer figure outlined upon the
| baby's pate, is really comical. While
the old ladies are busily engaged in
their, to them, very agreeable task,
baby is protesting against the perpetra-
ton of this outrage upon his crown with
all the strength of his little lungs, sup
plemented by vigorous kicks of his
sturdy little legs. and frantic clutching
of the chubby hands at anything and
everything within his reach.
At length the ordeal is over, the old
ladies having clipped and cropped until
they are satisfied. Baby's head is a
sight to behold. An American barber s
heart would ache, could he contemplate
the artistic labors of those venerable
danes, and the baby himself would bel
low like a young OK could he behold in
glass the terrible looking head he has
had put on him by those from whom he
has every reason in the world to ex-
pect better treatment. | really think
that if the innocent little one knew
what those old ladies were about while
fussing around his little head, he would
decide to rest content with his hair in
the shape nature fashioned it, "by q
large Majority
After the hair is cut then come the
three venerable old gentlemen aforesaid
accompanied by their wives Ono widow
widower, bachelor or old maid being al
lowed to officiate), who suggest name
or names appropriate, in their estimation
to bestow upon the child. These ole
gentlemen generally pretend to knsN
something about astronomy, and while
discussing the different names suggest
ed, make a pretense of consulting the
moon and stars, as though to deter
mine astrologically upon the NAM
which they deem most proper for tht
young Celestial to bearl
knew of a boy whose birthday fel
upon leap year, and on the twenty
third day of the very month that, &C
cording to Chinese chronology, was thu
: extra month of that year. After tn,
: astronomers had studiously searched
, the armament for a suitable name TO
him they decided that the infant shoulC
r be called "Yuen S. ST." that is, ''leap
, year in the fourth MOON" for it wa
the first moon, or month of that yea
that had its additional month.
l wonder how one of my reader
: would have liked it if parents hat
r named him "St Patrick's Day in tn
3 Morning." had his birthday CHANGED t.
g fall upon the seventeenth day of March
t "What strange fashions the Chimes
t have! " you doubtless exclaim, to whicl
: l readily give assent, for to you they ar
9 no doubt both strange and odd.-Edl
4 tor of the Chinese american d
r Youths Companion.