The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1885-11-20
Queer Customs in China.

y
them many curious mementoes of
their stay IN the celestial empire and
many strange ard amusing stories
OF the customs of the people.
"Of course we takesthe New York
papers, said DR.. Park. We've
got to do that 10 keep abreast Of the
times. There are many newspapers
in China, but they are stale, always.
Their 4irculaiiOn Is small, because
the people, as rule, don't like to
read The news of the day is circu-
lated at the tea-lrlnklng. shops in all
the cities where the people congre-
gate IN the evening. A few who
haye read the daily papers do the
talking, the others gathering around
to hear the news. and all comment
ing upon what is of interest.
''The empress foot?" he continu-
el, in answer 10 an inquiry. "Oh.
YES, it's OF a pretty good size; about
No 2, should Judge. There have
never been any clamps on her foot.
But the ladies OF the imperial court!
Their little, defsrmed, shapeIes>
feet are cur.ositias. Some Of these
elegant ladies came to the hospital
one day aud l had the pleasure OF
showing them through the instiiu~
ton, They were accompanied by
numerous attendants, whose chief
duty seemed to be 0 support their
mistrv sse., fol, actuaiy, the latter
were not able to stand alone, niue.
legs to walk. Their feet, think
did not exceed fo4r inches in length.
lone night at 500 Chow l was
awakened by ouderinging Of gongs.
SO unusual WAS the soun,l that l got
ap, dressed aud went out in the
street, expecting to see the wao!e
city On fire. But it was only 4
Policeman patrollinG his tcat. The
operations golthe police are al "per
aud above board They wouId
rather frighten thiot than arrest
hirl. They patrol the streets a.
night armed with lanterns and gong'
beating the latter, and any offender
within hearing Of the unearthly
noise has ample time fer disappear
ing.
I'm America the Chinese have a
reputation for thievery; l don'l
know why. In my experience with
them | have discovered that they
follow the old rule of the horse
tn eff; never t. steal a -h"rse-unlcsr
he is the fastest horse in the neigh
! b0rhool l mean to say thaL they
meyer steal when there's the slighte&
possibility of being directed
W aen they do steal, however, they
steal syste Inatically and in gangs
| These gangs are all reeponsibIo, ant
are obliged :" report to the consli
tuted head Of the protection, ca lee
til. king. lie is in with tho oAicial
of the different cities, and anyon'
familiar With the fact and possessed
0 sufficient means mced rever los
anything IN China, tor al he has +
d. 10 secure the return Of stolel
property is to make these oilici,Is
? reasonable offer for it.
! "The Chinese city, as rule, h
no fire department, and it Is IT,
duty of the constable to preYen
fires breaking out, failure to do s
/, being considered neglect, and sui
j jccting MIN 10 public tloggin:
= While =aciive fire WAS rasia
: IN SuoIChow, IN the course Of m
r visit there, the populace, instead {
a ms king al atten.pt 10 quench Il
; flames, devoted their entire sttentis
TO the whipping Of the poor const
> lie, who vas 70 ui fortunate as to i
caught looking on the scene.
=" nave learned since that q
7 constable is permitted to hire
- substitute to tnke his GaTping@ J
: paws the man small monthiy al
x ~ to fill this place, but i! The fsl.'
IL haoIfens nut to lie preseui in g.
OF an emergency, the constable Iii
u self is made to utter. or coun
Whenever lie takes a tlrashing,
" de,iuot~ So much from he pay Of t
~a3~til
In the matter Of suic.a a' the
e Is !, curious analogy il Ghinz 90
ii caletan J. En@aaI = NY.
he he buly Of On" W. has '.t"n
b: own life ct cr,,@. 'os-is sef'i. a st
.rol4h TIE body. l.. China
Of hoiy . ole no is 20 iricve7cr
.as- t commit 81, CT e within ih. TrccI
fpl II that iml,eriaI court IS s:tuai'.
nrt- soL.muly bought ts some Pu'
place l,ndge, for instance