The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-06-03
MRS. All SIN.
INDOOR LIFE OF CHINESE LADIES OF
RANK
Houses of the Rich NIandarins--A Chinese
ParIOr-ThOse Who Have Small
Feet-WOmen of the Work
ing CIasses-Features.

m o. Times Democrat Translation from Figaro.l
Far less mysterious and poetical than the
yelled women of own Mediterranean
Orient-Turkisb, Egyptian, Syrian, Mo
rescue, Arabian-the great Chinese ladies'
lead, nevertheless, an indoor life, beyond the
reach of vulgar eyes or public contact.
When they do go out, they are always &C
coInpanied by numerous servants, the palan-
quin IS entirely closed up, its windows are
covered with curtains of unpenetrable gauze,
one cannot even distinguish the shape OF the
woman within the palanquin-whic is al
ways decorated with the in-ignia of the
privileged class
A mandarins wife must not show her elf
under risk OF being sullied by the gaze of the
populace She share3 tie honors of her nus
band, gives part IN her own hOu=e, visits
ner female frieais, but tie street IS forbid
den to her
In the hou es of the rich nlandarins there
are always several courts-little open yards
through which one has TO pas before
reaching the fsmale apartments. which are
always separated from those Of the
men. The married people alone occupy the
same room; every otter member OF the
family must occupy a separate room
The most luxurious Chinese upholstery and
furniture never invites one to idle repo5e-ln
fact the best furnished house is barely COM
Portable The bed has no spring; but has a
with silk: and padded counterpanes which
are all rolled up in mass during the day.
Such a bed represents a perfect square,
covered like a catafalque. The lighter furni-
ture, of a very handsome hard wood, are
stiff-looking; the tables are usually heavy,
massive, solid; but have seen some light
ones made of bamboo.
A Chinese parlor always looks like a coun-
Gil hall. Against the center of the wall at
the further end, divan is always placed,
covered with very thin mattresses. At
either side is row of chairs; and on the
floor beside each chair is u magnificent por-
celain vases-precisely the same as those
Chinese vases we u 80 for manteiplece orna-
ments-these vases are used simply spit
toons
Lanterns symmetrically disposed, fill the
parlor with pale light. Nothing ever ap-
pears disturbed, even animated, IN these
vast and glacial rooms during winter. Pain
fully the Chinese ladies move their little feet
over the slippery floors, or over strips OF
Pelkin carpet
Chinese ladies wear robes of silk of any or
every color. their frightful little feet pro
trude from the legs of straight pair or satin
pantaloons-mucb like the European gar
ment in form The custom of martyrizing
the feet always affects the legs, which in
variably become thin, atrophied, or de-
formed
Little feet are not admitted to the imper-
ial court Only the daughters of Tartar gem
erals are admitted to the emperors palace
and these Tartar girls are never subjected to
the torture of having their feet deformed.
The hair of the Chinese women is thick,
black, smooth without ever CLEAN IN it
dead black This is one of the things which
do not admire in them; but it Is a distinct
characteristic of the race.
The Chinese women love their children
y, or.I Na1 hTyf
The story about Chinese infants being
thrown into the river is pure humbug. Inc
affection shown to their children by the
women of the lower classes is often very
touching; they carry them strapped to theil
shoulders even while at work.
1t must not be supposed that one ChlneSe
woman exactly resembles another Chimes
woman-it were just rational to say that
all French women look alike. The race-typt
is the same; but the physiognomy IS very
different 1 have seen fine aquiline noses
long or oval faces. But all these womeI
have bright, intelligent, decided, energetic
features Their costume is simple, very
graceful; and some little jewel of jade al
ways glimmers in the ear, or on the swarthy
arm
The working woman runs, goes every
where. She has the bold, brusque manner
of the person who is wholly self-dependent
and is conscious of her force to do AMI dare
She is the exact counterpart of the aristo
cratic lady who staggers about upon he
little feet
A good example OF Chinese high life !
shown by the TACT that If anyone asks VIVA
sort of a wcmLn some great mandarin ma
married, tine al,wer IS always given, "4I
an air Of shocked surprise: "Ohi Woma'
with little feet of courSe!R That IS to say
he has not MARI led beneath him