Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-01-27
GIRLS AND WOMEN
As THEY ARE ESTIMATED AND eoU-
GATED IN CHINA
Daughters More Profitable Than Sons
Etiquette, Marriage Laws and Gus
toms Health oG the Average
Chinese Girl-At Home.


IBrooklyn Eagle
From a financial standpoint. raising
daughters in thina is far more profitable
than raising sons. There Is almost sure
return for every dollar invested and fire.
queBtly heavy interest in the former,
while the latter are often accompanied
with loss. Wives ARE not bought In
q sort of genieel redemption In presents
incurred in bringing up her daughter.
quent redemptions often cost the unfor-
the wife would bring II put up at auc-
would pay double the amount expended
on the bargain
erroneous impression as to Chinese social
life. suggested in the trite remark tho
chinese are partial ~ male infants and
that the females are not much thought
Of These quote from Gut cali
There is. perhaps, no nation except Tur-
key in which the females are less seen
solute seclusion from the public gaze,
both in the street and at home makes
them strangers to their own race This
is so true that | can safely say that
married men in China do not know the
opposite sex. except through their own
wives WOmsnhocd Is SO sacred that it
is shut in and begirt by pre-, ,udices and
customs more completely than by hi.
nese wall
Women associate with women and men
with men upon all occasions and under
all circumstances This is stringently car
ricd out in all well regulated Chinese
families. Even brothers and sisters are
not allowed TO eat at the same table. but
have their separate servants and meals.
In China private dive lings are butt in
such manner as to prevent visitors Of
the opposite sex from meeting or even
seeing the women Of family. Under
these circumstances It might seem dir cult
to describe the condition of the Chinese
women and their treatment But the con-
dition and treatment are formulated by
the common law of China. They have
been taught, generation after generation,
at school and fireside. and have become
the public and private law Of the land
Exceptions are treated as misdemeanors
and are punished accordingly. The girl
Of re [ hi Ii is brought up on the same
basis her sisters in hsnghai.
With all due respect to the demagogues
and bigots. | am certain that the health Of
the average Chinese girl and woman is su.
perior to that of their Occidental sister
The fashionable doctor Of the great cities
of Christendom would srve in the popu.
lous capitals Of the Middle ingdom In re.
spect " domestic comfort and happiness
the hinese | aterfamilias stands head and
shoulders over the American While
in the store and otce the hus band rules
supreme. in the house the wife ID lady
paramount From babyhoOd she has
been trained in household dutiea The
government Of servants. the rearing Of
children and the management of the home
are to her household words. From the
wedding day she is. to combine the slang
of the Orient and Occident. both boss and
oss of the family. 1t may. there
fore. please the leaders of
the woman's rights organization 10 know
that in our land women reigns supreme
in all domestic relations While women
are educated. and well educated, they can
not gain literary honors like men Their
culture is what is required BY and for the
family. In cooking. marketing. medi-
cine. music, art de corations aud bellies let
tiers they are universally well informed.
In science. business. politics and state
craft they are ignorant to the last degree
Their education 10 practical as well ~
theoretical The educated girl paints.
raises silk worms. makes,
spins and weaves silk. carves. enamels.
grows fine vegetables sr breeds animals
for the markets. and thus frequently
makes o good living for both herself and
her parents. Many of the handsomest
robes and most beautiful tissues In the
New York market are from the hands Of
young girls of good families IN China
Where IN America thousand women
have mastered the jacquard lovm . mill.
ION have in hinA
The most important part Of her educa-
ton is that which concerns personal con-
duct Neatness. courtesy and cleanliness.
the arts of holding the tongue still An un-
known art il would seem in the New
World. Of preparing an enjoyable meal
and Of managing . home-Clese are the
first requisites Of feminine culture Her
of medicine ID sptly repre-
sented by that gained by the lectures
given in this lsnd on the first aid 70 the
injured. and is rather the knowledge Of
4 professional nurse than that of . physi.
clan. Her savtir faire is developed partly
by home experience and partly by visits
to her grandmothers. aunts and sisterA
Manners are broader term in China than
in America They include affection,
self sacrifice, devotion and forthoueht -
well Is that Of address and good language
The recognition and appreciation Of all of
them IL q religious ss well as q social and
personal duty. A Chinese wife and
mother fulills the functions of her Fee
both from the fear and awe of Buddha,
amt from the love she bears her husband,
children and family.