The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-01
GIRLS IN CHINA.
The Suffering Incident to the Prevention
of the Growth of Their Feet.


The Suffering Incident to the Prevention
of the Growth of Their Feet.
When between six and eight years
OF age, my girl-cousins took that step
which affected all their after-lives. At
that age all well-born Chinese misses
have their feet bound. 1t is fashion
they are obliged to follow. If they do
not they would not be recognized as
ladies when they grow up. and they
would become disgrace to their fami-
lies Chinese aristocrats are as proud
and Jealous of their good name as the
bluest-blooded of European mobiles.
Any thing that lowers them in the eyes
OF their neighbors is carefully guarded
against. Accordingly, only the daugh-
tiers OF poor and humble parents are
permitted by society to retain the feet
as nature bestowed them.
The process of binding is gradual
one. From first to last, bands are
wound around the tender feet to pre-
vent their growth; but at first shoes are
worn nearly as large as the natural
size; IN year or so the shoes will have
to be smaller, and as the feet decrease
IN size till they attain to three or two
and a half inches in length, so shoes
are made to fit the lessened foot. But.
oh! the suffering that goes with it! This
never has been exaggerated in any ac-
count. Many time have l heard my
cousins groan with pain as the tortures
of binding were being undergone. Yet,
strange to say, those girls would not
have had exemption from the process
on any account. To be ranked as serv-
ants, working girls? Not they. The
Chinese young lady chooses to be fash
ionable even though she undergo tor
ture for several years and incur help
lessness for life.
Don't imagine, however, that Chinese
ladies are unable to move. They can,
most of them. walk short distances.
But it is true that the spirit is taken
out of them by this species of suffering,
and that they are oppressed by a sense
of physical helplessness and depend
ence.
The work that little girls in China do
is light. Triiing things about the cook
ing, such as shelling of peas or assort-
ing of greens, were given over to my
girl-cOusins. Between meals, the little
girls were taught to sew. embroider and
to spin flax. They were neverso happy
as when Il group of them sat together
at work; one would tell story. another
would follow with ballad, singing it
with that peculiar plaintive tone which
is considered 4 part of the ballad 5
charm. My cousins were early taught
to read and write, and in company with
us boys, until they were eleven or
twelve; then they were thought too old
to be left in the society of boys very
much; especially was it SO after some
young strangers came to our school.
which was established in the mems
living-rooms.
In closing this chapter wish to call
attention to the fact that Chinese girls
though you may think they lead a
humdrum sort of life, though it be true
that they are strangers to the exciting
gayeties enjoyed by American girls
are usually contented and think their
lot a pleasant one. 1t is the custom,
am aware, to represent Chinese young
ladies as languishing in their apart
ments and contemplating with fearful
eyes the walls that confne them. To
be sure. they do not have that excess OF
liberty by which SOME American girls
are spoiled; yet they are not kept I'M
der lock and key. They have that lib
erty which is consistent with our ideas
of propriety. They make visits, they
call on their neighbors, they go to thea
tiers, they see the sights, they witness
boat-races, and do many pleasant and
social things besides. But whatever
they do, there is always this limit
they are not permitted the acquaintance
of young men, And when they are
married, they are restricted to the So
ciety of their husbands. You perhaps
think their existence n failure. They
look upon the sort of life that Ameri-
can girls lead as very improper
Christian Union.