Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-10-25
CHINESE MANNERS.


You Are Asked TO Dinner and Then Told How
tn Behave
In China all the actions of life are sup
posed to be regulated by a book called
the Iii hi, or the Book of Rites" say
the Youths Companion. This BOOK,
which is said % make it easier to be 20.
lite la China than any where else, because
politeness is subject TO more fixed regu-
lations, has been in largo part trausl 9ted
into Engs.sh by JSmoa Legge, professor
OF Chinese in the university at Oxford.
The Chinese Is surrounded with rites aud
regulations from ais birth TO his grave,
very many OF which are exceedingly gro.
tesque and trivial TO US.
When q Chinese makes visit 60 an ac.
quaintauoe be sends IN his ordinary visit
ing card or billet, on which is written:
the tender and sincere friend OF your
lordship, aud the perpetual disciple OF
your doctrine presents himself TO pay his
duty aud mako his reverence even to the
earth
The master so tao kouse meets at the
door bis visitor, who drmly refuses to
cutter arst; the ghost then makes him
profound bow, aud they so ia together,
There les q similar scene at the stairway.
After e long exchange OF formaties, thoy
SO up side by side, but the visitor 10
obliged Go step on the drst stair wish HIS
right foot, while the man of the house
puts his left foot first. Any ghiusmAn
who omits these fOrmaltics is regarded rs
very ill~brsd.
In conversation tho host pud gueat
never think of usiug the pronouus I and
yum Instead of saying 81 am very sen
sible Of the service you have done me-"
they will say: The service that the lord
or the doctor hiss done for his meAnest
servant or his SCHOLAR has grea y slr cted
me.n The guests inwtetion card bears
this sentence: 40 What an elevation OF
splendor will you, presence assist ne 80
riseln
II a visitor is asked TO dinner, custom
requires that he shall receive the follow
ing bit of advice
Do not make noise in eating; do not
crack the bouee with your teeth; do not
driuk the sauces IN long draughts.
All this s said and received with the
utmost gravity. II the host Is persop
Of consequence and serves fruit con
tanning stones at dirner, the guest ia cx-
pected 30 put the fruit stonos in has
pocket "a it would be impoite TO refuse
any OF his entertainers gifts.
Tho manner of CYtting melon varies
according TO the rank of the cater ana of
the oficeholeers, there are between the
highest mandarin and tho lowest con-
stable, nine classes, each distinguished
by a dress peculiar Go itself.
The military ceremonies are almost
endless; even the killing of an enemy has
to be done according 90 certain oere-
mon y, and there is n special carriage
provided in which "a messenger who
brings news Of defeat has TO ride.
Mourning is rigdly regulated Here Is
an extract from "LiKi:"
When the father dies the con must ap
pear dumfounded, as il be knew not
where he was. When the body Is placed
IA coffin thu son must cast about him
rapid and AFFLICTED chances, as If he
sought something which he could not
find.
When the burial has taken place he
must wear an agtated and alarmed TX
PRESTON as If he awaited someone who
ala not come, At the end ofths first
year OF mourning he must wear a End and
detected air, and at the end OF the second
year vague and r5stloas expression.
AZ certain intervals The moufner must
bear his throat aud execute series OF
jumpb. For distant reitivo the jumps
alone suffice.
The ali ri" c,tes, as a perfect example
OF discretion in mourning, the case OF
woman named King Klang, who, having
lost her husband and her con, mourned
her son day and Night and her husband
through the day only.