Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-16
THE CHINESE HOUSEHOLD.
The First Wife and her Relation to the
Other Wives.

Other Wives.
In the hearing of Chinese habeas corpus
cases in the United States Courts,
statements are sometimes made which
seem incredible to the Caucasian spectators
and glimpses into the inner life of the
Chinese ard their domestic and family re-
lations are gained which are sometimes
amusing and always instructive. More
particularly is this the case when child
or a woman is on the stand, and the SEEM
ing inconsistencies of their statements
have very often TO be explained away by
the official interpreters; and even then the
person hearing the explanation for the
first time is likely not to be convinced of
the truth either of the statement Of the
Chinese or of the explanation. Should
the marital relation be involved then, in
deed, is the confusion confounded; for the
mind of the white man is unable to grasp
in detail the many nice little points re-
garding This ceremony among the Chinese,
although he may have good idea OF the
general outline.
Some weeks ago the Court, the ju-y and
the lawyers were badly mixed up in a
Chinese procuress case over the identity of
a certain woman, and her husband on
ascending the stand only served to make
matters worse. His testimony was given
in excellent English, but his narrative.
which was forever mixing up the identity
Of his first, second and third wives could
not be followed by those interested. At
the conclusion of his testimony, gentle
man who had resided for many years in
China, was sought out, and asked to throw
some light on Chinese marriages, and his
remarks were IN substance rs follows:
A Chinaman is allowed as many wives
as he can support, the wives being OBJ
tanned by monetary or other considera-
ton, and all of them are subservient tc
the mother Of the husband while living,
and after that to the first wife. The ad-
vantages of being the first wife will there
fore be obvious, and in addition to this the
children of the second, third and fourth
wives are always claimed by the first wife.
For instance, Ho Sing may have three
wiyes-Chung Look, Hop Tie and Chung
All Shee, respectively, Look being the first
wife. The children born to Tie and Shee,
however, are claimed to be the children of
Look and recognize her as the mother.
Regarding the servitude of the wives 70
the husbands mother, a good illustration
was given in this city few weeks ago.
The Chinese cook of prominent United
States official, after soiourn of many
years IN this country, determined to make
trip to his native land. When asked his
reason he said that his mother was growing
Old and needed someone to look after her,
Ills friends In China had therefore looked
out suitable wife for him and he was re-
turning to China for the purpose of marry
Ing her; after the ceremony he proposed
leaving her with his mother to act as her
servant during the rest of her life. The
| additional statement was also youchsafed
that upon his return his brother intended
| TO pursue the same course, and with the
two wives to attend to her wants they ex-
pected their mother to pass the remainder
OF her days free from all care.
In this country comparatively few of the
Chinese are married, and the majority of
those who are have left their wives in
China while they are working for Ameri-
can gold. As rule the mel chants have
wives with them, but rarely the first wife.
she being left in China, and the other
wives are from time to time sent to ioin
her household As in China, so here, the
httle-feot women are held in highest
esteem, and no matter how homely the
face, they bring higher price than those
| with large feet. An additional advantage
IN regard to these women was lately
brought out in trial in the United States
District Court, where the fact was intro
dGced that a "little-foot" woman never
lived an immoral life. Though the fam
lily life of the Chinese is rarely, if ever,
exposed to the European or American,
still enough is learned to show that in this,
as in all other matters, the Monaghan
shows evidence of an arrested civilization,
and on the western outskirts of American
civilization exhibits many of the same
peculiarities as docs the Ottoman on the
eastern boundaries of European civiliza-
tion.--S +. Bulletin.