Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-26
How the Chinese EcOnOnlize.


The Chinese are pre-eminently economical
whether 1t be in limiting the number OF wants in
preventing waste, or in adjusting forces In such
manner as TO make little represent a good deal
The universal diet consists Of rice. beans, milet
garden vegetables, and fish, with little meat on
high festivals. Wholesome food in abundance may
De supplied at less than penny day for each
adult and even In famine times thousands OF per-
sons have been kept alive for months on about
halfpenny day each. This implies the existence
or high degree or culinary skill In the Chinese:
their modes OF preparing food are thorough and
various. There Is no waste; everything Is made
10 do as much duty as possible. What is left is
the veriest tri1e. The physical condition OF
the Chinese dog or cat, who has to live on the
leavlngs OF the family, shows this; they are
clearly kept on starvation allowances. The
Chinese are not extremely faSt1diOuS in regard to
food; all is fish that comes TO their net, and most
things come there sooner or later. In the north
the horse the mule, and the donkey are in uhi-
versal use, and in some districts the camel also
does duty. 1t must be understood that the prac-
tlce is to eat all OF these animals as they
expire, whether the cause OF death be accident,
OLD age, or disease. This is done as matter OF
course, and the IacJ that the animal has died OF
an epidemic malady does not alter its ultimate
destination. Certain disturbances OF the human
organizations, due TO eating diseased meat, are
weA recognized among the people; but it Is con-
sidered better To eat the meat, the cheapneSS OF
which is certain, and run the risk OF the conse-
quences, which are not quite certain, than to buy
dear meat even with the assurance OF no evil re-
suits. Indeed the meat OF animals which have
died OF ordinary ailments is rather dearer than
That OF those which have died In an epidemic
such as pleuro-pneumonia Another example
OF careful calculating economy is the construction
OF the cooking pots and boilers, the bottoms OF
which are as thin as possible that the contents
may boil all the sooner, for iuel and DEAR
and consists generally OF nothing but the stalks
and roots OF the crops, which make q rapid blaze
and disappear. The business OF gathering fuel is
committed to children, for one who can do moth
ing else can at least pick up strawS and leaves and
weeds. In autumn and winter q vast army OF
fuel gatherers Spread over the land. Boys ascend
trees and beat them with clubs to Sh Ike on the
leaves; the very straws get no time TO show which
way the wind blows before they are annexed by
some enterprislng collector. similarly profess
sional manure collectors swarm over ali the roads
OF the country. Chinese women carry this minute
economy Into their dress; nothing comes amisS to
where 1t appears thing OF beauty. Foreign resi-
dents who give their cast-on clothes away TO Chi
nese may be assured that the career or use
fulness OF these garments Is at last about
TO commence. Chinese wheelDarrOws squeak
Tor the want OF a Few drops or Oil;
but to people who have nerves the
larry, dirt Is cheaper than hot water and So as q
rule. the people do not wash; the motto ''Cheaper
than dirt" Which the Soap-oealer puts in his WIN
dows could not be made intelIigible TO Iha
Chinese. TO them the average foreigners are mere
so.p-wasters. Scarcely any TOOL can be got ready
made; IT Is so much Cheaper to buy the parts and
put them together Tor yourself, and as almost
every body taxes this view ready-made tools are
not TO be got. Two rooms are dimly iignted with
single lamp deity placed In hole IN the diyid-
Ing wall. Chinese, In fact seem " be capable OF
DONG almost any Thing by means OF almost moth
Ing. They will give you an iron foundry on a
minute scale OF completeness In a back yard md
will make In an hour cooking range, OF strong and
perfect draft, out of pile OF mud bricks, lasting
Indefinitely, operating perfectly and costing MOTH
ing. The Old woman wnO In her last moment,
hoDbed as near as possible TO the family grave.
yard In order TO Ole SO as 10 avoid the expense OF
co!iin-bearers for SO long distance, was char
acteristtc Chinese.