The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1889-11-16

but the ertiro bail OF tho foot Is
tw listed and doubled into the arch oil
tho foot
Fortunately this cruel practice is do
creaslng In North China through tho
influence OF the Imperial family.
which. being Tartar and not Chinese.
does not practice foot-binding.
Various theories have been given
for tho origin OF tho custom. but the
mos, probable Ia that II was introduced
with view TO keep women ut HON"
In this IL Is most successful.
Tho gait OF u small-foo,ed woman Is
exactly tina, OF persons walking on
tlp,oe, and those Who have the
smallest. most fashionable feet. can
only move about with tho aid OF
cane or some other support. Yet
Chinese poets speak Of such distor-
,lons OF u par, OF tho body IN golden
l!iles." and liken tho staggering walk
produced thsrcirom 10 "tno swaying
OF tho willows"
Tho first duty OF q Chinese girl.
when she Is old enough to walk. Is 70
look nfter her brotherS She Is then
seen staggering around under the
weight OF some lus,y boy ms large Us
/ or larger than sho ia She may get
4 certain amount OF pleasure from his
I games and nmusemoniA. but the poor
thing has none of her own
She IL never allowed on tho streets
alone. and when ut very rare inter
val. sho goes GU, in company with her
parents. sho can not run and frol!c.
With downcas, eyes and rigid figure
sh. must wax In front. under their
waiehful supervision. She may
neither look TO tho right nor left. nor
exchange word or glance With amy
person. III. Chinese girl must have
no acquaintance among tho male
sex. execp'in. hor father and brothers.
and must under no circumstances look
AT. much les speak 10, young man.
Sh. 1. early taught TO sow md TO
perform tho himpl. round Of Chinese
cooking and tho drudgery Of the
household. Here her education ends.
She IL never taught to read. yet shs Is
not lacking In native intelligence and
ability.
Such V sirihood In China; pathetic
In II. druary round Of dsud4cry and In
In, nb.-nc, OF NIL Brightness ard VA
rle,y which make girl Ito with us 80
happy. W, Chinese girls nru often
bright. winning. attractive and nncc-
Tomato. Ihcro II no reason To believe
them 10 be- naturally Inferior In any Of
n 80. sA.l- NsVs
''.h, eau no, b. either evil or good"
10 tho .-ns-lc.s verdict. rad 30 -ho
I've, her weary Ito i. victim 10 prciu-
dice. superstition and cruelty.
Tho great oven, In tho lilo Of Chi.
nc.o girl IL. Of course. hor marriage.
This generally occurs t.: tho age OF AZ
ic-n ar sixteen. Sometimes even car.
ii.n In, even In ihi, crisis In her exist
enc, har sad iaio dos, not for q mo-
mcpt desert her.
Sho IL mar ..csi to innn whom. tho
orv,icaiiy. n, l.nst. sha has never ,enn.
Generally the arrangement Of tho mar
r!aso u u nero bargain and decker b.
ts-rn tho parents. In determine how
much tho father Of tho girl shall Civ,
In tho way Of furniture and OUTFIT and
how much tho parents Of tho young
man AFRO willing 10 sppnd Tor wedding
ornaments
Thoss arrangements brlng com.
pic,-d. ON tho day fixed .h. IL placed
In tho rod bridal chair Her head and
lac. arc tied up In = Ia: 10 closely
tina, sio can so nothing. and case.
L.. 81. -. l. a a
from sufYocniion.
sh, 4. born, In tho bridal chair.
preceded by band OF music. Ia tho
homo Of tn. groom Her girl lilo
has ended. Her lilo rs u woman hns
begun.
In III, majority OF cn.cs sho has
only changed tho place. not tho
nature. Of hcr life. She has ceased to
b, tho drudge under her fathers
roof only Ia become tho slave Of her
husband . mother. Suicide IL often
sou..h, by young wives In China ne
III, oaly means Of escape from the
tyrnany Of mothors.in.law. Tho hus.
band can have no affection for his
wifc unless II may develop after
marriage. She has no rights tho law
protects. Sh. may b. divorced by
single scrap Of paper written by hor
husband and sealed with tho imprc..
sion Of his thumb In Ink.
Iic never says my wife" with tho
glad. proud tono common to Christian
lands ]. IL always Tho contemplate
female who pros!dcs In tho kitchen"
Should .hc die childlcss no docs not
mourn for her.
Il once remarked to Minister Of
tho Chinese Government that ns tho
wifc Of tho Prince Regent was Just
dcnd ho would probably go into re-
tircmcni."
'Oh. no." was tho reply; ''thnt Ia
nothing. Why should he. when ho
can get plenty morc''
Tho only pleasant outlook for
woman in China is when shc has be-
como tho mother Of son. Then shc
has n future before her. and l. Gated
kindly and respectfully. They nrc
bound by tho laws Of iilinl pio,y to
love. honor and caro- for her She has
share in NIL their successes In life.
and sometimes comes 10 high honor
nnd fame through them.
Alady recently died who was known
and praised throughout tho Empire ms
being tho mother OF seven sons, each
ono Of whom had riscu to tho highest