Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-09-26
CHINESE LADIES' FEET.
"A Pedal Extremity Two Inches in Length
the Idol of n Cbinaman.

the Idol OF q Cbinaman.
At five years Of age the rich Chinaman's
daughter has her foot so firmly bound that,
In the native phrase, the whole is killed.
The foot below the instep, explains writer
in the New York Ledger, IS pressed into g
line with the leg, TO add to the height Of he
little sufferer, while two Of the toes are
bent under the SOLE that its breadth may
be only Of the least dimensions The agonl
of such process it would be hard 10 esH
mate; but it is said to last about six weeks
when, / suppose, the wasting OF all th'
parts, and the cessation Of many Of thei
functions, have rendered the whole insensi
bic TO pain.
This insensibility to pain is, perhaps, con
fined to the outer parts, for the chief per
son belonging TO the temple on the Island OF
Honam stated that his sister suffered much
anguish in the sole of the foot, or rather, in
its lower and more central parts.
To some inquiries as TO whether this prac-
tice Of destroying the foot was not attended
with similar evils in after-life, he said no
and as he was man Of intelligence, his YER
dict may be relied upon. Among the multi
tudes who come for health and cure to the
hospitals, no one has yet been met with
whose ailments could be imputed to this
source. This is a curious fact, and such as
might well lead us to desire moreintimate
acquaintance with the anatomy Of this m or
bid organ, that we might see how nature,
under the pressure Of so great a calamity
has contrived to maintain the intercourse
of the arterial and nervous system, and
keep the limb from being materially injured
by it.
The development Of the muscles which
form the calf Of the leg being checked, the
limb consequently tapers from its socket
down to the foot, without any risings or in
fections This IS regarded as the perfection
of beauty by the Chinese, who say that the
knee of the female is not protuberant, like
the knee Of the male, and is so well covered
that she can remain kneeling a long time
without inconvenience. 1t is perhaps less
throughout its length than when the foot is
allowed to retain its natural size; but
whether this is from want of exercise,
which ever acts as stimulus to muscular
deformity, or from the lack Of nutrment
through functional disturbance, I can not
take upon me to say; but suspect the for
mer is the real cause; otherwise the mat
ter would grow from bad to worse, till the
whole was destroyed by atrophy.
A foot two inches in length is the idol of a
Chinaman, on which he lavishes the most
precious epithets which nature and Ian
guage can supply But It's beauties are al
together ideal for when stripped of its gay
Investments, it is piteous mass of lifeless
integument, which resembles the skin of
washerwoman's hand after it has under
gone long maceration in soap and water.
The sight Of it is well fitted to excite our
compassion, not our commendation-a beau
tiful limb crushed into heap of deformity.
The thought Of seeing Chinawoman's
foot might awaken a smile; but ! think /
might defy the most merry hearted to
laugh when the loosened bandages dis
closed the sad reality to his eyes. But fancy
has played her part so well that this piece
of ruined nature, which is seldom seen by
men, is treated as the prime essential of all
feminine beauty.
"The foot of a Chinese woman" said l to
Chinese acquaintance, sis very hand
some, 30 that 1t is great pity to spoil it."
He smiled with much satisfaction at the
compliment, but would only allow that it in
terfered with the gait. ''They can not
walk so WE'LL" was the amount OF his con
cession in my favor. He was so blessed as
not to know the real state of this organ, and
therefore his admiration had no alloy.
Custom rendered my eye so familiar to
the small foot that Chinese lady would
scarcely seem to be complete withoutit; but
1t was my misfortune to see it unmasked,
and therefore could not sympathze with
him. To show that there is great privacy
about this small foot, need only mention
that the servant, when her mistress pro
ceeded to unwind the bandages, blushcd
and turned her face TO the wall.