Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-04-17
ORIENTAL BED.ClOTHlNC.
How the Japanese and Chinese Sleep In
Their Native Land.

Wong Chin Foo writes in the New
York ErcMing Sun: In the land of
the orient the tastes of people rs re-
CARDS sleeping accommodations are as
widely different from the English and
the only bedding is made in the shape
of a huge gown or overcoat, with
sleeves, and each sleeve accommodates
n sleeper, who crawls into the aperture
very much rs kitten would. Like
their cousins, the Chinese, the Japs use
no sheets, unless the lining of the
might ovcrcoats" can be looked upon
as sheets. Their pillows are miniature
bureaus made out of either rattan or
polished wood, filled with drawers to
hold their jewelry and other valuablcs
while they themselves are asleep.
There are no bedsteads in Japan.
The same spotless floor that answers
for table, chairs, and dancing stage is
utilized for sleeping purposes. In
China there are bedsteads, and these
with the bed clothing, form the most
ornamental portion of the household
furniture. 1t is as the piano and pill
low-shams of II wcll-regulatcd Ameri-
can house. 1t is Il common thing for
Chinese gentleman to spend $1,000
or even $40, 900 cash for beautifully
carved and jcweled bcdstead. and 81
600 or more for simple embroideries
on the edges and corners of his favorte
quilt.
These latter are very numerous end
varied among those who are able to
enjoy such luXurics. None of these
cOverlcts are less than "three-ply" af-
fairs; indeed, such is the superstition
among the Acknowledged aristocracy
that not one of them could be hired to
sleep under coverlct that is composed
of only one or two thicknesscs. The
former indicates (to their miud) eX-
treme poverty, while two is considered
an even or unlucky number. There
sore all the Chinese bed-clOthes are
either padded or u thin sheet of paper
is put in the center Most all the quilts
or bcd-clothes of the. rich are made OF
silks or satins, with highly colored en-
broidery work on the exterior, and
lined with strong white silk or fine
linen, and are only washed about once
q year. As in Japan, no sheet is used.
The Chinese bed-making in the
mornings consists of folding up every
article of bed-clothes in long folds in
such a manner as to expose all the
beautiful needle-work, and then they
are carefully piled one on top of the
other upon neat shelf built against
the wall inside OF the artictically hung
( bed curtains. Then the latter is care,
fully drawn apart to expose the rich
rugs aud opium layout upon the bed
and the folded bcd-clothes upon the
shelves.
The poorest class of the Chinese have
only one pc" or padded quilt, thick
enough to keep them warm the coolest
nights in winter, while in summer, like
the rich, they use nothing save theil
! own undergarments. In other words,
, it is either i feast or a famine as far rs
/ sleeping comforts are concerned. Tn.
like the rich, the poorer classes OF
Cinnamon take off the Innings of theil
pes about twice year for cleansing
purposes. If II bed in II flrst-class
/ American hotel where given to {
/ Chinese gentleman he would probably
sit up all night waiting for Il place tt
/ lie down.