Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-03-06
ORIENTAL eED-cLoTHINo.
How the Japanese and Chinese Sleep in
Their Native Land.

How the Japanese and Chinese Sleep In
Their Native Land.
In the land Of the Orient the tastes OF
people as regards sleeping accommo-
dations are as widely different from the
English and American as their daily
life. In Japan the only bedding is made
in the shape of a huge gown or o%vercoat,
with sleeves, and each sleeve accommo-
dates a sleeper, who crawls into the
aperture very much as a kitten would.
Like their cousins, the Chinese, the
Japs use no sheets, unless the lining OF
the might overcoats" ear be looked up
on as sheets. Their pillows are min
iature bureaus made out of either rat
tan or polished wood, filled with drawers
to hold their jewelry and other valua-
bles while they themselves are asleep.
There are no bedsteads in Japan. The
same spotless floor hat answers for
table, chairs and dancing stage is util-
lied for sleeping purposes. In China
there are bedsteads, and these, with the
bed-clothing, form the most ornamental
portion of the household furniture. II
is as the piano and pillow-shams Of a
well-regulated American house. 1t is a
common thing for a Chinese gentleman
10 spend s., 600 or even $40, 900 cash for a
beautifully carved and jeweled bed
stead, and 81, 900 or more for simple en-
broideries on the edges and of
his favorite quilt.
These latter are very numerous and
varied among those who are able to
enjoy such luxuries. None Of these
coverlets are less than ~'three-ply"
affairs; indeed, such is the superstition
among the Acknowledged ~aristocracy
that not one Of them could be hired TO
sleep under a coverlet that is composed
of only one or two thicknesses. The
former indicates Ito their mind) ex-
treme poverty, while two is considered
an even or unlucky number. Therefore
all the Chinese bed-clothes are either
padded or a thin sheet of paper is put
in the center. Most all the quilts or
beb-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 morn
ings 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 a neat shelf built against the
wall inside of the artistically hung bed
curtains. Then the latter is carefully
drawn apart to expose the rich rugs
and opium layout upon the bed and the
folded b~ed-clothes upon the shelves.
The poorer cl ass of the Chinese have
only one "pe," or padded quilt thick
enough to keep them warm the coolest
nights in the winter. while in summer,
like the rich, they use nothing save
their own undergarments. In other
words it is eli her a feast or a famine as
far as sleeping comforts are concerned.
Unlike the rich, the poorer classes Of
Cinnamon take of the Innings of their
pes about twice a year for cleansing
purposes II a bed in a frst-class Ameri-
can hotel were given to a Chinese
gentleman be would probably sit up all
night waiting for a place to lie down
Wong Chin Foo, in n. Y. Sun.