The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-15
Childhood in China.


In all climos and ages human nature is es-
sentiallv the same, yet the conditions under
which life develops in various nations often
make the habits Of different races seem very
strange to foreigners. The prevailing IDEA OF
a nation may be known 10y the desires OF lis
children. Some writer once remarked That
let a French child express his ideal and 10
would be that he might grow into q famous
general. the soldier surrounded with all his
military glory being the height of his ambl-
ton Put the same question 10 an American
boy and with toss OF hls head he VIII INFORM
YOU that he intends 10 be fireman or
street-car conductor when be grows up 10 be
IA man." But the Chinese boy Is SO different
" trained that 1T would be a most difficult
task TO fathom his wishes and ambitions.
The Chinese girls education begins at SIX
year, Of age. Then she must submit to the
bandaging Of her feet. which cruel custom
crippies the poor child and causes her untold
suffering But as small feet are considered a
mark OF great beauty this barbarous custom.
which has obtained IN China for ages, Is shli
practiced The bandages are changed IA
often a. they become soiled, but the practice
continues until the girl reaches the age of
nineteen Sometimes. when about ten, the
bones of the toe are broken 10 prevent fur
ther growth.
At nineteen the Girl is married But court
ship. as il is known among the Americans. is
not understood or tolerated by the Chinese.
Mutual affection Is not tie foundation of the
marriage but the children are hetrothod IN
infancy by their parents and when grown
ar obliged 10 fulfil the engagement.
After marriage the wife has complete con-
troll OF her household and of her children.
The Chinese treat their parents with the
greatest respect. always walhlng behind them
and seldom daring 10 dlsobcv their COM
mands. The cue long black braid worn
down Chinaman's back. Is sad 10 he con-
sidered as a mark of especial honor TO ms
mother.
A Chinese boy begins school at about seven
wears of age. those of the higher ranks being
taught AT home 10y private tutors. while the
poorer boys attend aschool IN comm IN. As
the Chinese language has no alphabet or
grammar, the method of study Is peculiar.
Each object Is represented. not 10y a certain
combination of letters. but 10y character
which is different according to the thing II
deSignates Now as everything known 10 the
mind every noun. verb. adycrb and adjective
is thus designated 10y mn Independent charac-
ter. one may form faint idea of the vast
amount of labor required TO master even "a
small part of the written language Imagine
attempting 10 study the new Century or the
International dictionary, not by mastering the
spelling of each word. but 10y learning for
each of the thousand words an entirely
different character
At the age of fifteen the boy is sent to one
of the professors Of the ROYAL Academy for
tAdiilIuAt4tN- lutIt He is gwen one WoIu on
which 10 write % composition, and for this
purpose Is locked up for a day and a night in
an apartment alone. At the end OF that time.
II the composition is crcditablc, the boy takes
his first degree" and receives a gold button,
, which he wears IN ms hat
lie then studies FOR three years more. and az
the end OF that time undcrgOcs second ex-
animation, IN which. if successful. he re-
ceiyes second gold button. the same kind Of
reward, You see. that the Eight O'Clock Club
offers. At the end Of another three months
study he Is summoned 10 fekin 10 appear be-
fore the Imperial Academy Here he under
goes three days examination. and, If sue
oessiul, he is eligible for the highest Offices in
the Empire. From among these graduates
are chosen the foreign mlnlsie rs, governors
and the highest officials Of the Government
Oh course no boys except those OF high rank
are admitted 10 these examinations.
In former years the drowning of children bv
those that considered them superfuous was
very common, hut lately the cruel custom has
been prohibited hy order of the Emperors
mother.
If a Chinese boy were to kin parent he
would bc burned alive at the stake IN punish
ment for such anunnatural and horrible crime
But over the life of hi. children father ha.
absolute control. and can murder one Of them
and never incur the least penalty at the hands
VI the law.
The games are ball-playing kite-fyi and
sending Of fireworks. On their New Years
day there is always big celebration and the
little boys keep up huge racket with the
oeaseicSs explosion If crackers
The life of "a Chinese child is fui Of quaint
strange ways and habits. as they appear TO us
bnt doubtless 90 the eyes OF the Cclestlals our
customs are equally queer Still. taken all i'm
al. American children enjoy much more pleas
ure and freedom. and need envy those of no
othor nation. For IN America, more than in
any other land, children are the objects of
constant petting and are treated by grown
people as companions and equals. Philadel-