Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-11-07
CHINESE URBANITY.
ciRcuMLocuTIoN THEY DISPLAY m
LETTER WRITING.
The Edueated Chinaman Can Give the
American Points ON Politeness aad Re-
hnements In the Conduct OF EpistoIary
Correspoudence.

~-'@-~~-
American Points ON Poiitene.s aaa Re-
! Hnements In the Conduct OF Eptstoiary
Correspondence.
/ 1t has probably fallen to the lot OF
most Of us 10 have met people who,
without the excuse of an unconscious
habit, have the knack Of asserting un-
pleasant truths. and who value the IN
gracious practice as a sign Of honesty.
There are others. such as the Quakers OF
bygone days. who regard every expires
sion which may not be in strict accord.
nnce with absolute truth rs sin against
their consciences. To such people the
Idea of subscribing themselves ''Yours
truly" or of beginning letter to n
casual acquaintance, Dear So and So"
is abhorrent- But public opinion has
been too strong for them. and we con-
tinue, and shall continue SO long as so
ciety holds together. to address one an
other in terms of endearment and respect
which are not required to correspond
with our sentiments.
0rientals have surpassed us in this re-
gard as much as the brilliant sunshine
murky atmosphere OF Europe The de-
scriptions of ourselves and of our CORE
spondents pale before the glowing ex-
pressions of objective admiration and
subjective self abasement which aiorn
eastern epistles We are content to con-
fine our wishes and compliments to the
present life; but such limit is far too
narrow for AN Asiatic, who delights in
wishing that his friends may live for
ever and ever and that the ancestors of
his enemies may be condemned to ever
lasting disgrace.
We are satisfied TO speak of II" and
You" but an oriental loves to heap adj
iectives Of contempt upon himself and
Of glorification upon his correspondents
/ EIEvATING AND DEMEAsINa SMILES.
| In all cases he avoids the use of the
personal pronouns. BY a system of cir
cumlocution necessitated by this omis-
sion, he describes himself as "Your
younger brother" the character repre-
senting his expression being written
small, and partly at the side OF the col.
umns of words, and he designates him
self and others conformity as I'VE ants"
But the person he is addressing figures
as "Your excellency," My benevolent
elder brother" or Your honor" liter
ally, "You who are ut the steps of the
council chamber" His own house is "a
mean dwelling" or, as the parts of the
character signify, "a stricken and broken
dwelling;" but he is unable TO think Of
his correspondents habitation as any
thing but ian honorable" literally
''basket-of-pearlsp palace" In the same
spirit of self abasement he feels Obliged
to winI3 ~ his epistle with the phrase,
Your stupid younger brother. So-and-
So, bows his head to the ground" The
character for stupid" is draw for us
by two hieroglyphics, meaning ''mon-
key hearted" To bow to his friends is
also pictorially expressed by eolloca-
ton of "a head" and turf" suggesting
the act of bowling the head to the earth.
II his correspondent proposes to call
upon him he hastens to assure him that
lat the appointed hour, with bowling
hands. he will await the time when his
excellency shall abase himself by driving
his chariot to his office" His friends
letter is 1.-THE revelation of his hand" :"
and he takes pains TO make him aware
that holding it with washed hands he
had chanted" its contents.
On expressions of thanks particular
emphasis is laid by the Chinese, and
with true Oriental instinct, in their effort
after hyperbole, they are accustomed to
give a physical Interpretation to their
mental feelings.
POWERFUL HYPRRBoLR.
For instance, a correspondent who
wishes to say that he is profoundly CRATE
full, writes, "Your kindness is very deeply
engraved and enyeined in my heart" III
he hears Of the illness Of a friend "he
cannot help being hung up in suspense"
and the symbol he uses shows to the eyes
the heart of the writer tied up, while at
the same time he urges him ITO take care
Of his person as a pearl" And on the
receipt of better news he breaks out,
How shall bear the joy and pleasureT'
Having finished expressing the object Of
his letter, he winds up by ''availing him
self Of the opportunity to wish his corre-
spondent all the blessings of the season,
and, IL he Ii ON the road TO honor. ''all
ths promotion he deserves"
But. ii not ferocious, sufficient lati-
tude still remains TO Chinaman for the
development OF much plain speaking. II
Is as possible to ''stit the thin spun life"
with q stiletto as with broadsword. and
In the most finished periods Chinaman
finds himself quite able TO express either
withering contempt or remorseless hate.
But he has other ways also Of giving
vent TO his Ill humors. The very pune
tilious rules of letter writing enable him
to convey his dislike by omission as well
as by commission.
Chinese Is, 1t may be explained, writ
ten In vertical columns, beginning ON
the top right hand corner Of the page.
In ordinary circumstances each column
10 completed to the bottom of the page;
but long usage has established the Gus
tom that. il the name or attributes of the
person addressed occurs. the column is
cut short, and the characters representing
these subjects Of honor begin the next
column Mt an elevation of the space oi
one or two characters, as the case may
be. above the general level of the text,
II viii now be seen what ready weapon
lies to the hand Of p Chinese letter writer
To write "Youf Excellency" or the name
OF the correspondents country or sover
eign in the body Of the column Is 10 In.
fiict adire insult upon him, and is equiva
|, lent TO the expression Of the bitteresi
, contempt in European epistolary style. =
London SATURDAY. Review