The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-16
LYING ON EVE DOLLARS 4 MONTH
Economy Reduced to Science by John
Chinaniun ON His Native Heuth.


Chinan,un ON His Native Heuth.
Most of tho Chinese who live in this country
come from the Province OF Fo-kien. whose
chief town is Annoy. Fo-kien Is one of the
greatest Chinese provinces. and Its population.
in spite Of the fact that large part Of the
country is very mountainous and unpro-
ductivc. is half as great as that OF our country.
Consul Bedloo OF Annoy has recently written an
interesting description OF the condition OF the
laboring classes in that city. and his narrative
will doubtless explain to many readers why 1t
is that thousands OF the inhabitants OF the
province arc anxious to come 10 this country.
Tho average workingman In Annoy earns SIS
n month. Out OF this he supports his wife and
children. 1t is almost impossible for him to
save anything. because the little money he
can lay aside is swept away by the first sick
ness in his family For this reason there is
not a single savings bank in tho city: in fact.
there avo very few banks in China With SO
small an income 1t is necessary for the family
to be rigid!y economical and to increase is In
come in small ways. Tho most useful domes-
tic animal is the rig. which is found every
where among the working people. The pig
are, fattened and sent to market. while the fe-
males are sold or kept for breeding purposes.
led also. and the rest o. the day A forases Tor
itself in tho streets and fields.
at The e4tsr ihfa ea', h0s5
moss. seaweed. small shellnsh. mushrooms,
dead branches; dry leaves; dead grass and
their neiGhbors for rice and veeetabies.' In
often provide ali the food 10: the family. The
children begin to earn little money almost as
ee1s By IN saas TO
mones TIE s Boy Segns lis h lie cSe es S sfsa
Ga Thers are no a% @s
asanf Io child labor or tns Chna or.
very small it follows that the necessities OF
life must be very cheaply procured. Tho daily
fare Of an Annoy workingman includesa pound
pound Of cab bnge or other vegetable. aud a
litte salt and oil and the fuel 70 cook it with.
ple who take boarders often charge ns low as
The diet is almost wholly Vegetarian. and yet
favorably in endurance and muscular develop
msnt with work inGmen in other countries
only one story high. about 2Ox3O feet in size.
According, to his income the house Is large or
small and contains from two to six rooms.
vcnienccs The gnrbagc is given TO tho fam
~ pig. and tho offn is carefully preserved I'm
SO Cents 10 ~. month. They viii aver lsc
age about Sl.3O u month. or llve cents u day.
This means four or five rooms for II family
and some male boarder. who Is usually u rela-
ton. Tho water is brought from II neighbor-
ing well and stored in great earthenwarc bnr-
rolls. 1t is never used for lrin King. tea being
tho universal beverage. The houses are poor
ly ventilated and the smoke and fumes OF the
cookery pervnde the place and stnn tho walls
brown and black.
The clothing Of tho workingmnn ia very
scanty. Most Of the men who work long tho
water front wear only n short I'air OF cotton
trousers from knee to waist. They ARE bare
looted and bureheadcd. Other workiuGmrn
add n ilpuse To the trousers. Tho clothes nrH
II cotton cloth Two or three 81 Is will Inst
y year. and the cost for y years supply IN
about Sits. Slipuors or shoes are worn by
many. and hey cost from hroo to nifty conts q
pair. Every workingman has ono good suit
Or holidays. OF llncr quality Than lis every
lay clothes. and costing from 10 cents to Sl.5O
There arc no such things Ms strikes and
uckouts in Annoy. Tho employers seldom
,avo much more money than tho mon who
work for them. and they trent their lhborers
moro M comrades than MS suDOrdinates.
Consul Itriios says that tho common belief
hat all Chinese read and write and are we'll
informed docs not contui II particle OF truth.
Tho higher classes. who do not exceed 1--we per
'ent. Of the populatio have u good literary
'ducation. Ninety por cont. 81 the people,
however. are familiar only with 100 to 800
which enable them to write to
heir friends and also to keep accounts IN
choolboy fashion They seldom try to read,
md rely for literary amusement upon ltlnerunt |
cudors and story tcl!ers.