The sun., 1892-02-07

children hy each NJ them. TIE was possessed
OF ample means and came Of good family.
His house. liks all Chinese dwellings Of high
class, consisted Of numerous separate build
ings arranged around small vacant squares or
courts. About The front court were ranged
three structures. each fitted up for the recep.
ton Of guests. hut o' different degrees Of ar'en-
dor. the upper building being thu. In which he
received those whom, he most desired to honor.
Tho furniture Of this house. orrather room. for
the whole ediGce contained but a single room
thirty fee, front by twelve decp. consisted pri-
mariiy ofa "mu kanS.' or wooden platform
two feet high. eight feet long. ncd 1--WE deep.
with carved front and vanished sides. The
top was covered with rod flannel, and in the
centre was table eight inches high and about
eighteen inches wide. leaving sufficient space
on either side for q guest to rcclinc and take
opium. From the platform ~ the door on
each side Of the room were half dozen carved
and vanished black chairs with small tea
tab,o between each tw.h Each chair had red
flannel cushion. and each tea table l. ad strip OF
rcd flannel covering the top and reaching to the
brick floor. The walls were ornamented with
scrolls in various styles OF Chinese pennan-
ship. oil describing the abilities and virtues OF
the head OF the house. Tho two side housesin
the front court were similar in shape and
equipme ent. but we're used for tho reception OF
guests OF less distinction. Back OF this court
and to each side wero two smaller courts. con-
tanning each three small houses in which were
lodged the mandarin's secretaries, retainers.
and the teachers Of his children. Still further
back were the family quarters. distributed IN
two courts. the second ard third wives living
.rbt tlo ho Nrut wi fo I'M a r.
self 1t is to be noted that the first wife was Of
good family. equal in oil respects to that OF her
husband. whereas the two later wives were
really conculines. OF humble rarentaEe. and
taken merely for the purpose OF raising chill.
dren. The children OF these concubincs We're
called the children Of the frat or genuine wife.
who had supreme control over them, their
actual mothers being only regarded as wet
nurses. This mandatn's family was as peace
full as any where polygamy obtains. but never
thcless the wives we're continually lighting.
DR. Cotman had occasion In his practice TO OBJ
serve numerous cases of suicide due to family
1rnrrels among the uppor ten. Sometimes 1t
would be the lawful vito and sometimes the
concubine who would seek to destroy her life
by opium.
II.
II seems that Chinese lady has her female
friends and relatives to dine with her occa-
sionally. but under no circumstances Is the
husband permitted to mako one OF the party.
Very few ladies OF even the highest rank can
read or write. and their life OF enforced con-
tnement is SO rksome that many take to the
opium pipe to while away the time. DR.. Colt
mans wife once asked a rich lady visitor.
' What do you do with yourselves Ii you don't
read and can't go shopping p why. We Just
eat and Sleep was the reply. "only somc-
times wo have visitors and then. too. We en-
troider little and smoke the water pipe.
When things get too awfully dull We fight
among ourselves DR.. Coltman recalls an in
cident which shows how decidedly the
ideas Of the Chinese regarding the treatment
o, women and young girls differ from our owa.
Once when an old gentleman was visiting the
author the latter's little daughter. S years old.
ran into the room. and. climbing on her papas
knee. kissed him. Tho visitor expressed sur
prise. and said. I'VE never kiss our daughters
when they are so large: We may when they are
very small. but not after they are 3 years
old. Young girls" he added. should be
kissed BY no man until they are married. and
then. Of course. only by their husbands"
From this and other indications OF native
opinion DR.. Cotman drew the inference that
the Chinese believe women to be essentially
bad. only needing an opportunity to improve
it. AS to the plurality Of wives above referred
to. this seems to be a matter Of taste. or rather
of recuniary competence Gen. Ii Tsvng
Tai. man over 90. was reported to have thir-
tce,. two Of whom had been imported from
japan. 1t is. We learn. unusual for manda-
rim to indulge In q second wife until he is
over 4O
DR.. Cotman says that when attending pro-
fessionally Chinese ladies Of rank no always
found them modest and retiring-sometimes
SO much SO that they would not answer the
simplest question directly. but would reply
through thei- husbands. Once or twice they
would not see him at all. but would thrust an
arm oat through silk curtain from an adJon-
ing room. and resting q dainty wrist on a
cushion wait until the doctor had counted their
pulse. 1t is averred by the author who had
unusua! opportunities OF observation. that q
pretty Chinese woman is exceedingly rara.
Their hands are beautiful but not their faces.
at least not according 70 American standards.
Their dress. too. to foreign eyes is anything
but becoming The combinations Of color are
shocking. blue. canary. pink. purple. green.
orange. and scarlet being all worn by lady in
the same costume. The hair. when dressed.
generally contains large silver pin and two
or more large artificial roses OF bright red
with several iaring green leaves on the stem.
What we call sociabili:y does n3s cxs.
among the upper classes In northern China.
There is. to be sure. in the capital cities.
kind Of society composed OF all the Official rep
resentatives OF a particular province. each
province usually having a special building in
which its sons meet These societies are
formed. however. for political purposes ex-
clusively, and when they give a banquet It is
for the purpose Of obtaining a Government
appointment. The dishes u. such banquet
are frequently costly. and. We are assured.
always palatable. Although it is true that
the lower classes eat cat aud ra. E:cat n the
south. and dog meat in tho NORTH u Chinese
gentleman eats nothin. that an American gem
tleman would not eat. although the cooking is
very different. An important factor in high
class Chinese cooking should be noted. and
that is the universal use o! "hsians yu.' or
sesame OIL What olive oil Is TO tho
F-prrnmap tha fraprnpt oii of seaame 10 20