The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-27

There are also wives who are advanced In
age and who have no IONS who are rot mn
willing that their husbands should take
other wivsa, content rather that the saori-
Aces TO the saeestors should finally cease.
There can be no puniahnlsnt too severe FOL
such women. List them read tho wise pre-
cepts of thu ancients and note the conduct
of admirable and accomplished laaisa. ~
recorded in this book. They will then
blush for their d%egsnsracy."
Notwithstanding this sage counsel. II is
more thnn probable thatwhile the power ct
speech remains y little unplenaantneas will
arise in such complex households.
An unhappy wife cannot seek relief IN
the divorce court. Chinese law aoss not
admit y possible eauae for discoAtent in
the life Of a married woman. Shs should
be duly grateful that she Is permitted 10
live as all, and net attsmpt to bring scan
DIAL upon her family. A man. Oh the con
trary, may divorce his wife if she is undu-
tifIl to his parents; il she bears him no
son; II she is Jealous; Is lax in her morals;
is dishonest; is a leper, and last, but A.
suredly not the least of all-if she Is talka-
tive. Truly, a sintars in China have very
few privileges.
10 be divorced Is the greatest disgracethat
can befall \ Chinese woman. Ii. therefore.
she is pushed too closely to the wall, or If
she has vsntured too far upon forbidden
ground, and this temptations to a volubls
woman are undoubtedly strong. rather than
face the consequence OF her rashness she
svails herself Of tho only loophole of es-
cape, DEATHS portals. Suicides OF young
married women ars Appallingly frequent.
especially in those circles of aooiety where
existence is regulated by the Ritual Of De-
oorum. One ma with perfect propriety
end a life that 10 without hope.
The Chinese are rs distlRetively conserv-
ative in their ideas as the psopls of tho
United States are progressive. What al
ways has been is what always should be in
their estimation, especially if it is Chinese.
Their fashions in dress are prehistoric.
The pretty girls of the Celestial empire de-
light to array themselves in the garments
of their great grandmothers. What then
would :hey think OF a young woman who
last years gowns because they are
too antique. 1t is II postulate In oriental
dress that it should conceal the contour of
the body. The appearance Of a tailor-maae
girl in the inner apartment would create
CONSERVATION bordering on panic We're =
Chinese dame of gentle birth to bs sud
denly transported to the Metropolitan
reasoning would convince her that she was
in this colnf any Of respectable ladies. She
would simply believe her eyes.
The social intercourse OF the sexes is q
matter far beyond The comprehension Of
the celestial mind. Their young men and
maidons never. nndsr any circumstances.
msat. A father may not even kiss his own
baby daughter after she can walk alone.
Another maxim Of the Dscorum Ritual is:
Husbands and wives may not sit together,
their toilet articles must not be used in
in passing things from ono to
another their hands must not touch" and
it furthermore adds, 'she great safeguard
Of this kingdom il tho separation of the
sexes by the rules Of propriety."
II wonld he Aitfcult tn c0ny1rea MANILA of
rigid views that it was not an actual crime
for a young ,nan to kiss his best girl.
would they deem it within ths
bounds of reason for a young couple to
wander by the sea-beat shore, nor to lin
in the moons pale light. whispering
words Of love. 4 %photogrsph Of tho bellies
of N~arrsgansett pier IN bathing costume
would certainly be a picture to be turnsd
the WALL" For ladies who have
taught from early youth that, sex
capt with her parent, q woman must not
drive in a carriage with n man." the
spectacle of the coaching parade might
reflections not factoring to the
fair ones Of tho four hundred who
there disport themselves and their fetching
gowns.
Whatever the rule of action. however,
nature seems much the same the
over. There are, without doubt,
unhappy wives nnd turbulent homes
in China. The records of our divorce
show a somewhat similar condition
Of domestic affairs in our own country.
Notwithstanding all restrictions and dis
elements, there are not a few low
ing and we'll beloved wives among the
celestials, and in spite of, or possibly be-
cause of our freedom, We have fully AZ
many. It may, too, be safely surmised that
China, as in America, there are mothers
in-law and mothefs-in-law
HARRIET HENRY.
Copyright.