The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-07-01
CHINESE GIRLS.
TIER ADVENT m THE WORLD NOT
HAILED WITH JOY.


au occasion celebrated with general re.
ioicings when the little stranger is boy;
out who would think of making any
demonstrations of joy at the addition Of
:. girl to ones family? Still, the baby
must have a name, even il it be only
Daughter Number Que, Two, Oh Three"
as the case may be.
Not unfrequently girl receives the
suggestive title of "Beckoning a brother,
or Lead along brother" or even,
"Come, younger brother" "White Wa
t.r Lily" Beautiful Pearl" Better
than Gold, are also some of the names
sometimes bestowed on girls
In many parts of China all the girls,
from the children of wealthy parents
not of Tartar race-to the daughters OF
common begGars, undergo the torture Of
| foot binding, with the idea Of producing
the golden lilies" which Chinese taste
dmires. The gait OF these daughters Of
the fowery land is most uncoutE to Yves.
/ tern eyes; but in the poetical language OF
their native country, the movements OF
e girl thus deformed resemble "the wav.
| ing of the willows" or are like the
green bamboos stirred by the summer
bretZts.
Chinese girls often have pleasing faces;
but this applies more particularly to
those of the middle end upper classes.
The younger children wear their lux
uriant raven tresses twisted into heavy
plat hanging down behind, secured
with many yards of twisted scarlet cord.
Up to the time OF marriage, girls part
their hair smoothly at the forehead, as
the sign of their single estate; but when
the wedding day arrives. the young
brides hair is drawn back and the short
hairs pulled out by twsezers, to make
her forehead appear broad and high.
| In her dress, Chinese girl is little
troubled by any ideas of fashion. There
is slight difference, scarcely apparent
to the Westerners, in the cut of the
costumes Of the girls and women of diff.
ferent provinces; but, speaking gener'
ally, the same attire is worn by the aged
grand-dame and the year-old child, by
the mandarin's daughter and the daugh-
ter of poor coolie. Their children diff
fer, not in shape, but in their material
and ornaments. 1t takes but eight yards
OF yardwide cloth for a complete suit Of
winter garments, and there is no waste
! in cutting nor in unnecessary append.
ages. Its truest economy, however, is
in that saving Of mental worry that
comes from always cutting by the same
pattern and the obviation of all need Of
fitting. 1t allows unrestricted play to
every muscle, is of the same thickness
over the whole body, is not in the way
when at work, and it has little weight
while it has all needful warmth.
AS regards the instruction Of Chinese
girls, the general idea is that they are in.
capable of receiving liberal education.
being considered intellectually inferior to
| their brothers.
From the age of eight or nine, little
girls of wealthy families are kept closely
guarded within their own homes.
women should keep inside the thresh-
old of the inner apartments-even to
old age they should not so beyond the
doorway" says one of those Chinese
authors who have handed down to pos
terity the fame of the women of ancient
times, who are considered types of what
all women should endeavor to attain to.
The superintendence of the kitchen is
always noted by these ancient authors
as one OF woman's most important du.
ties. She should see that the vegetables
are fresh and properly washed, that the
meats are well favored, and that tho
whole meal is properly served,
A woman's duty. 1t Is said, Is to make
shoes for herself and children, to spin
and weave, to cut and make her own and
her husbands clothing, to wash for the
family and care for the silkworms.
In the annals OF Chinese history there
are not few examples Of women who
have been familiar with the literature Of
their country. Many of them were IA
nous for their acquaintance with the
classics, and especially the historical
books; some were poets Of no mean
order; while the sage remarks of others
on various subjects are often quoted. At
the same time, while Chinese writers are
fond of giving instances Of women of past
ages who have displayed extraordinary
virtues. or been talented to high degree.
very sarcastic remarks about the sex
often appear upon the same page, such
as Women have no right to form an
opinion upon any subject; silence alone
becomes them."
A widow or betrothed girl whose in
tended husband dies, even if only child
in years, is exhorted aver to remain faith
full to the memory OF the departed.
They are advised to follow the examples
of those heroines of antiquity who dis,
figured themselves ~ cutting off their
ears and noses rathe, than marry a sec.
ond time; and even in the present day
young girls are constantly warmly
praised for their constancy and purity
when, under these circumstances, they
commit suicide.
The extraordinary idea that sick pa.
rents will recover from an illness il their
child-unknown to them-cuts off q
piece of his or her own flesh and mixes
it with their food, is the occasion oi
many curious paragraphs in the Chinese
papers of to-day. One constantly sees
cases of this kind mentioned as having
been brought under imperial notice, and
the girls in question-for it is girls who
oftenest perform this act of filial piety-
are generally honored with tablet to
commemorate their devotion.
But time would fail me to tell the
many stories of women or girls worthy
Of honorable mention, from a Chinese
point of view, for their devotion to theil
bstrothed or their parents. Numerous