The Republican., 1893-05-11
A NOBLE cHINEsE.AMERTcAN.
The First Child of MongoIian Blue Blood
Born in the United States

The First Child of MongoIian Blue Blood
Born in the United States.
Dressed in the picturesque, bright
hued costume of her country, little Mai
Isln, daughter of the Chinese minister.
| looks for all the world like an animated
Japanese doll. To this mite of human.
lty belongs the distinction of being the
only Chinese baby of noble birth in
America, and, although she has not vet
reached the age of two years. she has
an empire all her own and numerous
subjects over whom she holds undis-
puted sway. Her birth in Washington
was the occasion of much rejoicing and
the customary ceremonies attending an
event of the kind among celestial fami-
lies of rank. On the third day after the
baby was bathed for the first time be-
fore an image of the goddess of chill
dren-supposed to guard and care for a
child until the sixteenth year is
reached-then daintily dressed in the
finest of fine garments and formally
presented to the members of the house
hold, each of whom bestowed upon her
beautiful and costly gift, either of
jewels or silk. After she had been suf-
ticiently admired and discussed by the
family, a few friends who called to
offer their congratulations in person
were admitted and allowed a glimpse
OF the wee foreigner.
On this important day, also, little
silver bell and an ancient coin of par
ticular kind were bound with a piece of
red silk tape around each tiny wrist in
such a manner as to leave a foot or
more of loose string between. Accord
ing to popular superstition generally
followed in the far east this string is
supposed TO have the effect OF restrain
ing child when, in after life, he or
she is inclined to be naughty or disobe-
dent, and the silver and coins are used
so insure wealth and prosperity to the
wearer. AT the expiration of fourteen
days the cord is removed A common
expression among the Chinese when
children are troublesome is: "Why
can't you behave? Didn't your mother
bind your wrists?' When the ceremo-
MES of this eventful day were COM
pleted baby was carried back to the
bedroom and kept secluded there for
nurse and her parents. At the end of
that period she was robed as before in
her ceremonial garments, and this time,
accompanied by her mother, partici-
pated in reception given in her honor.
The interest of this occasion was in
creased by the public bestowal of the
name Mai, after the howery month, by
her father. This is only her baby or
milk" name. When she is ten years
old she will be weighed for the first time
and christened. The first anniversary
of Baby Mai's birth was celebrated
in a manner highly gratifying to
her celestial highness. She was the
recipient of many beautiful gifts and
numerous toys, from home and abroad.
At certain time of this day she was
placed with much ceremony upon a
large table, in the midst of various
articles previously arranged, such as a
pair of money scales, a brass mirror, a
paint brush, pencil, one or two books,
a silver rattle, string of gold beads,
ETC., the supposition being that the
first article grasped by the little one
year-old would indicate her future
character. employment or condition in
the world. She was no sooner placed
in position than she made frantic
dive with both little brown hands and
grasped in one the mirror and in the
other the beads and beat them together
gleefully in the midst of the general
approval. Her selection was interpreted
by her fond parents to mean that she
would always be abundantly supplied
with this worlds goods, and very fair
to look upon. Her quaint little figure,
in its oriental dress and heavily beaded
headdress, always attracts much at
tention, but. utterly unconscious she
runs and plays at her own sweet will,
as bright and happy looking a child as
one could wish to see. All the MEM
bers of the legation are her willing
slaves. and no more think of disputing
her imperiOus commands than they
would those of their chief.-N. Y.
Times