The Washington times., 1894-08-19
JUST ABOUT CHINA.
There arc 1000 walled citiss in China


IN China there IL a profession for ladies,
strange because openly and handsomely re-
munerated In the current coin OF the realm.
It is carried on by elderly ladies, who 60
from house to house OF rich people, ANNOUNCE
ing their coming by beating drum and offer-
ing their services to amuse the lady Of the
house. This offer accepted, they SIT down
and tell her the latest scandal and the newest
stories and ondits, and are rewarded at the
rate of half a crown an hour. besides hand.
some present should some portion OF theiI
gossip have proved particularly acceptable.
In England, at the old Bailey prison, .
Chinaman was presented as a witness in an
important case and for some time the nature
OF an oath and all that ir implied could not
be impressed upon him. Neither could the
authorities quite make out just what the Mon
golian did consider binding. Finally, through
the aid of an interpreter, it was de-
cided to break saucer over tho head OF
the proposed witness. When this was done
the Chinaman appealed to tho Supreme Being
whom he worshiped. praying that his own
body might be broken into as many pieces a.
the saucer If the testimony he was about to
give should not be the entire truth.
A Chinese literary man Is nothing II he %
not abusive. To write either prose or poetry
without constant references to historical
events OF personageS Is re2afQeO dB q sign
either of stupidity or of lack of education.
As the only history with which Cinnamon are
acquainted is that of their own country and
as every Chinaman writes, the practice Of
using historical illusions has become q fine
art, and the most obscure characters and cir
cumstances OF past ages are necessarily
dragged into writings to prevent endless
repetitions and to display the minute ac.
1uaintance of authors with the records Ct
their country. In nine cases out Of ten this
acquaintance is only simulated, and to sup
port the deception endless manuals OF famil-
lar quotations are published to supply .
semblance Of the knowledge which is want
ing.
cultivation OF the soil and to encourage his
subjects to follow agricultural pursuits, the
Emperor Of China sometimes performs cer-
tain rites at the ''Emperors fleld' and goes
through tho form OF ploughing and other
work of the husbandman. One day recently
the Emperor set out at daybreak from his
palace with a numerous and magnificent
train Of courtiers and others. Before break
fast the Emperor arrived at the shrines Of the
deity presiding over agriculture and his
majesty stopped to offer up his thanksgiving
and sacrifices. After changing his dress, the
morning repast was served, at the end Of
which the Emperor proceeded to the field, at
tne iOur corntts Oh WHICH were etectcu louf
pavilions where the seeds OF wheat and other
cereals were placed.
In the center were numbers of maXnincently
attired courtiers each holding aloft a many
colored flag, while on the side of the passage
were scores of aged and white-haired farmers,
each having in his hand some agricultural
implement. Placing his left hand on the plow
and holding the whip in his right hand, the
Emperor began the ceremony Of the occasion.
BY Encouragement the officers did their
allotted share. some welding the agricultural
implements, while others scattered seeds out
OF the baskets as if sowing, while the Emperor
was busted with the plow, which was hitched
to richly comparisoned bullock draped in
yellow and led by two of the Emperor's body
guard. On the Emperor finishing his round
at the plow the three princes were ordered to
go through the performance and after them
nine high courtiers had their turn.