The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-01-06
IN PRISONS.
D~eploraAle Pens In Which Malefae-
tors Are Locked Up.


The Chinese are law abiding. With
those of their own number who are law
breakers they have but little sympathy,
and the government has none al all. |
like China. ! like the Chinese. Moreover,
1 respect them. But in two details
their national life they merit unqualified
condemnation. Their hospitals and their
prisons are unmitigated national dis
graces.
The deplorable condition of the Chi
nese prisons is justified in the national
philosophy. To the Chinese mind a Law
is q thing to be obeyed. A law concerns
millions and conseryes the welfare Of
millions. 1t must be held inviolate by
the individual, be his within, his per-
sonsl bent, whatever II may. The Chi
Daman who disregards any item Of the
Chinese law becomes a social leper. In
dividual tendency, moral ill-health. in
berited traits. they are taken into account
not at all. This is cruel Yes! But il
renders existence possible in the over
density Of Chinese population.
No Chinaman is noble except
through personal fitness. There are two
exceptions 10 this rule-two only. The
direct descendants of Confucius have a
rank of their own. 1t is a high rank. 1t
is respected. But it gives them no
power of interference with national
affairs. The descendants of an emperor
are never less than royal. But they have
no necessary power. In brief, then, in
China "every man is served according
to his deserts
A Chinese prison is called a ''csngue.'
It's outer door is barred with bamboo,
and is guarded by petty soldiers or
policemen. The ''cangue' contains two
rooms and two yards. One room and
one yard are for men. The other room
and yard are for women. The space set
apart for women is very much smaller
than that for men. But the women's
quarters and the mems quarters are alike
in being entirely devoid of any pro-
vision for personal comfort or for per
sonal decency.
Chinese prisoners are by the govern
ment provided with absolutely nothing
but the space beyond which they may
not pass. IL their friends thrust food &c
them through the bars of the prison fence
the law does not interpose. Otherwise
the prisoners may starve. The law does
not interpose.
/ used to take food to the Shanghai
prison yards. was not jeered at. A
Chinese crowd is, / / believe, incapable Of
jeering at a woman. But | was on
demned for it. And a high Chinese Off
cial demonstrated with my husband. i
used to buy Chinese food at a cheap chow
chow shop, and, when | reached Q
prison fence, hire a ooolie to feed the
poor. starving wretches. l did not quite
care to feed them myself. And it was
quite impossible for them to feed them
selves. No Chinese prisoner can reach
his own mouth, for his neck is invariably
locked in a board, which is about three
feet square. 1t is very heavy and gals
the neck. 1t blisters or ossifes the
shoulders. The ''pig-tail' drags heavily
over it, and pulls the poor unlocked
head uncomfortably to n side. 1t pre-
vents the hands from lifting rice or water
to the craving mouth, and from brushing
from the tingling nose n Of the myriad
insects that infest the prisons and the
prison yards of China. -lPall Mall Ga
zatta