Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-23
A CHINESE MOTHER.

slovenly woman is a source of misery to all
about her. Before she is 10 years of age she
is a mistress Of woman's toilet, and Of
mans as we'll. She must be proficient in
bookkeeping, accounts housekeeping. cook
ing, sewing, embroidery, music, singing,
silk raising, spinning and weaving, horti-
culture and etiquette. She is trained up in
paths of virtue--not. that western female
virtue which consists of lamentable igno-
rance of the most important physiolOgic
facts, but that higher virtue which COM
bines knowledge, self respect and self con-
troll She is taught the principles of diet
ing, hygiene and enough physiology and
medicine to make her first class nurse
and a good doctor for all the trifing all
ments of the body. For this reason she is
invaluable to both husband and children.
For the same reason she requires neither
midwife nor obstetrician when she be-
comes mother.
She knows from girlhood the dignity of
womanhood, wifehood and motherhood.
Under such circumstances it is little won
der that malpractice, the curse of Christian
civilization, should be unknown in China.
Precept and example make her realize the
physical and intellectual superiority Of The
male over the female, and the greater wis.,
dom of the old than the young. Thus it is
that she accepts with joy the husband her
parents select and renders herself to him
body and soul completely. She carries out
completely the injunction of St. Paul,
wives, render obedience unto your hus-
bands as they do unto God"
~ What Marriage Means.
Marriage in China means absolute change
to the woman. Her old family ties are
severed. She becomes as much a portion
Of her husbands family as if she were
daughter, instead of a daughter-in-law.
His parents and ancestors become hers.
The success of her husband or his relatives
meanS her success. Their promotion to Of
fee or to title involves her ascent in the
social scale. Above all is the fact and the
prospect that II her sons ever attain dis
tinction she receives the same honors. Thus
every Chinese mother, no matter how poor
and humble, is a potential marchioness,
duchess or princess through her progeny or
descendants.
In Europe titles descend. The mother of
Marlborough is always plain Mrs. Church
i'll. In Chira they ascend as we'll as de-
scend A great genius who earns fame and
fortune for himself. earns it in the same
time for his mother and father and even his
grandparents if living. Each family I'M
der such auspices is a little world in itself.
Three and four generations live together
under the same roof. While the oldest take
precedence over the rest. and are entitled to
and receive the respect and love of their
juniors, yet all alike look to the youngest
Is the sources of future pleasure and honor.
Only in China is it that the grandsire can
be seen dragging q wagon for his baby
grandson, teaching the infant idea the mys-
teries of mud pies or playing horse, bear
and lion for the youngsters edification.
The young wife, especially after she is a
mother. finds in these surroundings the
practical application and realization of the
education OF her entire pre-marital life.
She neither knows nor cares for her neigh
bors and is therefore unfamiliar with the
pleasures of scandal and Of gossip. She
bases her daily life upon the teachings of
fan Chung and Su Deb, the great poets of
domestic ethics These she has learned l,y
heart in her youth and teaches her chill
dren in turn. They are simple and pretty
lines which fnculcate parental self sacri.
flee, paternal and maternal love, filial af-
lection, purity Of mind and body, mildness
of speech. kindliness Of manner, industry,
thrift, patience and forbearance Practic-
ing these virtues, the Gay Is always too
short for her. Her lie passes calmly
and equally. She yearns to be mother