Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-25
yEweLRY IN CHINA.
Pearls and Jades Are the Most Popular
Ornaments with the Women.

Ornaments with the Women.
Chinese women started tho fashion Of
wearing jowelry, and the Cinnamon have
kept tho bull rolling ever since until even
the Americans considered 1t fashion.
According to Chinese history, their women
wore rings and anklets ever since thcre
was Chinese woman, and that's before
Mr.. Noah was born. Seriously speaking,
tho first Chinese jowolry store was started
In the city OF Chang On about 1000 years
ago, whom Empress Wn Chi Tlen-tho
only female tyrant China overaad--dooo
rated herself andhor court with its precious
pearls and iados Hnd In turn decorated tho
enterprlsing jeweler with tho yellow
Jacket"
Jawnlry was first worn by the women
upon their ankles, later about their waists,
around their nooks and finally at the top
OF their heads, but tho mon beat tho wom-
on ono point by wearing iewolry upon the
top Of their hats, 10 TINT now u mans
wealth In China II frequently measured
by the amount Of the cost Of the button on
top of his official hat, which ia always of
coral. Some of these buttonr cost US high
as $40, 00O so was told
No Chinese woman Is considered com
pleto in her toilet unless at lennt she wears
her earrings No matter how poor she
may be, she Is expected TO possess ut least
this much ornament They nrO Just as
necessary Ms tho conventional American
girls hnirpins. l don't mean curly OF
short haired girls.
Girls, as soon ns they can toddle about
must have their little pink car lobCs
pierced to receive thor allotted amount of
jowelry without which thoy win DO
Les, ,t It,.t hagss fthn
fashion Of wearing clumsy anklcts is still
in vogue In some OF tho southern provinces,
notably tho province Of Kwangtung
whore most of the American Chinese hail
from. Some OF those leg ornaments arc
very costly, being made Of puro gold stud
ded with expensive gems, More commonly
they Rro only OF twisted silver or Jade
These ure largo enough to GO over the foot
easily. When worn, thoy give their owners
much trouble in locomOtiOn. This peCul
lar custom has long nEo boon abolished in
northern China, whore rings arc only
worn upon the fingers and bracelets upon
the wrists. The latter arc as WILDLY worn
by mon rs by women, but thoy difor b.
size and material, those Of women being
moro dolioatO and being Of silver or gold
while tho bracelets OF tho mon are inyari
ably Of jade or n species Of rare rattan
This jewelry l. worn more because OF
national superstition than as ornaments
either as talisman Of good luck or as
euro for rheumatism.
Diamonds as jcwclry are not yet aa fash
ionable among the Chinese ~ Jade, PEARL
ruby, coral silver md gold Pearls hus
jados are the most popular. When Dc
scrlbing ones wealth, the Chinese do ne
say he is covered with diamonds, but VIII
'judes and pearls"
Tho most exalted artisans Of China Az
tho jewellers md carpenters, one Of th9
most formidable organizations Of tho
trades union in the world being TINT 81
tho Jewellers Brotherhood Of China, which
claims membership Of several milliors
Every member must be an expert metal
worker OF some sort. All Chinese jewellers
are selected from childhood for their neat
moss In appearances us well as their natural
adaptation for tho skin Of mechanic
Then they serve seven years apprentice
ship. Tho first three years they must pay
10 thoir masters for the privilege Of giving
their services TO him
Tho most expensive jowclry Is worn
upon the head OF the Chinese ladies' In
stuad OF neck and hands, as is tho custom
OF Europeans. AS tho Chinese thoroughly
bolloyo tho hair tx woinnn's glory, all
ondenyors arc exercised 20 boputiiy II. The
style OF hairdressing OF tho women Of the
middle provinces has long boon conceded
oven by American tourists to DO tho most
beautiful and artistic In the world, and
the nnounto OF small but expensive jewelry
thoy manage to put Into their jet black
hair makes even an old maid attractive
The fashionable and fastldious girl has no
less than ~ pieces Of jowelry In her haiI
alone, and every pltco has its distinct
name and plseo Their positions upon the
head nrt so exact that "a lady Of fashion
would instantly detect when ono OF the ~
pieces is stuck in the wrong portion of the
hair
Rings Of all oolors and styles are worn
by ladies Of the upper classes only. Poor
and humble femnles arc laughed ut as
vain when they mako my such attempt,
As nrule, men never wear rings upon their
hands except they DO Chinese dudes Then
they got n ring big enough 10 90 upoE
their thumb. This Is the only way theJ
wear rings. Jewellers Circular.