Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-10-14
CURIOUS BITS OF OLD CHINA.

Culud. uc MOSiem popuiolioh VI oho
city of Marking alone is 10000.
The present emperor of China,
Hwangti, was born in 1871, and came
to the throne when boy of four, in
January, 1875.
Polygamy is not recognized by law
in China, but secondary WIVES are
common, especially when the first wife
is childless.
The total population of China, ac-
cording to a German investigation, is
433, 100000 including Mantchuria,
Mongolia, Thibet and Corea.
The current coin of China is cop
per, and cash to the value Of an
American dollar weighs not less than
1900 pounds averdupois.
Canton, with the estimated popula-
tion of 100000, is the fourth largest
city in the world, and Peking, with q
population of 100000, is the eleventh.
The penal code of China was COM
piled 1000 years ago. Copies of it
are sold at 80 cheap q rate as to be
within the reach of the poorest peo-
pie.
The Chinese eat dogs. The kind of
dog used as an article of food in China
| is small dog of the greyhound kind.
They are reared like pigs in this coun-
try.
Scholars in Chinese schools turn
their backs upon the teacher during
the recitations, so that they cannot
furtively glance at the book held in
the masters hand.
In ancient times Chinese emperor,
when he passed over the borders of
bis empire, offered up the sacrifice of
dog, by running over it with the
wheels of his chariot.
By the Chinese law no man can be
punished with death unless he confess
es his crime. But if he will not con-
fess, the court proceeds to make him
confess by putting him to torture.
The great wall of China was begun
214 years before Christ. It's entire
length is 1885 miles in a straight line,
but its turnings and doublings increase
| it to 1900.
The estimated army of China is
about l, 100000. The pay of the in
fantry is about So a month and the
cavalry about S. a month. out of
which each man must keep his horse.
CONTIGUOUS required that mans
sleeping dress should be half as long
again as his body. But the ordinary
Chinaman "sleeps the sleep of the
| Just" without any night-dress and
wraps himself in his quilt.
The punishment for theft is as fol-
lows: The prisoner wears q board
about three feet square around his
neck for several weeks, upon which
his name is painted in large charac-
ters, and the crime of which he is
guilty.
It has been said by American writers
acquainted with the conditions of China
that the moral state of China at the
present time is far higher than that
of the Roman empire at the time of
the introduction of Christianity.
The total export of tea from China
in 1894 was 1,S62,312 piculs (or 1873
pounds each.) Of this, 757 900 piculs
went to Russia and 100000 piculs to
the United States. Only 307, 900 piculs
went to Great Britain which consumes
Ceylon and India teas.
"Suttee," or the burning of widows,
has been suppressed in India, but in
some parts of China widows are COM
compelled to strangle themselves, and
their bodies are then burned, and beau
tiful monuments are erected over their
ashes to their virtuous memory.
"Civil service reform" is not an
American invention. The Chinese
have had it for 1000 years. Appoint
ments to Office are made as the result
of competitive examination. The
lowest menial, if he has native talent,
can rise to any position.
When Chinese students are attend
ling the competitive examinations for
promotion they are shut up in rooms
until their work is completed. If one
of them dies at such time the body
is removed over the back wall, as TAX
ing out openly through the front door
would be regarded as an evil omen.
The three great religions of China
are Confucianism, founded by Con-
fucius about the year B. G. $40; Toa-
ism, founded by Laou-tsza, the old
philosopher, who was born about so
wears before Confucius and Buddhism,
which was introduced into China from
India about 70 years after Christ.
While the average American when
clad with an overcoat has 18 pockets,
the most annoying characteristic OF
Chinese costume is the absence OF
pockets. If he has a handkerchief, be
thrusts it into his bosom, and if he
has a paper of consequence he slips it
into his pants or into his long sleeve.
1t has been said that in China wo-
man is merely "a side ISSUE" The
object which is always had in view
with regard to matrimony is to get rid
of supporting the girl. 1t is popular
proverb that second husband and q
second wife are husband and wife only
US long as there is anything to eat.
When the food supply fails each shifts
for himself.
The tomb of CONTIGUOUS is still to
be seen on the banks of the river SEE,
to the north of the capital city of Loo
1t is a huge mound, overgrown with
trees and shrubs, with a tablet 25 feet
high, on which are engraved the name
and history of the sage. No one has
ever doubted the identity Of this bur.
ial-place of one who died "a centuries