The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-20
M IRIS. W..
The Wife of the Chinese Minister, Her
Habits aud Her Fine Clothes.

Ihe Wife of the Chinese Minister, Her
Habits aud Her Fine Clothes.
Mr.. WI, the new Chinese Minister,
Is very much interested in American
women. Their position in society, their in
dependence, methods and general develop
ment, offer perpetual whet to his cur.
iosity, and. he draws some peregnant com
parsons between them and the women of
his own coutry. The almost universal
wearing OF corsets, for example, among
such a progressive people, is an enigma
to him, and he looks upon what he is
pleased to term the compression of the
waist as little less absurd than the bind
ing of the feet.
oient lineage. her pedigree extending
further back than that of the royal family
itself. As her gorgeous courtycostume in
dictates. she is pure Chinese. unadulterat-
ed by any admixture of Manchurian
blood. The eagle emblazoned upon the
breast signifies that she is of equal official
rank with her husband and may upon all
occasions enter and leave room at his
side rather than behind him. This court
gown is of extreme richness and bril-
liancy, presenting those strong contrasts
In color SO dear to the Chinese heart
The petticoat, which, by the way, is one
of the prettiest parts of Chinese lady S
dress. appears about foot below the up
per robe, and is of bright reds and blues,
ornamented with heavily embroidered
gold panels. The tunio of purple and
black affords striking background for
the magnificent embroideries with which
il is adorned. The turban IS simple
band OF silk around the head, and is worn
in the house by Chinese women only in
cold weather. The splendid jewel in
front and the clusters of flowers near
the ears are the usual decorations worn at
court. The custom Of wearing flowers
in the hair is nearly universal in China,
fresh blossoms being preferred when at
tainable, and artificial ones at other times
The fashion of wear ing the hair is mod
flied, not by time, but by place, each sep
arate province having its distinct couture
to which it holds for all time. They all
have way, however. of attempting to
disguise bald spots by painting the scalp
black. sgae
The beads around Mrs. Wu's neck are
also a sign of official distinction worn by
men as we'll as women. Curiously
enough, they vary with the season, those
of sandal wood being distinctly summer
beads, while coral. jade and other stones
are winter decorations.
Except for state occasions Mrs. Wu's
of brocade and silk. Her home gowns
are all made after the same general pat
tern, and are simple in texture and trim
ming. Silk, cotton and grass cloth are
fabrics most used for summer, with the
addition of brocades, furs and skins in
winter. Wooden is very little used. and,
as far as underwear is concerned, there is
with both men and women q great pau
city of linen.
The various forms, fabrics, colors and
ornaments worn by gentlewomen, as
wellssas those worn by all grades of officers,
are regulated by sumptuary law, down
to the throat latch. The Emperor issues
decree twice year to indicate upon
what day the winter hat shall be changed
for the summer straw, and vice versa
Mrs. WI has the little feet which
characterize the women of southern China,
and OF which the Minister, despite his
enlightenment seems not a little prou d.
The custom of binding the feet of ladies
does not prevail in the northern part of
the empire, which accounts for the fact
that the feet of Mime. Yam 6 Yu, the pre-
cedlng Minister'S wife, were not thus
deformed. 1t is all a mere matter of
fashion. but has such a tremendous hold
upon the women where 1t prevails that no
neaaway can seem to be made against
IL. The only influence that has ever
amounted to anything in this direction
is that exerted by the Catholic mission
aries. AS reward for their pains they
have been called upon TO provide hus
bands for their followers whose large feet
have made them undesirable matches in
their own circles,
Women whose feet have been thus bound
nave no leg development below the knee.
1hey are obliged to wear bandages for
lie as support, and the foot and limb
are quite too unsightly in appearances to
be expo to view. Over the bandages
tael wear Little socks and the tiny EN-.
ofoldered shoes viii CHI are made in tbs
mouse by maid or friend. Mrs. Wu's gar
~ ehts are all made in her own home by
the tailor whom Mr.. Wa brought tc
America.