Evening star., 1898-09-03
BABIES IN CHINA.
Little Ones I'm the Celestial Empire
Receive Much Attention.


From the Ladies' Pictorial,
Babies are made much of all the world
over, but in China especially they are sur
rounded with host of mysterious super
stitions and practices.
They are very comical to look at these
children of the celestials; from the day
they ara born they are put into a little
coat and trousers, with wee cap to keep
the head warm, and little shoes on their
feet. In fact. they are the exact counter
parts OF their parents in miniaturs.
A child is not bathed until the third day:
il 10 not considered lucky to do SO before.
w hen this has been done, charms consist
ing OF lucky cash Smallest coin), and small
silver toys, are attached by red cord to the
child's wrists, and are worn for MANY
months This is to keep away all evil spir-
its.
Red strips of paper, with certain oharac-
tiers written on them, are also nailed up
outside the door Of baby's room to ward off
all evil influences.
These strips are kept up until after the
eleventh day, and 1t is usual for no strang-
er to enter until they have been removed.
When Chinaman has lost several chill
dren on the birth of another he is especially
careful to guard it from evil spirits, who
evidently have spite against him. He
therefore invests in a sword made out of
cash, and strung together with red cord.
III,
and is considered very effective.
Inc child generally leaves the room at the
end or the month, and on that day the head
Is shaved for the first time.
l cannot learn that any great Importance
is attached to the giving of name to the
child 1t Is, as rule, the grandfather or
grandmother on the fathers side for choice
who names it, but if they are dead it de-
derly relation
When baby has arrived at the mature age
or Tour months the maternal grandmother
makes 1t a present of a most elaborate chair
with a table attached. There is generally a
vited 80
A curious custom Is observed when the
child Is year old. Again a party is given
70 eeieprate the event, and large sieve Is
placed upon the table with various articles
laid upon H-books, writing implements
gold, silver, fruit, etc. Baby, attired in new
req clothes, with red cord braided in his
nalr' Is placed In ths center Of the sieve,
and according to what articles he seizes
first Will his fortune be told. If he takes nm
the money, of course he will become a mer-
chant and rich; If a book, why he will he
iearned and distinguish himself in Iitera-
In every household there is an image Of
the GODDESS OF children, who Is supposed to
nave the care of the little ones till tbev
grow up. Many offsrings are made to her
especially on the child's birthday. when q
child reaches the age of sixteen years a ha -
supposed to pass from the control of this
particular goddess, and ceremony is gone
through called ths going out of childhood !"
Afterward thank offerings are made to the
goddess of the children for the care he
slowed. NC
But to return to our babies As 7 man
TONED before, ths head is shaved when a
| month old-sometimes entirely, but very
orten a small patch is left at the crown 6f
the head, and the hair plated into a stiff
| little queue, which stands out straight from
the head through little hole in the can. -
If 1t Is a little girl, her head is often not
| shaved, but her hair plated into two plaits
above the ears. Red cord is plated in with
] the hair a charm. for spirits cannot face
red-hence baby's red clothes.