The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-06
BABIES IN CHINA.
Little Ones In tho Celestial Empire n
Ceive Much Attention,

Little Ones In the Celestial Empire Re
oeive Much Attention.
Babies are mads much Of all tho 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 arc born they are put into 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 miniature.
A child Is not bathed until the third
day. 1t is not considered lucky to do 50
before When this has been done, charms,
consisting Of lucky cash Smallest coin)
and small silver toys arn attached by red
cord to tho child's wrists and worn for
many months. This Is to keep away all
evil spirits.
Rcd strips Of paper with certain char
acters written on them are also nailed up
outside the door of baby 3 room to ward
off oil evil influences
These strips arc kept up until after tho
eleventh Guy, and it Is usual for no stran-
ger to enter until they have been removed.
When Ghinaman has lost several chill
drcn, OIL the birth of another he is espe,
cially careful to guard it from evil spirits,
who evidently have spite against him.
He therefore invests In sword made out
OF cash and strung together with req cord.
This Is hung up by baby's bed as q
charm and Is considered very effective.
The child generally leaves the room at
the elfd of the month, and on that day tho
head is shaved for the first timo.
1cannot learn that any great Importance
is attached to tho giving of name to tho
child. 1t is as a rule, the grandfather or
grandmother ON the fathers side for choice
who names it, but If they are dead it de-
wolves on tho mothers parents or some
elderly relation.
When baby has arrived at the mature
age of 4 months, the maternal grandmoth-
er makes it present of most elaborate
chair with II table attached There is gen
orally feast on this dry, and many friends
arc invited
A curious custom is observed when the
child is year old. Again party is given
to celebrate the event, and a large sieve is
placed upon tho table with various arti-
SASo hiu VIoli ip~DOohs, hTlplug llLDlt-
mcnts, gold, silver, fruit. etc. Baby, at
tired in new red cloths with red cord braid
cd in his hair, is placed in the center of the
sieve, and according to what articles he
seizes first will his fortune be told If he
takes up the money, of course no will be-
como n merchant and rich; if book, why,
ho will be learned and distinguish himself
in literature
In every household there is an image Of
the goddess of children, who Is supposed
to have the care of the little ones till they
grow up. Many offerings are made to
her, especially on the child's birthday.
When child reaches the ago of IL years,
he is supposed to pass from the control of
his particular goddess, and ceremony is
gone through called the ''geiGg out of
childhood iftsTward thank offerings
arc made to the goodies, Of shs children for
the care bestowed.
But to return to our babies. AS men,
toned before, the head is shaved when a
month old-somctimos entircly-but very
often small patch is left at the crown of
tho head and the hair plated into stiff
little cue, which stands out straight from
the head through little hole in the cap.
1t it 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 as charm, for spirits can
not face red, hence baby's red Clothes
Ladies' Pictorial.