New-York tribune., 1898-11-27
CHINESE FOOT-BINDlNG.
NATIVE RECOGNITION OF THE EVIL AND
DESIRE FOR REFORM.
From Tho Pckinc and Tien-Tsin Times.

breath was breathcd into his nostrils. it may be
seen that God made the human torHi eyc,,;
ears hands feet, the hundred members. ah
conDlste That male and female are Dut
single species. universal under heaven: HOW,
then have Of the Middle Kingdom from the
inception Of a speciOus custom developed hdo,''
of mcietriCOus IdO:nment? Whitening inc
face bIackenng the eyebrows, in the search ior
beauty the desire for adulation our ddorh'i'
the natural cOuntenaDce, and adding human ue
vices To the fair gift OF Heaven. attaining the
simulated and confOunding the genuine. Every
household is alike in this; the evil pract'ce ai nis
become a system IT'S ofensiveness eXceedS
description. But the binding Of feet is deeper
evil Man has feet as housc-p pillars nave stone
supports. the cart has its axle: Ihere - ~
mnternent nor activity without the use of the
feet Therefore in binding there is cruelty IKE
that Of cutting off the legs or thoSe Wh" ci"S,
the ford in the morning; an historic instance OF
Chow Wang's barbarity. III we reject on II We
see that it is unreasonable: its pain - ike the
punishment OF the red-hot pillar II we con-
slider il we perceive that it Is unseemiy, II takes
the body bequea thed by our parents ana crueuy
Injuries it. Alas, The women OF china imltale
one another in this folly: meeting what Is per-
vertrj they do not think to put 1t right one
knows not where the TRANSMITTED eV" oi " VIII
find end.
INITIATE THE WESTERN WORLD.
Now Ivy good fortune, worthy scholars from
the Great West have established an ant-Ioot
binding association. 70 save the women anu
girls OF our land from the misery OF TINS bond
age. 10 obtain the joy Of deiiYerance truiy
viii be Il great achievement. But IN seeking |"
remove this evil it is necessary first TO remove
It's cause. Contemplating the power ot thls
practice. and pcering INTO the feminine uu',
we perceive that foot binding mas rea'hed the
centre Of the human heart 1t has become a
rooted custom. Generations handed 1t down.
unaSsailable. .
If we wish to turn back this evil ,he iiffi-
culties are three. First, in choosing Il VIE IN
China it is not asked whether she has woinaniy
virtues or not the first inquiry IS whether ncr
feet are small or large Though her disposition
and features should be perfect. yet. if her ieet
are large they involve disgrace, and no betroihai
! follows. Again. the women of CHINA are W!lh-
out learning. Because they DO not reflect on me
completeness Of Gods gifts. the fitness OF the
! body given them By their parents. they one ana
| all regard foot binding as essential Though
men should oppose with all their might, the
women would give no heed. Further. women
| adorn themselves to excite admiration. Ii that
which is below the petticOats hem be too large.
not only does it excite the worlds rldlcule, Dut
their husbands disgust as well, and on the day
that they go to his home he is angry that their
| feet were not bound up earlier.
| Because Of these three difficulties the scholars
and officials dare not lightly criticise or alter.
But in the Kingdoms Of the Great West. among
both officials and merchants. husband and Wife
walk together. The grace Of movement OF these
ladies truly admire. Why, then. should we
hesitate in planning 10 pu: away this evil custom
and achieve a noble service The strength OK
the Empire is declining. Let scholars. farmers
artiiicers and tradesmen all put forth their
energies TO strengthen themselves untiringly.
and let the women also help together. But IL
we still remain in this ancient thradom. then
with the binding of the feet must come the loss
|
All movement being PAINFUL the efficiency or
! the housewife must he still further injured. the
toes being crampcd that they cannot be ex-
tended the whole body suffers hurt The wife
is unequal to the labor Of drawing water and
grinding corn. nor can she fulfil the duties OF
! hospitality to guests. In rearing sons ana
daughters also. it will be difficult for her to be-
queath them a strong body. Since simple walk
! ing is painful. in fording streams it is still moro
diflicult for her to find footing. Although there
may not he the danger of the River Gnu,
still the husband must carry her on his back.
! SO it is that the mems anxiety in caring for the
women comes chiefly from the habit OF foot
| binding. -
We now desire thoroughly to reform this evil
ha bit If several thousand years. Then VIII the
body polite he without shame. and IN all things
| have prosperity For this reason we should
! dynasty to spread this worthy scheme for put
ting away an old EVIL 70 maintain the prin-
! ciple ot handing back the perfect body we re-
ceived. and 50 to return 70 our primitive SIM
p!icity. The methods for reform are three.
! First extend female education. causing girls
| to read and to understand principles not max
! ing adOrnrrent their chief concern. but regard
| ing oOt-bnding as an injury to the body ana
! vain allurcment for men-mutually eXhOrting
one another to consider it cause Of shame.
Second. issue imperial prohibition Of the
custom. Cause the names of all girls 70 be
recorded then let the whole body Of officials.
great and small. examine these lists yearly II
scholars and officials put away the evil practice.
the common people will soon follow suit. Third,
form associations Let the four orders Of So
ciety all form anti binding societies. and
! let hctrothais be made between families of MEM
bers Let parents warn their children that thoss
breaking the rules Of the association will be
punished and excluded Thus such practice
If choosing wives VIII become 4 fixed usage II
these three methods If reform be applied to the
three difficulties then can the offensive custom
be put away. Fortunately. worthy men from