Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
RABIES IN CHINA.
Little Ones i'm the Celestial Empire
Receive Much Attention.

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 a host of myst arious super
stitions and practices.
They are very comical to look at these
children of the celestials; from the day
they are 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 counterparts of
their parents in miniature
A child is not bathed till the third day;
1t is not considered lucky to DO so before
When 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 worn for many months.
This is to keep away all evil spirits
Red strips of paper, with certain charac-
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 il is usual for no stranger
to enter until they have been removed.
When Chinaman has lost several chill
dren, on the birth of another he is especial
ly careful to guard it from evil spirits, who
evidently have spite against him. He
therefore invests in a sword made out of
SaSii- anu Sll uiiG lcStlHcI WIFI COTu.
This is hung up by baby's bed as
charm, and is considered very effective.
The child generally leaves the room at
the end of the month, and on that day the
head is shaved fer the first time
l cannot learn that any great Importance
Is attached TO the giving of name TO the
child. 1t is, as a rule, the grandfather or
grandmother on the fathers side for choice
who names it, but if they dead IL de-
wolves on the mothers parents or some
elderly relation.
When baby has arrived at the mature
age OF four months, the maternal grand
mother makes it a present of a most elab-
crate chair with table attached. There is
generally a feast on this day, and many
friends are invited.
A curious custom is observed when the
child is year old. Again a party is given
to celebrate the event, and a large sieve is
placed upon the table with various articles
laid upon it - books, writing implements,
gold, silver fruit, etc. Baby, attired in
new red clothes, with red cord braided in
his hair, is placed in the center Of the
sieve, and according to what articles he
seizes first will his fortune be told. II he
takes up the money of course he viii be-
come merchant and rich; if book, why
ne 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 a
child reaches the age of sixteen years lie is
supposed to pass from the control of this
particular goddess, and a ceremony is gone
through called the going out of child
hood" Afterward thank offerings are
made to the goddess of the children for the
care bestowed.
But to return to our babies. AS i mcn-
toned before, the head is shaved when a
month old - SOM times entirely-bIt very
often Il small patch is left at the crown Of
the head, and the hair plated into a stiff
81 afrhf
from the head through little mole in the
cap.
If 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 nair as charm, for spirits cannot face
red-herce babys red clothes.