The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-03-12
CHINESE CHILDREN.
Bright and Interesting Little Specimens
of Oriental Humanity.

Bright and Interesting Little Specimens
of Oriental Humanity.
The Chinese children are things OF
beauty and joys forever. They are as
pretty and bright as they can be, and
run scurrying away from you where
ever you may chance to walk In the
quarter. The place literally swarms
with them, and yet the Chinese IRE
too provident to have very large faml'
lies. A merchant with three wives
will probably not have over four chill
dren. It is said that the largest family
in Chinatown is that of poor Chinese
Clergyman. He is Presbyterian
missionary and has already seven chill
dren. This is more Presbyterian than
Chinese. The parents are very fond
of their children, especially the men.
The women do not seem to care 80
much, but the men fondle the little
ones all day, and love to carry them
about in their arms. You cannot
please a Chinese father more than to
say pleasant things about his child.
The babies are undeniably interesting.
The little ones have peppery smell
much pleasanter to the nostrils than
sour smelling American children. The
little boys assume the dignity of cue
strings when they are about five. Red
is the prevailing color for the cues OF
the children of both sexes. 1t means
simply youth, and has no sinister sig
nifcance, as so many Americans think.
once asked Chinese father what
the fur ears on the baby's head signi.
fed. "It's the fashion, he explained
loftily, call same American ladies weal
birds on their heads" The Chinese
are very fond of saying, when re-
preached for the cruelty of foot-bind'
ing, that the practice is not nearly as
injurious as squeezing the waist. In
telligent and educated Chinese are not
at all bad at repartee.
OF course, the little children have
any number of bangles, beads and
bracelets by way of decorations. i
is not unusual to see bangles on theil
little bare ankles as they run through
the streets. Their clothes are very
gay, though there seems to be grow
ing and unfortunate tendency to dres:
the little ones in American fashion
This is the more to be regretted as
though Chinese dress is becoming t.
Americans, the converse is by NJ
means true. The close-ftting Ameri
can garments show off all the defect'
of the figure and seem to rob tn
Chinese of all their native grace
which is considerable. Many OF tn
children go to American or Mission
schools, and parents of heather faitl
allow their children to go to tn
"white devils" missionary schools be
cause of the advantages they have il
learning English. After school hour
the children play on the sidewalks
They play queer little games witt
sticks and stones. The most commo
materials are playthings for Chimes
: baby. One of their favorites require
, a worm and bowl, and the scream
> that greet the worms attempt to es
{ cape are fraught with merriment an
t terror. The little girls are usual
f staggering under the weight of an IL
Q ordinately fat baby brother, but the
e do not seem to mind. They are e.
Q tremely obedient children and seel
1 brighter than little Americans of tt
: same age.-National Magazine.