Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-07
FANATICAL CHINESE.
SUPERSTITION RULES The RACE FROM
CRADLE TO GRAVE.

rectiy controlled by rms nrensOn-
ing Influence. which Makes Brutes
Of Its sIavish DevOtees.
No race in the wide world is more
controlled by superstitious notions than
the Chinese. They enter into every act
of a Chinaman' life. and their infiu-
ence is more lasting than that of his re-
ligion. He cannot move hand or foot
without their agency, and from the
earliest moment IF his life down to the
last detail III connection with his burial
their power and influence are the guild
ing motives OF his acts. All business
and family matters are directly con-
tTolled by superstitious sentiments, both
rich and poor, young and old, being
slaves to their force.
To the average Chinaman his religion
is mere negative factor in his mode OF
life, to be followed or disregarded at
viii, but no true son of Han dares to
act otherwise than IN accordance with
the strict precepts Of those spiritual
powers which directly control his life.
There are some amusing superstitions
connected with Chinese entertainments.
y dinner party is an ordeal which once
experienced is never forgotten. 1t con-
sists Of from 20 to 90 distinct courses
and occupies the greater portion of a
day. During the whole of these repasts
and Notwithstanding the endless variety
of dishes served the invited guest re-
tains the same plate throughout. The
explanation of this strange custom is an
old proverb, which has now become a
superstition, that che who changes the
plates kills the housewife.
Chinese proverbs explain several Of
the superstitious notions with regard to
women. 1t is considered unlucky for a
woman to mix with the builders of a
house or other edifice during its cree
tion, and TO avoid any possibility of one
strayiug into the premises all approaches
are carefully guarded by watchmen.
and a fence is erected around the pre-
posed building as soon as its tounda
tious are laid.
The explanation of this is the saying,
"Women mix i'll with wood, and death
lives in the house over whose founda
tons woman has walked" There is
similar horror of the fair sex interior
ing with any public matter of national
interest or in any business transactions
where men are concerned. Women tie
knots" says the Chinese proverb. LET
them remain at home.''
No funeral can take place until as
trologers and professional fortune tellers
have bern consulted. These unsCrupu
lous OWNERS decide the place CT burial,
and in the event of disagreement no
final inteTmeut car take place. This ac-
counts FOR the number OF unburied cot
fins which are seen about the country
districts in China. Sometimes the coffin
is temporarily deposited III temple or
kept in the house OF tine heir of the de
ceased. Among tho poor as often as not
it is conveyed 10 some sheltered spot
and covered with mat.
When in course Of time (by aid OF
additional fees) the OWNERS can report
that all objections 90 final burial are re-
moved, the funeral takes place amid re
joicing and profane excuses. The mode
of Precipitation generally prescribed by
astroluGers is the purchase OF some stone
or piece If iron, TO which an elaborate
ritual of prayer and sacrifice is made,
or, if the client Is wealthy, the building
of pagoda is suggested, i'll connection
with which the mercenaTy fortune teller
doubtless reaps a large commission
The last species of superstition to
which we will call attention forces Us
to place China among the half civilized
and brutal nations. One of these super
stitions Is that the soul of dying per-
son takes possession Of the bed and room
in which the invalid Is lying. To obvi-
ate such a curse as this tine relatives of
the dying person, rs soon as they per-
caiye his end approaching, forcibly re-
move him from his bed and place him
almost naked upon a board. If by chance
a man should expire in his bed, it, to-
Cethor with all the furniture in the
room, must be burned and many atone
ments offered before the room is consid- !
cred fit for habitation again.
Many strange and inhuman ideas are
associated with the illness and death of /!
children. If child sickens and dies be !
fore the age of u years, its last mo- [,
ments are hastened by the horrible !!
cruelty OF its parents. So long as hope 7
Is possible the parents do their utmost /
to save their child, but as soon as the 1
doctors abandon hope the child is strip |
ped naked and placed against the outer !
door of the house. When the end has
come, the corpse Is thrown out into the ?
street to be picked up by the passing
dead cart
The reason for this brutality is this: !
If a family loses u child before it has
grown to maturity, its parents refuse to
regard it as their offspring, but rather
as some evil spirit who has worked its
way into their home IN order TO bring
ruin and misfortune upon it and them.
st. Peters s.