The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-27
INFANTICIDE IN CHINA.
only Mild Opposition to the Murder
of Female Children
From the North China Herald


From the North China Herald.
A little incident to some extent ilIustra-
tive of Chinese methods and customs oc-
CURED in Chung King not long ago which
may be worth reporting An individual
got into trouble with the local militiamen.
who prosecuted him to such an extent that
he was forced to sell all he possessed and
seek in that way to pacify them. Even
then, however, his enemies continued ram
corous and dragged the man before the
magistrates, trumpng up fresh charge
Tor the purpose. The trial resulted In the
unhappy victim being condemned to find
80 taels for his tormentors, and provide a
feast in addition On leaving the yamen
the man is alleged to have said: You
might as well ask me to give you nv little
daughters head as attempt to get more
money from me-
We'll, was the reply, you can give US
that too, If you like, but the money must
be found f"
Whereupon the man, in fit of frenzy,
went to his house, and, taking a chopper
cut off the head of his little girl ana car
rled 1t in basket to his prosecutors. The
man had been driven mad and his deed
was not quite what the militiamen had ex-
pected from him. When the news of the
tragedy was brought to the mandarin in
the case he peremptorily ordered the ar
rest OF those concerned in the case. and
as TINS letter is being written some of
them are awaiting judicial treatment
What the uDshot will be remains to he
seen, but as girl life in China. and es-
peclally IN Szechuan, is remarkably cheaD
II Is hardly likely that any very heavy
penalty VIII be meted out to the scoun-
drels who deserve to be hanged
Inc greater question of infanticide
&c ,T1,4
trlct. is very interesting one. but most
dlfhcult to answer with accuracy. There
can ne no doubt that the hideous custom
sun obtains even in the thickly populated
cites, and to a still greater extent in the
country. Popular sentiment is in a mild de-
gree against the practice, and the law has
something to say about 1t too, that is when
the deed is discovered. But then the muir
Cer OF infants is not often found out lust
because people do not wish to find If ont
ana II an instance does not happen to come
before ordinary natives it is part of their
( duty to report it. There is absolutely no
national conscience on the matter It would
almost seem as if impoverished circum-
stances constituted a kind of right either
20 dispose of girls into a vile slavery or lxiIl
them outright,
CohIucls and Mencius may have been
great philosophers and probably rhev
We're, but it is certainly true that tbe
women OF emma nave very little to thank
them for. According to the sages. females
are human beings, but they are of a lower
standing than men. and never can attain
TO tull equality with men. Small wonder
then, that the murder of girl children has
l always been common in China and that
the monstrous custom is still in existence
1t eXcites no horror nor does it seem to
! create any sympathy for the HELPLESS viz
tins.
In a village not far removed from This
/ city, there live a couple, man and wife
TO whom were born two little girls The
parents are poor When the eldest child
reached the age of she was adoDted nv
a wealthy family at distance who kcnt
the child for about three years. Finding
that the girl was not going to be very
prepossessing, they forthwith sent her
back, with letter to the effect that she
was not good-looking enough for their MR.
pose. This intimation seems to have raised
the wrath of the father, who immediately
set about abusing his wife. The latter do
tended herself as well as she could which
had the effect of infuriatng the husband
still more. Night came and the man
still nursing his wrath, led both his little
daughters, one and the other II wears
of age, to deep creek not far away in
which he deliberately drowned them NV
informant says that the affair caueed a
momentary sensation in the neghborhood
but he added that the man us so moor
so very poor, you know! And he was 81
unlucky in having two girls, and thew co
ugly! Clearly the tragedy is regarded
as an offense, but only contra bonos
mores."