Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-09
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CHINESE FOOT-BfNDING'
Native Recognition of the Evil ana U
nnsire for Reform.

49,, bundred rnembers-all complete
10 nole and female are but single
enecies. universal under Heaven. HOW
then. have we of the Middle klhguoih'
from the inception Of a specious custom
developed habits of meretricious adorh-
ment? whitening the face, blacKehlhs
the eyebrows. in the search for beauty
re desire for adulation. Our adjoining
the natural countenance, and adding
human devices TO the fair gift OF Heaven
attaining the simulated and confoundlnS
tho genuine. Every household Is aliKe
I'm this: the evil practice has become
system. It's offensiveness exceeds de-
scription. But the binding Of feet Is
deeper evil Man has feet as house-pilars
have stone supports, as the cart mas us
axle There is no movement nor actiVl'y
without the use Of the feet. Therefore
in binding there Is cruelty Ike that OF
cutting off the legs Of those who cross
the ford I'm the morning; an historic In
stance of Chow Wang's barbarity. IL we
reflect on IL we see that IL is unreason-
able. IT'S pain is like the punishment or
the red-hot pillar. If we consider 1t we
perceive that 1t is unseemly; 1t takes the
bodv beaueathed by our parents and
cruelty INJURIES It. Alas. The women or
China initiate one another i'm this folly;
meeting what Is perverted, they 90 not
think TO put It right. one knows not
where the transmitted evil OF 1t VIII ma
an end. ..
Now. bv good fortune worthy scholars
from the Great West have established IN
anti-foot-binding association, to save the
the women and girls OF our land from
the misery of this bondage. To obtain
the ioy Of deliverance truly viii be
great achievement. But in seeking 10
remove this evil II is necessary hrst 10
remove its cause. Contemplating the
mower Of this practice, and peering into
| the feminine mind, we perceive that loot-
| binding has reached the centre or the
human heart 1t has become rooted
custom. Generations handed it down.
| unassailable.
If we wish TO turn back this evil, the
| difficulties are three. First in choosing
| a wife In China IL is not asked whether
! she has womanly virtues or not; the nIst
! inouirv Is whether her feet are small or
! large. Though her disposition and feat-
ures should be perfect, yet, If her FEET
| are large they involve disgrace, ana no
betrothal follows. Again, the women OF
| China are without learning. Because
| thev do not reflect on the completeness
of Gods gifts. or the fitness Of the body
! given. them by their parents, they one
| and all regard foot-bnding as essential
! Though men should oppose with all
| their might. the women would give no
heed Further, women adorn themselves
TO excite admiration. If that which Is
below the pettieoat's hem be too large,
not only does ii excite the worlds ridi-
Guile. but their husbands disgust as well,
and on the day that they go to his home
he is angry that their ieet We're not
| bound up earlier
Because OF these three difficulties the
scholafs and officials dare not lightly
critcse 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 we truly admire. Why, then,
should we hesitate IN planning to put
away this evil custom and achieve no.
bic service? Phe strength Of the empire
IS declining. Let scholars, farmers, arti-
fcers and tradesmea all put forth their
| energies to strengthen themselves I'M
tiringly. and let the women also help to-
| gether But If we still remain in this
ancient thraldom, then with the binding
Of the feet must come the loss Of affect
/ ion between mother and daughter.
All movement being painful the eff
cheney Of the housewife must be still fur
| Their injured: the toes being cTamped so
that they cannot be extended the whole
body suffers hurt The wife is unequal
to the labor of drawing water and grind
ing corn nor can she fulfil the duties Of
hospitality to guests. In rearing sons
| and daughters, also, ii will be difficult
for her to bequeath them a strong body.
Since simple walking is painful. in ford
| ing streams it IS still more difficult for
her to find footing. Although there may
| not be the danger 'of the River Ch'u"
| still the husband must carry her on his
back. SO II is that the mems anxiety in
caring for the women comes chiefly from
the habit Of foot-binding.
| THE REMEDY.
We now desire thoroughly to reform
this evil habit Of several thousand years.
Then will the body polite be without
| shame, and in all things have prosperity
For this reason we should earnestly plan
thus TO preserve the present dynasty, to
| spread this worthy scheme for putting
away an old evil, TO maintain the prin-
| ciple Of handing back the perfect body
we received. and so to return to our prim-
| tive simplicity. The methods for reform
are three. First, extend female educa-
! ton, causing girls 10 read and to under
stand principles; not making adornment
their chief concern, but regarding foot
binding as an injury TO the body and a vain
allurement for men-mutually exhorting
| one another TO consider it a cause Of
! shame Second, issue an imperial pro-
| hibition of the custom. Cause the names
| OF all girls TO be recorded then let the
whole body of officials great and small.
| examine these lists yearly. IL scholars
| and officials put away the evil practice,
the common people will soon follow suit
| Third, form associations. Let the four
| orders of society all form anti-foot- bind
| ing societies. and let betrothals be made
1
| parents warn their children that those
| breaking the rules Of the association will
be punished and excluded. Thus such a
practice OF choosing wives will become a
| fixed usage. II these three methods OF re-
| form be applied TO the three difficulties
| then can the offensive custom be put
away. Fortunately, worthy men from
western lands Ina the love OF God and
| man have put forth this benevolent plan.
that by their efficient help not only may
civilization overspread the West, but
China as well; that the women Of
| China may have hope OF escaping from
| the sea of bitterness and trouble, and
ascending to a garden OF delight oh, adj
mirable Oh. joyfull How would this be
! a kingdom of heaven on earth.
| New York.-The United States coast
| survey steamer Pathfinder was launch
| ed from the Nixon ship-yards, In
| Elizabeth, N. j., Miss Ruth w. Gran
| don. niece OF Secretary-of-the-T Treasury
| Gage, christening the vessel.