Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-10-05
Home FROM TIE ORIENT.
A. L. KENNEDY TALKS ENTERTAIN.
iNGLY OF EASTERN CUSTOMS.
People of China Much More Reliable, II
Dirtier Than Those of Japau-1heir
Hardships and Prcjudices-Life
ofLittle Value.

Arthur l.. Kennedy, son of MIR. and
Mrs. f.. G. Kennedy, has Just returned
from an extended tour through China and
Japan A Free Press reporter was pleas
antly greeted last evening by Mr.. Ken
nedy, who told of some of the manners
and customs of these interesting coun-
tries.
MIR. Kennedy said that China impresses
one as the greatest country Oh the globe.
The natives can live on less than any 9TH
er people and can supply themselves with
everything they want. The only thing
! lacking is an idea of utilizing the things
of the modern world. Every inch of land
| is in cultivation, even to the stone line
on the mountains and this in places is
utilized by having earth carried up IN
baskets and the stones covered to suf-
ficient depth to permit cultivation. Labor
is absolutely valueless, according to the
American idea. First class artisans earn
~ cents Mexican or % cents American
money per day, while the common labor
er gets from 10 to IL cents The China
man works continuously until his work
is done and each person does only one
thing. The carving and embroidery work
is very beautiful and may be bought for
a song Gold work is all done from the
pure metal, while the silver work con-
sists of only ~ or 80 per cent silver.
There are many modern manufactures,
are operated by Americans. In summer
the climate is very humid. While there [
saw the sun shine osly once and 1t rained
every day. The soil is very fertile and
anything that can be produced anywhel e
on the globe can be found there. The
| Cinnamon have to be industrious in order
to live. The education of the children be-
gins with their being taught implicit obe-
dience Families are never separated.
| Everything each one earns Is turned into
the common fund and all share alike.
The older people are cared for by the
younger ones and are given proper burial
when they die. The only thing China
man fears is his ancestors, and that is the
! principal reason why railroads do not
progress more rapidly. 1t Is a sin 10
disturb the bones of dead
| Chnaman and as the country
is thCkly dotted with family
buryng grounds the railroads cannot be
built without disturbing them. When this
is done the relatives gather and tear un
the rails and the government is power
less TO prevent them. A Chinaman has
absolutely no conception of what filth is.
Filth which Americans would call super
lative is common thing there. A China
man never takes bath--it is against his
principles to do So The only time that
he ever has to is when he comes to
America and the ship is quarantined A
Cnlnaman never wastes anything. He
finds use for everything and there is
never anything left to go to the pigs. Their
method of cooking is hardly in accord with
American ideas. Most food is cooked in
rancid oil. The one thing they do cook
well is rice and this they produce as lgh,
and fluffy as cotton and impart. to it a
very delightful flavor
! The Chinamans temperament cannot be
compared to the Americans. He has alb.
soiute!y no fear of death. The only thing
he fears is physical pain, consequently q
stick is a more effective weapon than q
revolver The military force of China i.
one laughable farce. At one station &
regiment was equipped with modern Ger.
man guns and received some instruction
from German officers. When the inspec
ton came, however each soldier appeared
with pawn ticket instead of his gun
rms is a good Illustration of the military
system of the country. Missionary u orr
in China is simply waste of time an,
money The only good that is done !.
brought about through the hospitals Az
the Chinaman believes in no future he ha:
no use for anything that promises futur,
happiness. What he fears is physical pair
ana when he finds something that will re
lleve that he thinks there is something il
II. The Cinnamon hate the missionary. |
man is known not to be a missionary h.
can go anywhere in perfect safety. Lif.
thert is of no value If you want Il
knock man in the head you can 10 :,
ana nothing will be said The relative
VIII simply come and bury him and tina
VIII end the matter. There is the sport
ing section of each Chinese town, the sam,
as IN the American cities opium dens ar,
licensed. The business il all done II,
Cinnamon. If an American opens an of
nee ne must have an office boy punk;
boy, writer, cashier and two or thre
clerks. These do all the business il
'hihese and return to their employ
erS the proceeds. People writ
DOCKS and say they have seel
All thera is in China. This is not so. :
| foreigner can see just as much a,id n,
, more than the Chinaman wants him {,
see dlned with very wealthy mer
|, chant Was waited on by one of hi
wives who cost him $500, and was civei
10 understand that l had seen all ther
was to be seen. yet / had not seen one
; tenth. Chinese servants are ideal an,
can be hired for about 81 per month !
, Chinaman's word is better than most PEG
pies bond When they agree to do
thing they will do it.
japan is a beautiful country hut is en-
, tlrely different from China. The Japanes
are clean but on the whole | prefer tn
Chinese. The Japanese are treachcrpu
mt everything is the perfection of neat
ness. Modesty is too warm dress for tn
japanese. The detail and perfection Of vic
land immortality there is simply astound
ing. The conditions in Japan are entirel
different from things In China. There yo
can not strike coolie and if one get
into a row it is best TO purchase enc
: way out for if a foreigner once gets int
prison h" can never get out. The polio
, service is good but looks rather ridiculoll
, to an American. They have the best flee
on the Pacific ocean and would wipe GU
, anything that could be brought agains
them. If one travels in the beaten pat
= the accommodations are quite comfort
able but once out OF these paths innumer
able hardships are encountered.
| While in Japan | met Ito, who was tn
} prime minister during the war with China
io can converse fuently in English q
l French and has wide and accurate infor
| nation in all that pertains to China, ia
pan or the Philippines. Sho Nemoto. VIII
1 was a graduate of the l.. V. NJ, in tn
r class of 1889. Is in Japan and holds a +.
= sponsible position in the department @
the interior. The new laws have jus
gone into effect there and everything is il
"A state of excitement and | was undbl
to see him.