The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-07
THE AMERICAN WOMAN.
,s SEEN BY CHINESE MINISTER WE
TING FANG.

Here and AbrOau-FEeIerS IhOse OF
Ills Race-Only Proper Method of
choosing "A Wife Is for the Parents
10 Attend to the Matter.
From the New York World.
Washington, Nov. 4.-"Independenee is
the loadslone of American womanhoodr'
such at least, is the best judgment of
Mr. WI Ting Fang, the first Chinese min
iser TO America, who has been abe to
universe with Americans in their native
tongue. without the services of an inter
prefer.
That Mr. WI is qualified to discourse
uron the subject of the gentler sex he
lroved by answering my query. DO you
.trefer Chinese or American women" with
oT prefer them all"
In his native land Mr.. WI Ting Fang
vas known as an admirer of beautiful wo-
r7en--a repu ation which has in no way
suffered since his entree into Washington
society.
And. by beautiful" he said slowly. out
lining with his fingers the satin flowers
nm his gown. I don't mean red lips nor
bright eyes nor glossy hair; mean, TOO.
beautiful soul"
But what can you know Of their souls,
Mr.. Wu?'
Oh that is simple The sous is not hard
TO ind. 1t is felt in the touch and seen in
the eyes and heard in the voice"
But if you meet one just once you may
cali her beautiful and you cannot so soon
have discovered her soul?"
Soul Sure to BE Evident.
why not?" asked Mr.. WI, raising his
straight brows and INDUCING a disposition
10 ask questions rather than answer them.
IF she be Old enough to have entered So
cety sure she is old enough TO have de-
veoped soul, good or bad. And it can
rot fail 10 be evident.
And what is beauty of soul, Mr..
Nu?'
Ia is the only beauty" said the sage
Monaghan that age can help to make
perfect. The beautiful face the splen-
did form. the shapely head, the eyes
mat g.eam, ah"-Mr. Wa clasped his
long tapering fingers estaticaly-' these
are sOod, very good, yes,' with decision,
very good indeed. But they fade. They
are good just for a season, a brief sea-
son. Then they are gone, and il is I:u-
ful and each day they are less good and
each year more pitiful.
But the other beauty-it is time that
perteots it, time and the true spirit, the
4 spirit of love and charity and forgive
3 ress The spirit of hope and of gentle
q ness that spirit that makes others glad.
81 that remembers the hearts of others and
q IN that memory forgets itself"
And there are such?"
Many The land of my birth is SLED
81 "'ta them, people whom old age cannot
touch because they make 1t beautiful,
with beauty that you cannot wither.'
But why, particularly, in the land of
your brth?"
Because the education is different; so
Is life, likewise ideals and ambitions.
8 PHYSICALLY our women fade earlier than
Yours. Perhaps they have not so much
& 10 start what least from an American
& standpoint. Perhaps the crows feet
enc so soon because of the rouge and
4 powder and general makeup Of the Chi
neae women. But in China we do rot
tAuk so much of this, and the paint
that caused the wrinkles conciliates by
covering them. II is the nature we look
Tor there A woman is pretty according
to her deeds. A wife is a good wife ac-
coraing to her
VT. WI hestated
You will not like it," he ventured
What is ito"
Not an American Quality.
Gentleness. 1t is not an American
quality, I Think
convinced Mr.. WI of his error.
Very We'll" he said, 81 coucede gen
ueness may sometimes be an Ameri-
can attribute, but an accident of birth
Is it not, rather than training? II Is rot
IN an bition, is it, like it is to be indie
4 pcndent?"
Well I grant we may be independent,
cut is it not good quality?'
1es'' said Mr.. WI, thoughfully, "a
Eood quality, perhaps but with poor re-
."S' what does independence win for
we american woman? Happiness?
,nlhk not. Husbands? Impossible. Can
'ue man exist who calls indepen lence a
'lr'uIe? Is the independent woman Iowa
wv. Doh you know that it is the de-
pehdent gentle, confding woman who
5gN mans whole heart and keeps it
warm who makes his home a garden
10 VINO rears her children so they
l"aAe MN proud? What then, does she
"Hi thlS Independent woman of yours
~ livelihood? Yes. But her independ-
'uce creates the need.
l21 see, it is different in China. It
al a matter of habit and education.
Wv" slris are reared in the home. They
nv not often go out of it. as you do.
leLe are gardens around the homes,
~nee they can get exercise and air;
|'gre they are separated from the world.
0ad method, perhaps, in some ways,
N.Y. on the whole, good. If they miss
So So might be of value in the companion
i. a oil society, they miss also its evil
'luehces and unhealthy aims.
ihlese girls are not educated with
view to shining in society and outdo-
rs somebody else. They have no desire
tr oeeome great artists in any. profession.
y 90 not aim to print their names
lon the tablets of fame. We have t
'o OF three women authors in all China.
ro NJ" OF the ladies learn to paint, but not
\ i11u seldom more than flowers but that
Vusldered a great deal in China. II is
, Land of Flowers you know and
We love them.
singing No Accomplishment.
NO they don't sing That is strange.
don care about singing and don't
s Era 1t as an accomplishment
In w. no. not the piano. Is there music
f vac sound Of a piano? We have not
Gnu IT, But some of them play
S1,aI and very picturesque they look.
agree with me they are pictu. esque2"
Gadn seen enough of them to know.
uo" YOU agree with me the American