Evening journal., 1900-07-25
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
OF THE CHINESE
Rich Natives Are Usually
PhilanthrOpic
NO INPATIENCE AT MONOTONY
People Have No Craving for Excite
ment and Do Not Realize Need
Of Social Relaxation
No TMPATIENCE AT MONOTONY

In comparing the social customs of
china with those of the United States,
bne is strongly impressed with the pc
uliar features OF aChinese community,
ays a Golfers Weekly correspondent,
which are so different from those seen
n an American or European city. In
very important town, in addition tol
he patrol ci soldiers, who do the police
|iuty, private watchmen are employed.
fhen a watchman PAGES his rounds, he
ieats his bamboo sticks together, tol
ark lhe coming and going of the tveI
atches OF the night BY so doing hel
r0yes TO his patrons that he is on duty
nd not asleep, but he also frequently
istllbs their slumbers.
As a discouragement to intruders and
S an attempt 10 keep out suspicious
haracters. it is the rule in many cities
o lock up certain portions out of
arms way at night. The streets are
sually not large.and are often spanned
forbidding gates At 10 o'clock
hese gates are locked up for the
light. and the homeward way of the
elated diner-out is beset with diff
|ulties. To arouse one sleepy gateman
( fter another, and to make clear to
( ach dreary brain ones reason for be-
'ng abroad and ones earnest desire TO
leturn home, is not a pleasant pastime
/ pr a tired man.
! Many OF the rich Chinese are philan-
IhrOpic and earnestly desire to relieve
be suffering they see about them. They
: i've freely Of their wealth, but the poor
+ re legion in China, and the task is not
n easy one. Private charity, however,
Ihich is always more or less capri
lious. has provided most of the orphan
lsylums, the free hospitals and the
hoOr-houses of the country. In China
he hand of pity often goes
Ilto the pocket of plenty to
lelieve cases of suffering that
ever appeal to the American. He for
Ilnately never hears and shudders at
be leper's cry Of "uncleanl unclean!"
i Conservative as my people are, it is
Iasy to understand that they are con-
/ snt to keep on day after day, at their
Iccustcmed tasks with no impatience at
|neir monOtony. They are devoid OF
my craving for excitement Working
ear in and year out, without even a
Ireekly rest such as that taken by Sun
lay observers the world over they sell
ON seem to realize the need or the
harm of social relaxation. When they
o come together for mutual entertain
ydent the company is always small A
iOcial function with its crush OF peO-
lie, OF the kind so common in this
IOuntry, would never appeal to a Chin
/ imam as entertaining or relaxing. The
hinese OF the upper classes frequently
Intertain their friends at more or less
Elaborate banquets, but at the ordinary
inner party covers are laid for only
Hight people. Conversation can then bel
eneral. AS an after-dinner bit, pri-
ate theatricals are in order, and pro-
tessional jugglers and comedians are
frequently called in to amuse the
Iuests. Similar affairs would be dub
ed stag" parties in America, for they
re invariably characterized by the abb
Ience Of women. The latter entertain
ach other in their own apartments, as
I ayly and as pretentiOusly as they
Ilease. but men are never their guests.
woman may be the mistress Of her
I usband's house, but she is never the
ispenser of his hospitality
1 Social entertainments in China never
evolve around dancing or athletic con-
Tests, as they so frequently do in this
IOuntry. Our ideas about the impropri-
Il ty of the two sexes mingling socially
,ould effectually prevent dancing from
becoming a form Of entertainment.
|Athletic sports have not found favor in
bur eyes, but games OF chance have a
irong hold on the popular heart. In
he tea-houses and cafes, where the
lub life OF Chinese men is centered.
Rambling hourishes in many foms. It
IL dfoor44r.o GOD fha eroxra4sr,
HERE is as little hope Of plucking the
tanning interest from the Chinese heart
lis there is of suppressing the trading
Ipirit in the Jewish breast. It is those
little ripples of gambling excitement
hat keep Chinaman'sli life from stag
hating. Cards, dice chess dOminoes,
II serve to satisfy his passion. Fan
lam which is game of purest chance,
absolutely Independent in its results of
my skill on the part of the player, is a
. pecial favorite, which for popularity
mong the sporting element, may be
compared to the American game of pO-
Ser
Some Of the most striking differences
between the social customs of China
md the United States are apparent in
n he various rites and ceremonies con-
4lected with the great events Of mar
4 7iage. birth and death. Among my peo-
Nple the choice Of a partner for life is
'Ilways left to the parents Of the bridal
|Ipair. They have the interest and vel
Hare Of their children at heart and act
with the judgment and wisdom that
4only mature years can bring
4The engagement is usually mad,
when the young people are il
8their early teens-in many case.
fwhen they are much young
Her Matrimonial alliances betweel
Afriendly families are the most common
In some sections Of the country, tn,
Assistance Of a professional matchmak
Ter is called in when marriage is desire,
Hfor a child Of the house, especially If NJ
asuitable alliance with a friends chill,
Ms possible. The role of marriage bro
Nker is played by women Of the middl
&class. They go from house to house
working up the trade by telling Of tn
Neligibles IN different families. Whei
consulted, their first instruction alway
ia: Give me a paper on which is writ
ten the day and hour Of your child
/ birth" Chinese women generally ar
I superstitious, and as the marriages ar
= !. "a