Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-23
CHINESE
CUsTOM
sketches Of Country ana People.

OU0lUMo..
sketches of Country ana People.
Minister WI Ting Fang. the dis
5tinguished representative Of the Chi
nese government to the United States,
contributes to Golfers Weekly an in
structive sketch Of his countrymen and
their social customs. Peculiar interest
attaches to the article at the present
time, both on account OF the cminence
OF the author and the internal trouble
that convulses the empire and threat
ems the peace Of the world.
In comparing the social customs Of
China with those Of the United States,
writes Minister VIII, zone is strongly
a Chinese community, which are so
different from those seen in an Amer
lean or European city. In every inn
portant town, in addition to the patrol
of soldiers who do the police duty, pri-
tvate watchlnen are employed.
The streets are usually not large and
are often spanned by forbidding gates.
AT 10 o'clock these are locked up for
the night and the homeward way of
the belated diner out is beset with diff.
sficulties.
conservative as my people are, it is
easy to understand that they are con-
tent to keep on, day after day, at their
accustomed tasks, with no impotence
at their monotony They are devoid
of any craving for excitement. Work.
ing year in and year out, without even
a weekly rest such as that taken by
Sunday observers the world over, they
seldom seem to realize the need or the
charm of social relaxat ton. When they
do come together for mutual enter.
stainment the company Is always small.
Z social function, with its crush of
people, of the kind so common in this
country would never appeal to Chi
naman as entertaining or relaxing. The
Chinese of the upper classes frequently
entertain their friends at more or less
elaborate baEquets. but at the ordinary
dinner party covers are laid for only
eight people. Conversation can then be
general.
Some OF the most striking differ
China and the United States are APP.
parent in the various rites and cere-
monies connected with the great events
of marriage, birth and death. Among
my people the choice of partner for
life is always left III the parents of the
bridal pair They have the Interest
and welfare of their children at heart
and act with the Judgment and Wis
dom that only mature years can bring.
The engagement is usually made when
the young people are in their early
steens-in many cases when they are
much younger.
SIN some sections of the country the
assistance OF professional match
maker is called in when marriage is
desired for child of the house, es-
speciallN II no suitable alliance with a
friends child is possible.
"Chinese women generally are super
sstitious. and. as the marriages are ali
ways negotiated by women, 1t is ma
ltural that superstitious practices
should be connected with their solem-
sniZation.
THE superstitious sometimes go to
the joss house also ard ask advice of
the idol. If all omens are favorable to
the marriage the engagement takes
place.
THE wedding festivities usually last
three days. on the day previous to the
marriage the girls parents send her
dowry to the home of the bridegroom
If she is rich. it will consist of a great
variety of costly articles, including
household furniture, clothing and pre-
.tl a
wedding the parents of the bridegroom
send bridal chair TO bring the pTlae
10 their home. 1t is usually Very sor-
geous sedan chair, which mas peeh
rented for the day. Musicians accom-
pany it and the matcn-maRets ioiio",
bringing more presents.
"Arriyed at the home OF ms ptlue,
there is usually at this junctufe a 5 lotis
Epause in the proceedings the prloe y
In tears and makes. a great snow u " I g
5l,,ctanca at the thought of leaving her
home and her parents. Frequently SIX
ar seven hours pass before she WIZ CON
sent to let her maids adorn ner IN the
bridal robes and ileaddress sent her by
the bridegroom's parents.
i last she gets into her char ana y
borne away from her old home Her
brothers follow her in sedan chairs TO
the house of the bridegroom. The bride
groom in gorgeous dress. comes out to
meet her. He bows, he opens the door
of her chair One of her maids comes
up and carries her on her back into the
house. There the bridegroom lifts her
Veil and sees for the first time the face
of his bride.
mo priest conducts the ceremony
which unites them. Together they
kneel before the altar of their OWE God
ana before the shrine of their ancestors
and burn incense and candles. Humhly
they make sa!utation to the bride
groom's parents and receive their bless
ing There is no exchange of words
upon the part of the young people.
They would not be so bold.
1.-THE day when Chinese woman
brings into the world her first born son
is the GROWING day of her life. Be-
cause son is legally and morally.
bound to support his parents in old age,
whereas daughter becomes on her
marriage day n member of another