The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29

duge In dog and cat flesh. the comsump-
ton OF these delicacies Is sufficient TO
Justify sVecial restaurants being main
tained for their sale. cat restaurant
which makes a speciality Of cats cooked In
various ways does a thriving business In
| every section OF tho Chinese cities where
the poorer classes abound. and one place
which makes a speciality OF black cats is
very well patroDiZed. the Chinese believing
that the blood OF black animals is stronger
and more nourishing than that OF lighter
colored brutes. The imagined strength OF
the blood Is an important point with tho
coolies, who drink that OF every animal
they kill Economy IN food is brought
down to a fine point. 40 far as waste IS
concerned, as every portion OF the animal
! which can be masticated IL prepared for
eating In some way or other.
The country of course produces fruit
sbundantly, and many of tho tropical
fruits are OF the most delicious variety.
Oranges. peaches. piaintain. pomesranates.
mangoes and grapes are plentiful. and
many other fruits and nuts are sold.
Wheat. barley. maize and nlillet are grown
to an enormous extent. the Chinese being
pre-eminent;y an agricultural people.
Next In importance to the food OF the
people comes their dress. The flowing robes
Of the Chinaman are weli-known even IN
European countries and the costume OF the
poorer classes varies little between male
and female. The silkworm has long been
known In the country. and silk forms the
favorite dress Of the richer classes Tho
antiquity of the material may he known
from the fact that the cultivation Of the
silkworrn was IN existence In the Twenty
third Century before Christ. Linen and cot
ton fabrics are also used. China having an
indigenous fox which produces a fine quail
~ of linen. Hemp abounds and n coarse
kind of cloth in which the poorer classes
teal Nft a.aff
plant was Introduced from Eastern TrIrkes-
tan in the Eleventh Century and IS now cul-
tiyated extensively.
Wooden fabrics are not extensively made.
but felt IL often met with, being chiefly
made from hair Of carnels. Rugs and caps
of this material are popular with rich and
poor alike although the quality varies con-
siderably. as is natural
The dress Of a wealthy Chinaman Is per-
haps the showiest costume In the world.
The silk of China cannot he surpassed for
brilliancy and fine color'ng. and the linen
IS Of an exceptional quality. To see a man.
DARN att.red in his silk robes Of different
cclors. with still another color In his flow
ing trousers his white stockings and his
cap tipped with a button expressive Of his
rank, to say nothing OF the jewelry and per-
sonal decorations he may sse ut to wear. is
to behold striking spectacle. The poorer
classes are only like him in the faint re-
semblance to the cut OF his clothes. their
garments being made of some cheap water
proof material. as a general thing. and IL
not waterproof. are often so glazed and
stained with perspiration that the original
color is not distinsuishable.
In the cities there is a common resem-
blance the chief characteristic being their
extreme dirt. The buildings are of stone
and brick with wood and mud largely used
in the poorer quarters. and in very few in
stances are the houses more than two
stories high the exceptions being almost
invariably the dwellings of the rich and the
pawnbrokers' establishments. these last
buildings reaching a height of eight or
nine stories. Even the lofty Chinese towers