The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-23
EVERYDAY LIFE IN CHINA.


From the Philadelphia Record.
China is in the worlds eye at present
writing, so here are few facts about
manners and customs of the Ceestials.
According 10 Chinese customs, the bril-
dal procession is formed at the brides
house. First there are a number OF
boys who are hired 10 walk ahead, carry
ing red banners fastened to long poles;
then come the musicians, some playing
wind instruments much resembling in
sound Scotch bagpipes others scraping
elongated fddles, others humping gongs
Of varied sizes and discordant tone, while
some are beating hollow pines of bam-
boo which give forth dull sound. After
the band come more boys carrying large
parasols, with long red and gold fringe
nhese parasos are on sticks ten feet
long. then more boys with red banners,
which bear Chinese characters in gold
on either side expressing all sorts of
complimentary things to the bride.
The superstitious treatment of disease
is an extraordinary feature of Chinese
social life. Death, they account for by
saying It Ia in accordance with the ''reck-
oning of heaven" and 1t would appear
that in this at least they are not far
out OF theirs. Recovery is by grace or
some particular god or goddess They
imagine that this evil god works by mys-
ing in Illness. Hence great brides are Of
fered 10 this pleasant familiar, and large
profits 10 the Taonist priests
Ia may be said that the Chinaman 10
born ishng-he has for ages past cult
vated a system of artificial breeding
and rearing of live f1sh for the market.
In the shops may be seen displayed live
and dead fish. fish fresh and sailed.
smoked and preserved. One variety are
like whitehall in basket, graded from
tiny things not half an inch long to what
appears TO be the same FISH grown to
eight or nine inches in length. These are
sold fresh, sailed and smoked. Shark
fms are a delicacy These are fish mot
tied and barred bright and dull, fish OF
quaint and, TO us, unknown shapes, but,
foremost above all. and everywhere TO
be seen are the artifcially grown live hsh.
Cinnamon boil their rice in fiat vessels
shaped like deep saucers. From 20 70 80
inches across and from to inches deep
is the usual size OF these utensils, which
are cast wonderfully thin, the metal rare
~ exceeding an eighth Of an inch in thick
ness. The blast furnaces are shaped like
large scquat lamp chimneys, and fuel
a m tai are fed through the narrowed
opening a. the top. The very frugal Chin
arnan while he works also uses his fur
mace fire. to cook his evening meal.
Jade is the article most highly priced
fr jewelry by the Chinese. jade ban
gle IN canton WOulu DTlUg ui6ntT price
than one of diamonds and gold. The jade
is cut by too work d with a reciprocal
ing motion driven by rocking foot trea-
die
owing TO the general maladministration
Of the coun ry, China offers a thorough
~ congenial soil for the growth OF all
sor Of illegal combinations. Under OPP
preston and tyranny secret societies
sprirg into life The Kolao Hui Is said
to be numerically the most powe full Sc
ct society in China. Its members num-
Der upwards of million, and its organ
izatlon is in theory as arly perfect as
the loose ideas possessed by Cinnamon.
1t is a direct descendent OF the Hung
League, the universally of which is ex-
pres ed by the symbol, signifying -
mighty blood." which is employed to write
the word Hung TITS society was govern
el by the ch efs who were known as the
"Ko" or Elder Brothers. II was consid-
cred ad issble to change the name of the
Hui" and lite "Kolao," der " d from
the epittet of the chiefs. was adopted in
is place