Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-14

In New York's Chinatown, which is the
second in Importance in this country,
there are probably not hundred-not
more than that number at any rate.
The wife of the minister at Washing
ton, the Lady WI, is the best known
oriental woman in this country. She is,
tor Chinese woman, very liberal and
progressive in her ideas. In recent
interview the Lady WI said that the
life of Chinese women very much re-
sembled that of domestic women of
other nations, the only difference being
in dress and national customs. The
Lady WI was a Cantonese of high
birth, and her feet are three inches in
length. She is much younger than
her husband, whose black cue is begin
ming to be heavily streaked with gray.
Like the Lady Yam, wife of the former
Chinese minister, Lady WI is very fond
of society and goes out and entertains
great deal. She speaks broken Eng
fish, but is able to make herself quite
we'll understood. Once week she is at
home to her friends at the Chinese le-
cation, where, with her family, she oc-
cupies the upper floor of the house.
She makes calls in a closed carriage,
but does not attend receptions or din
ners. To be seen in company with her
husband would be contrary to Chinese
etiquette, for, in public, custom re-
quires a Chinese gentleman to be as
oblivious to the existence of his con-
sort as though she had never existed.
The eldest son of the WI Fangs, who
is about II years old, attends an Amer
lean school, where he is rapidly learn
ing all English accomplishments His
father is graduate of Oxford univer-
sity and a man of the widest educa-
ton both in English and Chinese. His
mother is, for woman of her land,
very we'll educated, but as the Chinese
do not believe in training woman for
anything but household duties it is
very doubtful il the Lady WI can do
more than read and write little Chi
neSe.
Besides the Lady WI, several of the
Chinese consuls in America are ae-
companied by their wives. AS China
men have, as rule, several spouses it
is not probable that any of these are
the first or legal wives, whom it is not
customary to take away from China.
When man leaves home, it is one of
his secondary wives that oftenest ac-
companies him.
III the SnlndtOWnS OIL san francisco,
New York and Chicago are number
of real wives of wealthy Chinese mer-
chants. These ladies are seldom seen
away from home, although they do go
calling upon one another just like
American women. When they venture
from home, their faces are yelled, and
they are hurried into waiting carriages
to escape the curious eyes of passers-
by. 1t is regarded as disgrace for
Chinese woman to be gazed upon by
any man but her husband.
These merchants wives have entire
charge of the homes of their husbands,
looking after the household and serv-
ants as keenly as do any American
women. In San Francisco the servants
in Chinese households are, as a rule,
slaves bought to work in the family UNI
til they are is or 16 years old and then
sold at a profit to Cinnamon for wives.
The slaves are often treated very bad
! ly, according to American standards,
but they are never known to dare to
complain to the authorities no matter
how badly they are treated. Now and
| then one falls into the hands of the
missionaries. and fearful tales are told