The Goodland republic., 1900-07-06
EVERYDAY LIFE IN CHINA.
A Few Facts About the Customs Of the
CelestiaIs-Ths SupsrstitiOus Treat
ment Of Disease.
IPbiladelphia 80


China is in the worlds eye at present
writing, so here are a few facts about
manners and customs of the Celestials.
A Chinese notwithstanding to
Chinese custom, the bridal procession
is formed at the brides house. First,
there are a number Of boys who are
hired to walk ahead, carrying red ban
ners fastened to long poles; then come
the musicians, some playing wind in
struments much resembling in sound
Scotch bagpiPes, others scraping elOn-
gated fddIes, others humping gOngs
Of various sizes and discOrdaDt tone,
while some are beating hollow pines Of
bamboo, which give forth dull sound.
After the band come more boys carry
ing large parasols, with long red and
gold fringe these parasols are .On
sticks ten feet long,, then more boys
with red banners, which bear Chinese
characters in gold on either side ex-
pressing all sorts Of complimentary
things to the bride.
How disease is trea6ed-The super
stitious treatment Of disease is an ex-
traordinary feature Of Chinese social
life. Death, they account for by saying
it is in accordance with the reckoning
of heaven" and it would appear that
in this at least they are not far out of
the way. Recovery is by grace of some
particular god or goddess. They i'm
agine that this evil god works by mys-
teriOus influences existing between
and among the members Of a family,
and resulting in illness. Hence great
bribes are offered to this pleasant IA
miliar, and large profits to the Taonist
priests
In a fish market-It may be said that
the Chinaman is born fshing-he has
for ages past cultivated a system of
artificial breeding and rearing of live
fish for the market. In the shops may
be seen displayed live and dead fish,
fish fresh and salted, smoked and pre-
served. One variety are like white
bait 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, salted and smoked. Shark fms
are q delicacy. There are fish notified
and barred, bright and dull, fish Of
quaint and, to Us, unknown shapes,
but foremost above all, and everywhere
to be seen are the artiRcially grown
live FISH.
Boiling Of rice-Chinamen boil their
rice in fat vessels shaped like deep
saucers. From twenty to thirty inches
across and from six TO nine inches
deep is the usual size Of these utensils,
which are cast wonderfully thin, the
metal rarely exceeding an eighth of an
inch in thickness. The blast furnaces
are shaped like large, squat lamp chin
neys, and fuel and metal are fed
through the narrowed opening at the
top. The very frugal Chinaman while
be works also uses his furnace fire to
cook his evening meal.
Highly priced for Ornament-Jade is
the article most highly priced for jew
elry by the Chinese. A Jade bangle in
Canton would bring q higher price
than one Of diamonds and gold. The
jade is cut by tools worked with a re-
ciprOcating motion driven by rocking
foot treadIe.
Secret sOeieties-Owing to the gen
ersl maIadministrationo Of the country
China offers q thoroughly congenisl
soil for the growth Of all sorts Of lille
gal combinations Under oppression
and tyranny secret societies spring
into life. The Kolao Hui is said to be
numerically the most powerful secret
society in China. Its members num-
Der upward Of q million, and its organ
ization is in theory as nearly perfect
as the loose ideas possessed BY China
men.
1t is a direct descendant Of the Hung
league, the universally Of which is ex-
pressed by the symbol, signifying "a
mighty blood" which is employed to
write the word Hung. This society vas
governed BY the chiefs who we're known
as the HKOn or elder brothers. It was
considered advisable to change the
name Of the "Hui, and title sKolao,
derived from the epithet Of the chiefs,
was adopted in its place.
For napkins, table linens and towels
be sure and inspect that department
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