The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1900-12-07
cHINA's CRUEL FASHION.
Supposed Origin OF binding the Feet
OF Children.

OF Children.
All who have the slightest knowledge of
I China have heard Of the custom Of bind
ing the feet Of Chinese girls, but few are
acquainted with the painful process
adopted TO secure the diminutive feet
which the Chinese prize 50 highly. 1t IS
not known how this cruel custom origi-
mated, and the Chinese themselves seem to
be uncertain as to when 1t was adopted,
but tradition relates that a certain en-
press OF China. somewhere back in the
twilight Of Chinese history. was afflicted
with club feet. and compelled all the
ladies Of the court to bind their feet. in
the attempt to secure artifcially the same
defornity which nature had inflicted upon
her
There are two distinct styles Of binding
the feet in vogue among the Chinese. but
the process is the same in both cases, the
different results being secured by the way
in which the binding is done. The in
strument used is small roll Of firm COT
ton webbing about two and one-half
inches wide. This webbing must have
no stretch or give tc it, and is woven
especially for such use. The process IS
usually begun when the girls have
reached the age Of six or seven years,
though in some cases where a particularly
dainty pair Of golden lilies" as the Chi
nese call these poor deformties, is de-
sired, the binding is begun as early as
the third or fourth years.
The foot is taken and all the toes ex
cept the great toe bent under the instep
which is thus forced up. When this has
continued for some time and the foot has
become quite pointed in shape and the in
step considerably arched the binding is
extended and the heel and toes drawn to-
gethor, thus preventing the growth of the
foot in length In the style of binding
in North China greater pains are taken to
preserve the pointed effect, while in
Southern China the shortness Of the foot
is SO much desired that the pointed eff.
feet is almost lost and the feet become
mere stumps.
The excruciating pain endured by Chi
nese girls in the process of foot binding
is impossible to describe. Taken young.
while the feet are growing, they are
bound and wrapped so tightly with the
webbing that circulation is alomst en-
tireiy cut off, and the bandage is left on
just as long as possible, for 1t is a saying
that every dressing of the feet loses a
mite Of daintness. But the worst of it is
that the torture is drawn out through a
lifetime. for the binding can never cease.
The seams and assures caused in the feet
by their distortion become sore and often
gangrene sets in and carries off the suf-
ferer- In order to prevent this IT is GUS
tomary to powder the feet with saltpetre
while binding them, thus literally putting
them In pickle to preserve them. The re-
suit Of this binding is that all the weight
of the body in standing is thrown on the
heel and the foot loses the power to bal
ance the body. A small-footed woman
cannot stand still, but like one on stills
she must constantly be stepping back
ward or forward to keep her balance.
It is strange how this cruel fashion
freak has fastened itself on the Chinese
women to whom it has become the badge
Of responsibility. and whose elegance and
distinction are measured by the greatness
Of their deformity. The most advan-
tageous marriages are made by those
whose golden lilies" are the most petite
and those otherwise undesirable become
prizes If possessed Of tiny feet
The custom is peculiar to the Chinese
for the Mongols and Manchus have never
adopted it; but so dear is it to the Chinese
that the greatest emperor of the present
dynasty, who successfully imposed upon
the Chinese the wearing Of the queue as a
badge Of subjeetion. did not dare to risk
his authority in an attempt to stamp out
the custom of binding feet. though he
prohibited the practice within the limits
of his capital at Pelsn. The work of
missionaries is, however beginning to
make itself felt. and native societies are
at last pressing to abolish the cruel and
ancient custom.