The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-08-17
CHINESE ETIQUETTE.
Social Ru1es that Are Observed Rigidiy
in the Celestial Empire.


in the Celestial Empire.
Turning to their social chara cteristics,
we ind that the one thing after the pos
session of the thirteen classics on which
the Chinese specially pride themselves is
pollteness. And truly, if national refine
ment is to be measured by the mien and
,, carriage Of it's people, the Chinese are eli
titled to high place among the children
or men. Chinese Official in full cos
tune is !: most imposing figure and car
ries himself with great dignity and self
possession albeit he is usually some four
or hve inches shorter than the average
American. In this respect he owes much
TO his long dress, but more to the pattern
study OF an art now almost monopolized
among Americans by aspirants to the
triumphs of the stage There is not
single awkward movement as the Chinese
gentleman bows his visitor into his house
or supplies him from his own hand with
Il cup of tea which is Indispensable to II.
interview: Not until his guest is seated
will the Chinese host venture to take ur
his position on the right hand of the
former; and if, in the course Of an ex-
cited conversation. either should raise.
himself, however slightly, from sitting
posture, it is the bounden duty for the
other to do so too. No Chinese gentle
man will sit while his equal stands. o.
| casionally, where it is not intended to be-
over-respectful to visitor, a servant will
bring III the tea-One cup in each hand.
Then, standing before his master and the
guest, he will cross his arms, serving the
hand, his master with the right. The OBJ
Ject OF this IS to expose the palr--in Chi
nese the heart-of either hand to each,
recipient of tea. It is a token of fidelity
and respect.
The tea itself is called guest tea" and
e n info In1 Wi,
more useful mission than that of allayins
thirst. Alas for the barbarian who
drinks off his cupful before ten words
have been exchanged and confirms the
unfavorable opinion his Chinese host al
ready entertains of the manners and Gus
BILE spent in learning the quaint ceremo-
MES OF the Chinese would have gained
hlm much esteem as an enlightened and
tolerant man. For, while despisinG
Western men outwardly. the Chinese
Erandees know we'll enough that inward
ly Western men feel themselves supe-
rior, and thus it comes to pass that /,
voluntary concession on the part Of
Americans or Englishmen or Frenchmen
en- any Of these points Of etiquette is al
ways most anllably acknowledged.
To return to our mutton. guest tea IS
provided in a Chinese interview to be
used as signal by either party that the
interview is at an end. A guest no soon
! er raises his cup to his lips than a dozen
voices shout to his coolies to bring his
chair; so. too. when the master of the
house is prevented by other engagements
from playing any longer the part Of host.
| ne makes q motion as if to drink his tea.
and forthwith the guests chair is called
| for. Without previous Warning--unusual
except among intimate acquaintances-
| this guest tea is never to be touched ex-
cept as a signal of departure: Strangers
| frnAlyv ofb
other their names, their provinces and
their business prospects. 1t is always
considered a compliment to an old China
man. who is justly proud Of his years, to
! inquire his age, and it takes the curious
form of our venerable teeth,' but mid
dle-aged Cclcstials do not as a rule, care
about the question and their answers can
rarely be depended upon. 1t is also good
form in China TO ask the number and
sex Of a mans children also if his ia
i. e., alive. His wife, however, must
; never be alluded to, even in the most in
direct manner. Friends meeting, either
| or both in sedan chairs, stop their bear
ers at once end get out with al! possible
expedition; the same rule applies to ac-
! Quaintances meeting on horseback
Chinese etiquette is wide field for the
student, and when the .open door, we
hear so much about has become a condi-
F., ton instead of a theory it will have to
be studied more closely by all the West
ern nations. Just at present, however.
it is something of a paradox to find that
in the capital city Of 1.-The politest nation
Of the EARTH the lives of the ministers
! Of foreign states are not safe. This
stamps the Chinese as essentially the
| 'harbarians' which they consider all
other people, because one of the first
principles established among nations
fully emerged from primeval savagery is
| that the persons of ambassadors and
! their suites are at all times even on the
outbreak OF War. exempt from assault
and MISUNDERSTANDING Sun.