Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-30
FEATURES OF CHINESE LJFE.

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FEATURES OF CHINESE LIFE.
The challenge which China has made
to the outer world by her attempt to !
drive out foreigners has reawakeped
intense interest in this peculiar nation
and her queer people. Their ways are
as strange'to US yet. after much study.
as If they We're inhabitants of another
globe. Their intense dislike of foreign 4
ers 10 national trait, tho the upper
classes try to disguise it by attributing
it to the prejudices of the lower grades
OF society; and this hostility has sepa-
rated them from the rest Of the world 4
has in fact prevented until recently
the entrance of foreigners to the inte-
rior Of China
I'm an article on the Chinese daily life
Joseph King Goodrich gives some in
teresting details Of the customs and
usages in vogue In China. According
to his narrative the Chinese believe in
early rising. and begin their woykday
several hours earlier than Europeans or
Americans. In this particular the high
officials Set a good example. tor they
nod audiences and transact business al
daylight. The street Kitchens which
may been seen in any Chinese town do
business ut all hours Of the day and
night, and mad become We'll established
institutions several thousand years be-
fore the American Owl restaurant was
thought Of.
The Chinaman rises early possibly
because his sleeping apartment offers
few attractions. The rooms, even in
the homes of the wealthy are usually
dark and poorly Ventilated. and are
like inside cupboards. The bed is usu-.
ally canopied, elaborate affair, heavy
and beautifully carved. and this piece
of furniture is often handed down from
father to son thru many generations.
But there is nothing elaborate about
tress there IS a mat and the covering
is the occupants clothing, or possibly
a. wadded quilt. Extra clothing is pro-
{ = l35 , q y
yided for cold weather. and in the
north, where the weather is extremely
cold. the carved wood bedstead is not
used. There, In the house Of every
well-to-do citizen. and in the inns,
there are divans Of masonry beneath
which there are tireplaces. and on tlleye
dlvans the people sleep. and the fire is
utilized for cooking purposes.
Ihere are no pillows in Chinese beds
They have instead hollow square
frames of rattan or bamboo, or blocks
OF wood fashioned SO that they fit the
nape of the neck and support the head
when lying on the side. People who
have used these substitutes for pillows
say they are much more comfortable
than soft, hot feather or hair pillows
especially in warm weather. These
substitutes for pillows are used even by
those people who have rooms furnished
with modern tables and other Europe-
an furniture
The Chinese have no use for bath
rooms or bathing paraphernalia, their
toilet is quickly made. and is not begun
until nearly all the garments to be
worn have been put on.
The first thought of the Confucian
after arising is to worship There is
shrine in every house, where table
with the names Of ancestors is kept.
n There the householder does reverence
to the memory Of those who have pre-
ceded him, and prays that he may live
so that those who follow him may hold
his name dear. A rich man may have
aseparate building for this purpose,
which is his hall OF ancestors: the less
:::eee!..hy may have room Sci aside for
the purpose, and the poor usually have
only shelf. but In each case the tablet
10 called shin shu. and the humble pa
per on the dirty shelf g as sacred tolls