Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-05
DEI.AWAlE lIiURsDAY, july s. 1900

sitting posture, 1t is the bounden duty
for the other to do so TOO. NJ Chinese
gentleman will sit while bis equal
stands. Occasionally, where 1t is not
intended to he over-respeotful TO a
visitor, servant will Ering in the tea
--one cur in each hand. Then, stand
ing before his master and the guest he
will cross his arms, serving the guest,
who is 10 his right, with the left hand,
his master with the right. The object
of this Is to expose the palm--ir Chi
nese the beart-of either hand to each
recipient of tea. II Is token OF
fidelity and respect.
The tea itself ia called quest tea
and is not intended for drinking. 1t
has more useful mission than that OF
allaying thirst. Alas for the bar
barian" who drinks off his oarful BIO.
fore 10 words have been exchanged and
confirms the unfavorable opinion his
Chinese host already entertains of the
manners and customs of the West! And
yet little trouble spent IN learning
| the quaint ceremonies Of the Chinese
would have gained him much esteem
rs an enlightened and tolerant man.
For, while despising Western men out
wardly, the Chinese grandees know well
enough that inwardly Western men feel
themselves superior, and thus 1t comes
| to pass that a voluntary concession on
| the part of Americans OF Englishmen
or Frenchmen to any of their points OF
etiquette is always most amicably
acknowledged.
To return to our muttons, quest
tea" is provided 10 Chinese inter
view to he used as signal by either
party that the interview Is at an end.
| A guest no sooner raises his cup to his
lips than dozen voices shout to lis
coolies TO bring his chair; so, too,
when the master of the house is pre-
vented by other engagements from
playing any longer the part Of host, he
makes a motion as II to drink his tea,
and forthwith the guests chair is
called for. Without previous warning
Unusual except among intimate
acquaintance this guest tea is never
10 be touched except as signal OF
departure. Strangers meeting in China
may freely ask each other their names,
their provinces and their business
prospects. 1t is always considered a
compliment to an old Chinamsn, who
is justly proud Of bis years, to inquire
his age, and it takes the curious form OF
Your venerable teeth" but middle
aged Celestials do not, as rule, care
about the question and their answers
can rarely be depended upon. 1t ia
also good form ip China to ask the
number and sex Of a mans children
also, If his father and mother IRE still
sin the hail. /. g., alive. His wife
however, must never be alluded to, ever
, 10 the most indirect mapner. Friends
meeting, either or both IN sedar
chairs. stop their bearers at once ant
. get out with all possible expedition
the same rule applies to acquaintance;
, meeting on horseback.
4 Chinese etiquette is wide field fol
, the student, and when the "open door
, we hear SO much about has become I
condition Instead Of theory 1t viii
4 have to be studied more closely by al
4 the Western nations. just at present
I however, IL Is something Of parade,
to find that in the capital CITY OF nth
i politest nation of the EARTH the live
4 Of the ministers Of foreign states ar
q not safe. This stamps the Chimes
a as essentially the barbarian" whicl
n they consider all other people, becaus
v one of the first principles establishe,
4 among nations fully emerged fror
o primeval savagery is that the person
e Of ambassadors and their suites are a
n all times, even on the outbreak of war
n exempt from assault and outrage.