The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-14
INDECENT LIFE IN CHINA.
LAME HALT AND BLIND LEFT TO
THEIR OWN RESOURCES,

Beggars form themselves into guilds for
their protection The insane take care Of
themselves The blind are almost as
poorly provided for. though there are insti-
tutions that ostensibly care for them.
Tnese institutions are supported in some
instances by tax imposed upon the salt
merchants, and in others by funds derived
from land and houses. The salt trade be-
ing a monopoly In China, no one is allowed
TO deal in salt without a license from the
Salt Commission. The government, how
ever allows a certain number of aged men
IN each district TO go without a license
which enables them TO undersell the IL
censed dealers. These men traverse The
streets crying: Salt for sale! Salt for
sale" and seldom fail to obtain a llveH-
hood for themselves and families.
The inmates Of the blind asylum at Can
ton are poorly provided for and the por-
tion OF the tax derived from the salt trade
Tor their maintenance is so small that they
are compelled to beg from door to door.
Inese blind creatures sally forth every
morning almost on a begging expedition
In companies of six and seven. They walk
In single file, each resting his right hand
on the shoulder of the person in front of
MIN. The leader of the file gropes his way
with his stick
Tumult Follows the Blind.
When they enter shop they begin beat
ing the small gongs which they carry, and
sing a variety of songs, pitched in a very
hlgh key. The din would be almost I'M
endurable by an ordinary person, but
noise makes no impression on Chinese
shopkeepers, who have been born and
brought up in the midst of it. They are
obliged to minister to the necessities of the
blind men, and they find 1t their best pol
Icy to allow them to remain waiting in the
shop as long as possible. Only one compa-
ny can occupy shop at time. and the
longer 1t stays the less opportunity there
is for others making new demands. If
the shopkeeper turns a deaf ear to the
noise of the intruders they increase their
din, and intersperse their songs with re-
marks not a all complimentary His be-
neVo!ence seldom exceeds a copper cash
the smallest coin of the realm-or hand
full of unboiled rice. At the close of the
day these poor blind men may be seen
vending their way back to the asylum
with their wallets over their shoulders,
scantily filled with the proceeds of the
days begging.
towns and villages, there are imperial
granaries, in which rice is supposed to
be stored by the government, so that it
may be retailed at a reduced price in
time of war or famine to the soldiers of
the garrison and the poor These insti-
tutions owe their origin not so much to
benevolent feelings to those of self
preservation Mandarins are well aware
that few things are more dangerous to
the peace of the state than a half-starved
population. In small towns and villages
the granaries are generally erected by
the elders or gentry. AS a rule, the
rice is not sold in seasons of famine. but
doled out gratuitously.
Beggary Reduced to Science.
Societies of mendicants are presided
over by presidents called by the COM
munity generally, ti-quat, a term of re-
proach for which the beggars themselves
substitute a title of honor. The guilds
are under the superintendent OF a mag
istrate named Poe Teng, by whom the
presidents are protected. The members
are sworn to pay due respect to the rules
of their societies, and the entrance fee for
each member is upward of 81. On the
demise of member a coffin valued az s.
is given for his decent interment. and 1t
is the duty of the other members 10 ac-
company ms remains from tuS MUSE OL
mourning to the grave.
These guilds exist in almost every prov
ince. In Foo Chow there are several very
large societies of this nature, and at
temple set among trees of thick and beau
tiful foliage the Migrants may be seen
each day devouring the broken meats or
rice which have been given to them. One
peculiar occupation of the beggars of Foo
Chow is the rearing of snakes. These are
sold to the doctors, by whom it is said
they are boiled down and used for me-
dicinal purposes.
Resides. those who belong to guilds,
bordes of beggars of both sexes infest the
streets of Chinese towns. These unfor-
tunate creatures are of all ages, and as
thav are houseless, they are generally al
lowed to occupy the squares IN front or
tan,Dles. At Canton many of them resort
~, night to a square in the western su-
hvrb Immediately in front of the temple
called Nee Chow Min. 1t is called the
heggars' SQUARE and by night 1T is crowd
"a With poor wretches who have spent
the day in traversing the streets III sea,In
~ aims. Beggars are brought to this
square 70 die.
Festivities of Trade Guilds
zach trade in a Chinese city has guild
Witch NAV also be regarded as a cluo OF
hotel Tradesmen or dealers VINO come 10
tha various marts from a distance resort
10 their respective guilds for board ana
Iod0inp and at such places 1t is usual TO
,,,aet With persons from various parts OF
,he emnire. Nine times annually the
,radas meet at their respective guilds Tor
tasti,ya purposes These days of recrea-
tio,, are generally the second and hfteenth
da1,e of the first month, or Dragon fest-
,,ai. the thirteenth day of the NTH
r,onth or God of Wars natal anniver-
cary. the fourteenth day of the seventh
month. or All Souls festival; the hfteenth
dav Of the eighth month, or feast In honor
80 +be moon: the twenty first day of the
oiaventb month. or winter solstice and the
sost,,al of Wan Shan, which is celebrated
on lucky day toward the close OF the
twelfth month. and which is opserVeo as
a dav of general thanksgiving to all the
gods for the mercies which they nave pc
slowed throughout the year. Each guilo
has its patron saint and his natal ami
versary is celebrated by the members
who hold a banquet in honor of the occa-
sion. -. -.
The guild halls are among the most
beautiful of Chinese buildings. The green
taa merchants guild hall at Canton is re-
markabIe for its many singuarly-formed
doorways and windows, some of which
resemble fruits, leaves, flowers. fans,
scrolls and vases. There IL a magnificent
mild hall at Tien Tsin and grand one
az NinRpo The pillars supporting the
roof OF the latter are of granite and wood
aiahorately carved. Dragons of great
'thtckness are represented by the chsel of