The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-27
VISITING N 'GR|DA
Elaborate Politeness, Meaning
as Little as Elsewhere.
CHINA FURTHER DESCRIBED
As The : Land Where : the :
Mother Law-Is -No- Joke.

All Chinese houses are hidden from
passers-by in thu streets by high, blank
| walls, while on each side of the entrance
| are the stables and the apartments set
apart for the gatekeeper and other ser
wants. In China the mule takes the
place of the horse, and near the door. OF
| the courtyard a well-groomed, well-fed
| mule will generally be found hitched to
! an iron ring in the wall-this being the
| animal which the master either rides or
harnesses TO his cart. When visitor
| is expected. after accepting an invita-
| ton, if the hostess and her daughter
in-iaw are not in waiting to receive the
guests, there are sure to be a half-dozen
women servants. while the family will
be in waiting in the court beyond. They
will be dressed in their finest apparel,
rich silks, magnifcently embroidered,
with the hair deliberately dressed and
| adorned with jewels and bearing rich sill
yer and gilt fans, also much decked with
jewels. On entering, the guest addresses
the mother-in-law first, and afterward
the other ladies, the visitor. If a woman.
being welcomed in the Chinese fashion
by placing one closed hand upon the
other and moving it up and down. If
the children have been brought out for
inspection-as is very generally the case
they will be drawn up in line, and will
greet the visitor with pretty and grace
full curtsey. AS rule. Chinese children
will be found extremely pleasing and at
tractive-their quaint and fascinating lit
tie dresses, jackets and trousers, which
suit their dark skins and bright eyes so
admirably, lending much to the general
happy effect. A Chinese household is
community in which the parents are the
head, over which the mother rules with
rod of iron. Each son must brmg his
wife to his mothers house on his mar
riage, and he must there remain with his
growing family. Until she is fortunate
enough to give birth to a son, the posi-
ton of the daughter-in-law is very much
like that of an upper servant, her life
being frequently one of the greatest mis-
cry. The best rooms of the house face
the south, and these are occupied by the
mother-in-law, she having usually suite
of apartments, with reception, dining and
bed rooms, which are separated by
handsomely carved screens. The flooring
is of brick or stone and is uncovered,
this being even the case in the emperor's
palaces. What is more, it is seldom
clean, and is made the repository for all
sorts of rubbish, being carefully swept,
however, when a visitor is expected.
In the reception room of well-to-do
Chinese house a handsome table is usu-
ALLY found placed against the wall oppo-
site the door, with chair on each side,
while around are cabinets filled with
bronze or porcelain In the bed room a
K'aug or oven-bed occupies more than
half the space, and on this bed the Chi
nese woman spends more than half her
existence, sewing, eating and gossiplng
thereon, and at each end Of this bed
stead are carved wardrobes. The dining
room is separated from the reception
room by a solid wall. and not by screens,
as in the other apartments, while 1t
must be reached by going out Of doors
although it is under the same roof. The
furniture consists Of a high square table
with two or more polished and none too
comfortable-looking chairs, side tables
for the serving Of the many dishes that
go to form the meal, and upon the wall
inscriptions in Chinese characters with
other decorations.
On the threshold the hostess steps on
one side and entreats her guest to enter,
which the latter, to be polite, must siren
ously refuse, requesting her hostess 20
precede her. This little bit of Chinese
etiquette can be prolonged for some time,
when of course the guest enters first,
as was originally intended. She is then
conducted to the place of honor, this be-
ing the chair at the right of the table,
which she must at first refuse. repeating
the previous meaningless performance,
ending by then occupying the place.
Pipes are then brought IN, but If the Wis
itor is a foreigner and does NOT smoke,
the hostess foregoes her accustomed puff.
Presently tea is brought in. as clear as
amber, favored with flowers. and served
without sugar or cream. With it are
served delicate small cakes. not unlike
sponge cakes. and delicious sweetmeats.
candied fruits. red fruit marmalade
pressed into small squares. and walnuts
Drowned in hot oil and dipped in syrup.
What Is considered vulgar in England is
considered polite in China, for during
the repast the guest must smack her lips
TO show the meal is appreciated. Very
few Chinese women, even those Of high
rank, are educated, the great majority
being neither able to write nor read
Probably. first of all, the guest will be
asked her age, for the Chinese ask the
most pointed and personal questions. The
older she is. the more admirable viii she
appear in the eyes Of her hostess for
youth In China does not gain much
respect The hostess Will then want to
know II her parents are Nving, how many
brothers and sisters she has, and rom
these inquiries viii pass on to dress. any
pecuiiarities in the visitors toilet being /
carefully noted. and the jewel-y, lace
and ribbons are reiigiously examined and |
admired al that the visitor possesses
being extravagantly praised. ard the be /
io- gings Of the hostess being correspond 1
inzIy iepreciated At the close q the 4
visit. the latter Will insist upon accom- 4
panving her visitor TO the outer court. .
which. Of course. she must b implored I
not TO do. but which she does in rhe end 4
al the same. anaily shaking hands chi +
nese fashion. after which the visitor en-
,e-s her cart and drives away.