Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-22
WOMEN OF NORTH CHINA
SOCIALLY AND POLITICALLY ARE
ABOVE THOSE FROM THE SOUTH.
Why Working Women Are Happier
and More Independent Than Ladies
of Rank, Who See Few Strangers.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
1t has often been said that the woman
of northern China, that portion of the en-
pire invaded by Russia. reigns supreme in
her own household Though this Is an
exaggeratfon, she is undoubtedly of greater
consequence than the women further
south. The Manchu woman, further north
than Pekin, is certainly far more emanci-
pated than her Hun sister. and she at. least
is allowed her natural feet to walk upon.
Another curious fact observed in China
Is that the women of the lower classes have
much more freedom than those of rank.
and are more on equality with their
husbands. The explanation of this is a
matter of Chinese social economies. The
pc orer a man is the fewer spouses can he
afford to keep, so that the average man of
the lower-not the middle-classes has but
one wife. In this alone she holds adj
vantage over her Weather sisters: and,
again, companions in poverty are apt to
make common cause. The poor man and
his mate must work together. He cannot
AFFORD to shut her up, keep her apart
from the world needing her assistance as
he does in his work. II he is farmer. the
burden of all the household cares falls
her shoulders. and this takes her outside
to fetch water, to wash the clothes or 30
make purchases at the store. She freely
meets and gossips with the other women OF
the neighborhood and leads more of So
These ladies, on the other hand. though
saved from manual labor and from tho
anxieties Of poverty, and though richly
clothed, housed and fed by the average
wealthy husband, must submit to being
practically immuned and obliged to
share the husband'f affections with several
others.
In fact the first wife is rarely loved by
the husband. She holds the position Of
honor among the women OF his household. 1t
is true. but she Is not the wife of his choice:
she has been bargained for by his family.
and he probably never saw her till the mar
riage took place. The others. the con-
trary. are of his own selection. 1t is not un-
heard Of for one Of the wives to have a
large influence over the husband. for women
are women the world over. and men are
men. But, generally speaking. 1t is the wo-
men Of the lower classes who, for the rea-
sons just enumerated play a heavier part
in the everyday life Of the great Chinese
empire.
The appearance of the Chinese women is
In accordance with their characters-gener-
ally attractive. She dresses In more COM
fort than do women in other parts OF the
world. The Manchus wear long skirts. but
their blouses are loose, while almost all
other Chinese women wear the long. grace
ful blouse AID pair of trousers which the
most emancpated western woman might
envy from the standpoint of comfort.
1t is weli-ngh impossible to get well
quatnted with the secluded women of the
upper classes. The daughter Of the British
governor of Hong Kong. Sir Henry Blake.
has been more successful in this way than
almost anybody else who has held a high
social position In China. She studied Chi
nese first Of all, and now has made real
friends among the women OF rank in Hong
Kong. A dinner party which she gave for
them a great innovation. and her
friends predicted failure. All the men
were banshed from Government House for
the evening, and the foreign ladies who
were invited were in full evening dress The
Chinese women not only attended but thor
oughly enjoyed 1t. Some OF them had made
a previous acquaintance with knives and
forks. but those who had not learned In a
few minutes, and used them daintily. They
wondered at many of the dishes. and also
at the bare arms and threats of their host
esseS, saying that 1t must be very cold"
They themselves were dressed in the most
exquisite Chinese clothes Of rich silks. heav-
lily embroidered. and. in addition, wore mag
nificent jewels and ornaments of gold To
the person anxious to learn something OF
that class of Chinese women the occasion
was one OF unusual interest.