The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-09-22
:-i-i-i-i-i-i-isi-t-i- s-i'i-s-sii :
CHINESE CUSTOMS.
Howard Martin Ex- Secretary
of American Legation.

1-5-t~t-t-s-t-t-s-9s-'s-- s.s's''T-t-s-1-1-'-E''
1t Is due 10 the active and practical
life OF our Western world, which lenos
itself so grudgingly to the study Oh
Oriental methods, that so rev kiio"
Of the many curious contrarietles tnae
obtain In the routine of the chinese
merchant
| Vague conceptions exist OF the uh-
swerving integrity of that very CRAFTY
personality, and | am told on all Sizes
that a debt owed by Celestial Is al
ways paid If not by its maker, by Some
member OF his family or by some de-
scendant. t,tr.i fisa- frftf.
Distressing as it is to destroy such
exalted ideas of any fellow-man, ac-
curacy demands it. Certain penalties
are imposed by magistrate and court
in case of failure to pay obligations
cent for cent. but though there Is no
bankruptcy act there are other meas
ures Of relief for an overwhelmed deb
tor. iin
Certain unwritten laws compel set
Element of all outstanding matters by
the eve of the New Year with mer-
chant, official and citizen. Every ac-
count must be balanced then or the
debtor will lose face" as they ex-
press loss of prestige. New loans may
be negotiated for this purpose, but
dated on the New Year--a system of
whipping the devil around the
stump"
Any omission Of this little ceremony
of making up a clean ledger gives
many liberties to the public, who will
proceed to destroy the doors of the
house occupied by the delinquent, ef-
face the entire front, daub 1t with
black paint and add disgrace to his
misfortune. Nt.
If one is so overwhelmed with debt
that he can find no ray Of hope to dis
charge 1t, he may cancel 1t all morally
and legally by committing suicide-a
measure less heroic than would appear
when their Indifference to death Is
known. e.rt |
Where death results from natural
causes creditors may attach the body
"a sort of license for blackmail to
force relatives to a settlement. Chill
1ren under such circumstances often |
sell themselves into bondage for pc
Rod of years, and thus secure sum |
necessary to release the body. lf
Bargains are driven for collins and |
funeral expenses by the subjects dur
ns health, and a popular economy is
or anrnvalid to anticipate dissolution
md have himself carried to a place
lear the family burial plot, thus saw
ng the expense of the numerous fun
,ral bearers.
Commerce in China is a comedy OF
uying and selling, the exchange of an
lrticle requiring often weeks of argu-
nent and diplomacy, bargaining and
,luffing. Prefacing all transactions is
he invariable cup of tea, handed with
xtravagant compliments and certain
race, and always that peculiar coHely
of the hands so well known
# the race. ..l.
The merchant brings his wares to
our doorway and smiingly awaits
our pleasure. These he spreads In
rtistic confusion all over the floor. A
time only informs this
hrewd trader as to whether or not his
ustomer is posted in Oriental values.
&c starts out bravely with soul-stir-
and usually Is glad to ac-
ept tenth of his original valuation
nth signs, perhaps tears, but always
lithsa hearty assurance that he yields
ecause OF his unbounded esteem and
aspect for -"Your Exceiiency," though
GU may have known him only for a
eriNa of, ten minutes. >,
For the privilege Of selling his wares
! the confines of your abode he must
ield to the extorti0ns of the gate
eeper, in whose hands the entire
ompounds rest These gate-keepers
ay annually to the head Of the house
old certain sums for the Office, and
leir return consists Of this duty, lev
d on all merchandise or supplies
rought in. The sum paid by the
ate keeper of the Viceroy Ii Hung
hang is said to be $4,000.
A curious fact is that the Chinese
asher is to be found in almost every
ost of trust in Japan or Corea, in
bite of recent warning between the
ations-a fact which would certainly .
'tablish confidence in his integrity.
he Chinese are excellent accountants,
with the abacus with great
Deed instead of by our system of
entail or written arithmetic.
The graceless and boisterous auc-
ons of the West are replaced by a
stem of bidding in pantomime, fig
res being indicated by a pressure of
many fingers on the arm under the
eeve of the auctioneer. Their shops
-e purged of evil spirits, before the
1portant transaction, by the aid of
-eworks All sorts of misleading and
accurate signs are placed in front
Id run up to the caves of the build
&. Before vile opium den infested
it'll vermin will be declaration.
Abode Of ten thousand happinesses"
All firms issue their due bills or az
US" which are put in circulation
&c our national bank-notes. subject to
demption at sight. In these, as in
transactions, form of money
lied "sycee" Is used. This is virgin
liver moulded into the shape of shoes
Id so soft that 1t is easily cut off and
eighed in the little pocket scales gen.
ally carried by a Chinese, or tea
ayes pressed into the form Of brick
be Clipped from at will.
Gold is not a medium. 1t is known
lily as a rare ornament, while the
Mailer trading is conducted with the
Of cash or coin of the masses,
ade of iron or copper and of such
1all value that 100 of them amount
ly to the value of one of our cent?