The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-08-20
OUR OPPOSITES IN CHINA.
FIG FUR YTIYELY, IFNOT GEOGRAPH-
1CALLY, OUR 4NTTPODES.

FIG YTIYELY, IFNOT GEOGR-APH-
ICALLY, OUR 1NTTPODES.
some Facts Illustrating Their Present
Mental Development 1.-THE Chine o
Devil, and the Strife to Outw1t HI"
n.o,,on tn the Eternal Fit ess of
x Things Destitute of Nerves.
Scientific people say that the chinese
ae not really our antipodes, Ior' llVlLs
as they do on the same side OF the
equator as ourselves, their 1eet are
pointed at the same angle toward the
center of the earth, and thus our anti
podes must be looked for on the oppo-
site side of the globe, and at a point as
far south ofthe equator as oufcouhtlS
lies to then orth. However this may Pc
the popular idea is not to be dlspelleu
by scientific explanation, so 1t Is prop-
able that in the future, as in the past
the yellow man will be regarded as the
antipode of theAmerican. In a hgura-
tive sense. he is unquestionably all that
fine word implies, for it is impossible TO
And among the varied somples of the
-~hHnoan race existing in different parts
of the globe a more direct opposite to
the American variety of the Caucasian
family than is presented by the Mongo-
Han.
The physical appearance of the man
Of China presents many features whlch
strikingly emphasize the difference pc
tween the human race as developed IN
western Europe and in eastern ASIA
Incolor, configuraton of features, shape
of skull and other respects, the emma
man differs materially from the Euro
pean or American, but the physical dlt-
ference is no more than an indication OF
the gulf that is fixed between theMon-
golian and the Caucasian intellect.
The Chinese mind Is probably the best
example ever seen of an arrested devel-
oprnent. It's growth was suspended at
about the period when the intellect of
other nations began to expand, and con-
seouently the Chinese nation of to-day
resembles a child of twelve years in the
society of men of mature age.
II Is extremely curious to note among
the Chinese as a matter of current faith
a belief in superstitions and childish
tales WHICH, ellIlOllS otAiSh i'eN'ioi'S' A'N
been relocated to the nursery as fit only
for children, and not seriously believed
even by the little ones. An illustration
of this queer anomaly may be FOUND IN
an unexpected quarter. Among the
Celtic nations, the most prominent char-
acter and actor in the scenes of folklore
is the devil. The evil one Is continually
hopping up in the most unexpected
places, suggesting temptations, leading
the unwary astray, causing the flgh-
teous to fall; but, as a rule, the demon
Of the Celt is not the black, death-deal-
ing, malignant, hateful spirit familiar
to the mythology of southern Europe,
but a misunderstanding, rather good
tempered individual, who relishes
Joke and is ever ready either to give or
to take. He is withal, rather dull, slow
to comprehend, thick witted, can easily
be deceived, and in the end is always
outwitted by those who enter into Sc
rio1s contest with him, whether 1t be OF
shrewdness or of strength.
The Celt of to-day does not believe the
comical stories he tells of the manner
in which his saints and knowledgeable
men and women had the best OF the
devil. He tells these stories for the wit
and humor they contain, purely as
plays of fancy; repeats them to his chill
dren lust as the parents of another ma
tionalitytells the story of Jack the Gil
ent-Killer, not because it is true, but
because it is odd, strange and interest
ing to the little ones. There was once,
no doubt. a time when the Celt did be-
lieve these outre creations of the hui
man imagination and repeated them
with a devout faith that the occur
rences described were actual facts, but
that time was ages ago, and the Celtic
mind has LONG outgrown these idle fan
ctes. The Chinese mind to-day is in eN-
actly the condition of the Celtic mind
during the days when the devil-lore
found current belief among the Celts.
with the Cinnamon, the personif1cation
of evil is Just such a meddling, imper-
tinent. tale-b bearing, lying, fault-finding'
stupid, mischief making busybody as
the Celtic devil.
The principal part of Chinamans
religion. therefore, consists in efforts to
deceive the devil, and the Chinese de-
mon is as easily deceived as the bug
hear of Celtic folklore. When China
man dies, for instance, the friends OF
the deceased instantly bestir them
selves to forestall the Vaccinations Of
the evil one The doors and windows of
the house are carefully closed, to pre-