St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-08-15

copper cash, and standing on marked
line, tries to strike the stone which has
been thrown by the first boy.
Turning the dragon" is the favorite
| amusement of Chinese boys in the spring
| time, and, like most of their pleasures, it
has religious or superstitious signifca-
ton. The passage of this fabulous
animal through the streets of their cities
is believed to be very effectual in dispell-
| ing all evil influences, especially a ten.
| dency to various sicknesses thought to
exist in the first month of the year. The
body OF the dragon is composed of
large number of lanterns fastened to.
gether and covered with colored paper
and cloth. 1t is frequently thirty or
forty feet long. As the many jointed
creature is carried through the streets,
turning and twisting in all directions,
rearing its ill.tavored head and gaping
mouth, it is pursued by immense crowds
of people. The procession accompany
ing makes most unearthly din, beat
ing gongs and letting off squibs and
crackers, to the great amazement OF the
stranger who for the first time looks
upon the singular spectacle.
| The performances of the Punch and
Judy shows are much appreciated by
Chinese children, and many people are
inclined to believe they were introduced
into England from China. In any case,
they were well known in that Empire
many hundreds of years ago.
AS for the pets kept by the Chinese
| boys, some OF them are identical with
those which are priced by children here,
such as rabbits, kittens and goldfish.
Crickets are also largely kept by boys as
well as older people.
They have many favorite birds, among
others the canary and lark, and one
much priced is sort of thrush, called
the bird with the fowery eyebrow"
Often one may see the boys walking on
the city walls or other open spaces,
carrying their Gagged birds out for an
airing. Locusts, hedgehogs and tortoises
are also kept as pets. The tortoise is
believed to attain a great age, and is
used, with the stork, as an emblem of
longevity.
Few Chinese toys are of durable
nature. There are not many toy shops,
but cheap playthings are sold by an
itinerant vender of small wares, whose
approach is announced by the beating OF
a gong, which calls the children as quick
ly as the music of the Pied Piper of
Hamelin is said to have done. Figures
of geuii and idols abound, and now and
then an extraordinary figure is seen,
whose light coored locks, tight fitting
clothing and the stick carried in the
hand proclaim it to be intended for a
foreign barbarian"
Most Chinese children are possessed of
the proverbial Sweet TOOTH" and the
demand for sugar candy and sweet
meats is most literally supplied. Some
are of various bright colors and curious
shapes, and many contain morsels OF
ground nuts or walnuts.
Chinese boys are very fond of asking
riddles, and some of the juvenile prodi-
gies of ancient days are represented as
having been very clever in composing
these enigmas. A few, somewhat similar
in form to many popular English riddles
are the following:
What is the fire that has no smoke,
and the water that has no fish,"
"a glow worms fire has no smoke and
we'll water has no fish"
Mention the name of an object with
two mouths, which travels by night and
not by day."
"a lantern"
"What are the eyes of Heaven, the
bones of water and the looking glass of
the sky 2"
STARS ice and the sea"
What is that has a gaping mouth
and marches on like an invading army,
devouring at every step :"
"a pair of scissors cutting cloth"
If one were to ask a Chinaman how
many children he had in, his family he
would reply by telling you the number OF
his sons. The girls among them are not
counted He considers that "a boy is
worth ten times as much as a girl"
Girls in China are married or taken into
the families of the little boys to whom
they are betrotbed at such an early age
| that their parents see very little OF them
after the years of childhood are past.
If a girl is blind or lame her chances Of
| life are small.
Many Chinese girls have bright, at
tractive faces, and all have black or very
| Ozark eyes. uC( WSdI IuSLi lofSh HUNS
dressed in different ways, according to
the province in which they live. In most
parts the hair is drawn back and twist
ed into one heavy strand, which hangs
down the back and is tied with scarlet
cord, Frequently the front hair is cut in
fringe Sometimes two plaits are
made and bnnched up at either side of
the head, being decorated with gay
flowers. At other times, especially in
the winter season, they wear strange
little headdress, consisting of silken
embroidered band, with thick black
silk fringe hanging down over the fore
head and ears.
When girl is about thirteen years of
age her hair is put up in womanly style.
1t is twisted around curious wire frames
of various shapes. Some are like butter
flies wings, others resemble a teapot
handle. Again, girls wear enormous
chignons, and Manchu girls have their
hair tied in a large bow upon the top of
their heads,
Until their marriage most girls wear