The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-01
The CHINESE AT HOME.
r,RELEss, SILENT INDUSTRY OF
THE ORIENTAL.

,osf Treeless-The Chinaman as n
Tavern Keeper-FOreign Patron
a.a Not sought-Pigs as Domestic
Animals.
p..in Letter in New York Commercial
Advertiser.
r,e traveller in China who leaves the
.,-- and penetrates the comparatively
rrf,r1iliar regions in the interior cannot
b,t I've Impressed with the tireless, silent
i,5usfry of the people. The japanese are
also constantly at work, but they are far
more mechanical and vivacious than their
chinese nelghbors. They work, too. like
,,e ant and the bee, which never seem to
sou their coats; the Chinese are like the
sold beetle that one sees in the road.
covered with dust and trundlng before it
ablu of that substance which fertilizes
b4 whole of China, from one end to the
o7er. and of which one never loses the
sight or smell. At this season the crops
hive all been harvested and the fields
..Led ike the floor of a brickyard, with
FAM, months unbroken drought-are being
moved for the fall planting. The plow
is of the ancient Oriental pattern-a wood
al beam, pointed at one end, sometimes
s5od with iron the COW, horse or donkey,
b1rnessed with a rope 20 the beam and
eiiiJtd by the voice. In many of the fields
whore broom corn has been raised the
stalks have been cut to within twelve or
fourteen inches of the ground; these stubs
are left standing. The Chinese waste moth
Ing that can be utilized in any possible
wav as food, fuel or clothing. These short
stalks are dug out of the ground by men,
women and children. who use small. mar
r.,,y-bIaded hoes The earth is shaken
from the roofs and they are collected in
bundles to be burned through the winter;
grass and weeds are used in the same way,
trd under the rows of willows which have
been planted here and there, women and
children may be seen raking the leaves as
they fall which are also added to the
store Of tWigs, grass and fail grain
roots. Fuel, indeed, is one of the most
erious questions with which the Chinese
farmer has to deal-and this in the vicin
icy Of the richest coal mines on the globe.
The country, except in certain portions
in the northeast, west and southwest. is
almost treeless. A few willows, ash and
aspen trees have been planted, but they
do NOT attain great sizes. Wood, if il is
10 be used as fuel, is sold by the pound,
from a great distance and sawed into lum-
her by hand. Brick, either kiln-dried or
sun-dried, is utilized for every purpose for
which it can be made available AS the
native houses, even those of the wealthy,
are one story, of kin-dried brick, rooted
with gray tiles. The imperial palaces con-
form to the same rule, though there are
terraces which correspond to stories, and
the tiles in the palaces of the Forbidden
City are mperiaf yellow, while those in
the palaces occupied by Princes of the
blood. within the imperial city, are green.
None but the imperial family can use yell
low tiles, and none but princes can dwell
under roofs tiled with green. Much Of the
charcoal which is comparatively cheap, is
brought from the forests of Siberia on the
backs of camels. The use of charcoal,
however, is not always safe, and deaths
OF asphyXiation are frequent. A few days
ago The cook at one of the legations. failed
10 appear when he was wanted and upon
inquiry being made by his mistress one
Of the house servants informed her thar
The was not very we'll" The delay con-
tinuing, the matter was investigated and
tile cook was found to be in a state of
uneonsciousness, while the scullion was sit
ting near him, dead.
Chinese inn keepers do not care greatly
for foreign patronage; first, because it is
hardly profitable, for reason that | will
a.
there is Still more or less disrepute at
tached to entertaining foreigners They
are far from being liked or respected, and
while this disfaVor seldom reaches open
ana active hostility, it exists. The charge
Tor one room is about cents a day, and
the innkeepers depend for their profit upon
Inc food that is orlered from the kitchen.
When Chinese officials, or men of stand
ing merchants or commercial agents, are
Zee eiyed they usually travel with a large
Ietinue that must not only be lodged but
led as well, and for this reason they are
cordially welcomed. But the foreigner
travels with comparatively few servants
me smallest number he can take with him
and he carries his own bedding and food.
The latter is cooked in his rooms, which
are very grudgingly placed at his disposal,
and he requires nothing from the kitchen
except hot water, which is also unwilling
~ furnished. Many Americans ObViate the
dihculty--or partially obyiate it-by or
oefing Chinese food which they do not
eal OF course. This is an affrOnt also,
whether it is left untouched or divided
among the servants; either course is re-
p'oach to the Chinese chef and the cuis-
me- And they generally find it cut, if
t.aer alternative has been resorted to.
Foreigners do not always willingly Of
lena, for, to the western taste, almost all
uinese food is unpalatable. Missionaries
"'O frequently attempt TO I'VE upon II
break down in a short time, and acquire
species of Indigestion that it is nearly
impossible to cure. Rice, chickens, ducks
ma igesh eggs may be had almost every
pIace and all are. excellent Chinese rice
is especially delicious, and Chinese fowls
are fat and tender, and the beef and NUT
ION are unsurpassed. In the matter of
meat of all sorts the Chinese do not dis
cf inmate; it is cut in slapeless Jumps,
ana good, bad and Indifferent, the tender
oln and neck, are sold for the same
money; all is fish, literally that comes
10 me Chinese net. The pork is not so
Foodi pigs pick up a preearious living as
'ae| can and are seldom well fed. They
''' upon terms of the utmost intimacy
" on the family, walking in and out of
houses at will, and sharing the door
81. p with the dog, but they are thin, slab
ed and wretched looking.
W meat flour. while it is dark, is also
very sweet and paatable, and corn meal
"" buckwheat are also largely used in
n nth, at least Corn cakes are sta
i1e' moulded in thick discs or in large
md s.4. 4e