New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-24


Picking and Europe.
The postal system Of the empire is still in a
primitive condition. 1t is carried under the
direction of the Minister of War by means Of
post carts and runners. There are eight thou
sand offices for post carts in the eighteen prov
inces and there are 2.040 offices for runners
scattered over the empire. There are also many
private postal couriers, and during the winter
the foreign customs office maintains a service
between Picking and the outposts-
In an article on the Chinese daily life Joseph
King Goodrich gives some interesting details OF
the customs and usages in vogue in China. Ac-
cording to his narrative the Chinese believe insl
early rising, and begin their workday severa!
hours earlier than Europeans or Americans In
this particular the high officials set a good ex-
ample. for they hold audiences and transact
business at daylight The street kitchens which
may be seen in any Chinese town do business
at all hours of the day and night. and had be-
come well established institutions several thou
sand years before the American owl restaurant
was thought Of
The Chinaman rises early possibly because his
sleeping apartment offers few attractions The
rooms. in the homes of the wealthy are
usually dark and poorly ventilated, and are Ike
inside cupbOards. The bed is usually can
oped elaborate affair, heavy and beautifully
carved, and this piece of furniture is often hand
ed down from father to through many gem
erations. But there is nothing elaborate about
the bed covering In place Of a mattress there
is a mat and the covering is the occupant
clothing or possibly a wadded quilt. Extra
clothing is provided for cold weather. and in
the north where the weather is extremely cold,
the carved wood bedstead is not used There,
in the house of every we'll to do citizen and in
the inns, there divans Of masonry beneath
which there freplaces, and On these divans
the people sleep. and the fire is utilized for cock
ing purposes.
There pillows in Chinese beds They
have instead hollow square frames Of rattan
or bamboo, or blocks of wood fashioned so that
they fit the nape of the neck and support the
head when lying on the side. People who have /
used these substitutes for pillows say they are
much more comfortable than soft, hot feather
hair pillows, especially in warm weather /!
These substitutes for pillows are used even by /
those people who have rooms furnished with |
modern tables and other European furniture
The Chinese have no use for bathrooms or
bathing paraphernalia. Their toilet is quickly |
made and is not begun until nearly all the gar |
ments to be worn have been put
The first thought of the Confucian after arising |
is to worship. There is a shrine in every house. |
where a tablet with the names of ancestors is |
kept. There the householder does reverence to |
the memory of those who have preceded him, |
and prays that he may live so that those who |
follow him may hold his name dear. a rich /
man may have a separate building for this !
purpose, which is his hall of ancestors; the less
wealthy may have room set aside for the |
purpose, and the poor usually have only a shelf: !
but in each the tablet is called shin shu |
and the humble paper the dirty shelf is as
sacred to it's owner the Illuminated tablet in |
the gorgeous hall of a rich mans ancestors.
After the religious ceremony the Chinaman I
visits the barber, for keeping his head we'll
shaved and his pigtail in proper condition is a
duty which must not be forgotten. Until 1927
the Chinese their hair long and coed on the
top of the head where it fastened with an
ornamental pin. But the Manchu edict making
the pigtaH a sign of loyalty changed this style,
the homes of the rich, but the poor men receive
his attentions in the street.
There are few bearded men in China. Men
who have grandchildren may wear mustache
and many take advantage of the privilege and
called old hair men The foreigners with
mustaches. when they came to China, excited
much curiosity, and the unusual sight justified
them in asking the ages of he bearded men.
On meeting a friend the form of greeting is
for clasp both his hands before
him, make slight bow and say, Using tsing"
which means Hail hail. and * eOuivaIen+ m |