The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1900-09-28
The "I1EATHEN
CHINESE"

For Europeans or Americans to un-
derstand the mind Of China is hopeless.
ly impossible. That ocean VIII h l. the
physical separation between her and
America II but narrow gorge COM
pared TO the gulf between her mental
life and ours Japan knows her. but
the white man does not and never can.
She Ia beyond the pale For thousands
upon Thousands Of years her people
have lived apart from the rest OF the
world. sufficient unto themselves They
might ms well have been upon another
planet, or In a realm OF the fourth d.
mcnslons. 40 different has their envi-
ronmcnt been to that OF other peoples
on this earth today.
One cannot prognosticato what a
Chlnaman will do. but one can be sure
that whatever he does he will do Il
differently than would an American or
European
His pollteness Is impertlnent to us.
for whether you are man or woman. his
first question ia How old are your" II
yOu are advanced In years he conRrat-
ulates you. Then he will ask your In
come and many other questions "a &c
your private affairs This Is Chinese
etiquette; but, II you would show n
friendly interest in his welfare and the
prosperity OF his family be sure not to
say wife" To ask after n Chlnaman's
wife or to refer TO her at all Ia a serious
breach OF good manners. Do not speak
OF his daughters. either. but you may
congratulate him on having sons. DO
not praise them. however. for II one
should fall nlck at any time after no
would lay II 10 your evil eye.
When you enter a Chlnaman's house
you take your hat on, while he. as he
hears you coming puts his on. He
would not receive guest otherwise. by
way OF greeting he shakes hands with
himself instead OF with you, and offers
you a seat on his left rather than on
the right; for the left Is the honorable
side In China.
The book he has laid down an you
came In has ita title on the lower left
hand corner OF the back cover. Its
pages read from right TO left In col
umns instead OF In lines. The foot
notes" are at the top OF the page. and
he has Inserted his hoolSmark al the
bottom. II he ~ n merchant and keeps
accounts he viii enter the debts on the
upper half and the credits on the lower
half OF the same page.
Instead OF backing he uses whiting
for his shoes. and II he Ia In mourning
no robes himself In white. II no IL n
man OF position he has wife with
dwarfcd feet. too small TO walk on: 30
small. indeed, that In the process OF
compression some OF the bones were
crowded out. The nurse carries Ia.
children on her back Instead OF araln'
her breast But all these things are OF
a kind with the Chinese compass,
which points south instead OF north
and reads west-north. west-south. east
south. east-north. as the Chinaman
boxes H. He also says thlrds-two In
stead OF two-thirds. and In writing a
date his order Is year. month, day.
He writes his family name first and
his given name follows. II he mounts
n horse he chambers up ON the right
side: n he shores n boat he does II
stern first; II he marches in company
or works at paddle he breaks" In
stead OF keeping time. He laughs when
telling you OF the death Of a relative or
/ friend.
II he Is III his doctor" prods for the
pain with long needle. often piercing
the stomach walls In the endeayor to
find II. II he is lame he takes ashes Of