The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-16
CHINA'S INDECENT CLASS
Begsars ana Blind People Left TO
Their Own Resources.

and Collect Aims From the Mer.
chnnts-Their Noisy Demands fol-
Contributions - Celestial Mcndi.
cants Have Special Organizations
LONDON, July There are TO wo:k
houses in China. There are no luaatic ssy-
lums. Beggars form themselves ilto guilds
for their protection. The insane take cal c
of themselves The blind are almost as
poorly provided for. though there are in
stitutions that ostersibly care for them.
These institutions are SUPP Ported n some
instances by tax imposed upon the salt
merchants. and in others by funds derived
from land and houses. The salt trade te-
ing monopoly in China. no one is allowed
to deal il salt without license from the
salt commissioner. The Government. hos
ever, allows a certain number OF aged men
in each district to go without a license
which enables them to undeIsell the Ii
censed dealers. These men traverse tie
streets crying: salt for sale, Salt for
sale." and seldom fail to obtain liveii-
/ hood for themselves and families.
The inmates OF the blind asylum at Can
/ ton are poorly provided for. and the por-
1 ton of the tax derived from the salt tredo
for their maintenance iy SO small that they
are compelled to beg from door to door.
These blind creatures sally forth every
morning almost on a begging exp. di;ion in
companies of six and seven. Trey walk in
single file, each resting his right hand on
the shoulder of the person in front of him.
+, The leader of the file gropes his way with
! his stick.
Tumult Follows the Blind.
When they enter a shop they begin bet
ing the small gcngs which they carry, ard
sing variety of songs. pitched in ve:y
high key. The din would be almost uren-
durable to an ordinary person, but rose
makes no impression or Chinese shopkeep-
ers, who have been horn and brought Up In
the midst Of 1t. They are obliged to min
lister to the necessities OF the blind men,
and they find IL their bts, policy to allow
them to remain waiting in the sh' as long
as possible. Only one company can octupy
the shop at time. and the longer it sta!
the less opportunity there is fer others
making new demands.
If the shopkeeper turns q deaf ear to
the noise of the intrUders they increase
their din. and intsrsperse their songs
with remarks not at all complimentary.
His benevolence seldom exceeds copper
cash-the smallest coin of the reaim-or a
handful of uDboiled rice. At the close of
the day these poor blind men may be seen
vending their way back to the asylum with
their wallets over their shoulders. scantily
filed with the proceeds Of the days beg
ging.
In all walled cities. as well as in many
rt.v
granaries. in which rice is supposed to be
stored by the Government. SO that it may
be retaied at reduced price in time of
war or famine to the soldiers of the garri
son and the poor. These institutions owe !
their origin not so much to benevolent |
feelings as to those-Of self-preservation. |
Mandarins are well aware that few things |
are more dangerous to the peace CT the |
State than half-staryed population. In |
small towns and villages the granaries are |
generally erected by the elders or gentry. |
AS rule the rice is not seld in seasons
Of famine. but doled out gratuitously.
,seggary Reduced to n Science.
Societies of mendicants are presided oyer,
by presidents called blythe community
generally, Ti-Quat, term of reproach for
which the beggars themselves substitute
*
superintendent Of a magistrate named
Poo-Teng by whom the presidents are pro-
tected. The members are sworn to pay
due respect to the rules of their societies.
and the entrance fee for each member is
upward CT 81. On the demise of men,
Der. coffin valued at s2fis given for his
decent interment, and it is the duty OF
the other members to accompany his re-
mains from the house of mourning to the
grave.
These guilds exist in almost every prov
ince. In Foo-Chow there are several very
large societies of this nature. and at a
temple set among trees of thick and beau
tiful foliage the Migrants may be seen
each day deyouring the broken meats or
rice which have been given to them One
peculiar occupation of the beggars of
Foo Chow is the rearing of snakes. These
are sold to the doctors, by whom it is said
hey are boiled down and used for medici- |
nal purposes.
Besides those who belong to guilds,
lordes of beggars of both sexes infest the
streets of Chinese towns. These unfor-
Innate creatures are Of all ages. and as
hey are houseless they are generally al
owed to occupy the squares in front of Z
emples. AT Canton many of them resort
Dy night to square in the western sub
.
allied MeeChow- Miu. 1t is called the
3eggars' Square, and by night it is crowd
ID with poor wretches who have spent the h
lay in traversing the streets in search OF r
Inns. Beggars are brought to this square
o die. /
Festivities of Trade Guilds.
Each trade in a Chinese city has guild. L
which may also be regarded as a club or
otel. Tradesmen or dealers who come to \
he various marts from distance resort u
o their respective guilds for board and o
Ddging. and at such places ii is usual to
meet with persons from various parts of n
he Empire. Nine times annually the a
rades meet at their respective guilds for +
nstive purposes. These days OF recreation 4
re generally the second and fifteenth days s
the first month; the fifth day of the fifth v
ionth, or Dragon festival. the thirteenth
ay OF the fifth month. or God Of Wars u
atal anniversary: the fourteenth day of a
lie seventh month or All Souls festival &
ne fifteenth day of the eighth month. or
EAST in honor of the moon; the twenty
rst day OF the eleventh month. or winter NJ
Dlstice, and the festival OF Wan Shan, cl
hich is celebrated on lucky day toward OF
lie close OF the twelfth month"; and which Y
observed as day of general thanksgiv-
g to all the gods for the merces which m
ley have bestowed throughout the year. q
ach guild has its patron saint, and his II
ltal anniversary is celebrated by the O,
embers, who hold a banquet in honor of r.
lie occasion.
The guild halls are among the most in
.ttlt II ~ L..