The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-03

cate the number Of bamboo blows he should
receive I'm punishment. and the magistrate
must give the order that she prescribes.
HER DOMESTIC VIRTUES.
Woman shines in China. as elsewhere, in
the domestic relation. She is not the mere
convenience that social rules woald make
her. Those rules abound In exceptions 50
plentifully as to be distinguished by them
Her traits are those OF wOmankind; wish
ing always TO please ard TO be loved. In
spite o all that Is said OF the lack of ORR
entail m orality. she IS reasonably observant
of the Ten Commandments without having
ever helrd Of them. There is no more
cheerful being anywhere. In the lower
walks, which foreign visitors observe, the
wife is mans helpmate in every practical
way. She assists In his farming. yulohs
his boat for him. shares his packs and eases
him Of much of the miscellaneous labor
that he must perform, besides looking after
his home, rearing his children and weaving,
summing and employing her dcft needle for
the family purse.
n civilized woman were always kindly
treated, it might be worth while pointing
out instances I'm which that lot has not uni
formly fallen to her Chinese sister; but
careworn faces are rare in China, and one
of the most common sights is that of wom-
en- trudging about with quiet babies slung
in strap cradles across their backs. or at
play with their chubby. laughing heather
offspring. Foreign families who employ
Chinese amahs, or nurses. find them tender
and faithful. They think themselves OF a
family when they join it. and the children
love and trust them.
rIf~Ior l., En- coof,I cooTa uharQ women
are kept from the gaze not only of visitors,
but also of all natives except closest friends
and relatives, there is no reason to sup
rose that they are less blessed than the
lower orders with the essentials of hap
piness in their station. One may get
glimpses of their round. contented faces.
OF the tiny feet thar charm a native hus-
band. of silks, velvets and embroideries
with which their garments are fashioned,
and Of cleaning hair, ornamented with
pearls, beads, jade and gold-a setting so
ornate that one cannot doubt the quality of
the jewel. Opportunity and incentive do
not come to the Chinese woman as to
women in other lands. The education law
ished on her brothers is denied her. The
traditions and tendencies OF the race would
dwarf her mind and impress upon her no
lesson 50 SlIO0Biy dS lldt u Scll-SuDOlul-
nation. Her influence in the home and the
reverence for motherhood everywhere OBJ
served reflect merits that must be sterling.
Chinese history is not minute enough to
tell how far she has shaped national char
acter and destiny. In the two instances in
which she has so far riser above the plane
set for her as to become the ruler of the
vast empire, her talents have not suffered
by comparison with those of the EnperOrs
The Empress w., Loo years ago, intrigued
her way to the throne, but she ruled ably
and did as much for China as any other
ruler of the Tang dynasty. To-day an En-
press is a refugee. but under her rule the
trade and prosperity of China have as
sumed proportions never before contem-
plated. and when the history of the foreign
troubles may be impartially written, in the
light of all the facts. it may not unlikely
appear that they owed their first impulse
not 10 the Empress. but. perhaps i'm spite of
her. to the instigation ad advice and ir-
resistible pressure Of her superior council
OF men. FREDERICK w. EDDY.