Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-09-02


really studying the social life Of the
Chinese comparatively nothing is
known respecting the Chinese lady Of
to day, says the American queen.
Her manner of living, her characteris-
tics and accomplishments are either
shrouded in mystery or m1sunder'
stood. Having had exceptional OPP
portunities for observing the domestic
life of the people Of the middle king
dom" and being DESTROYS of showing
how a daughter of Ham actually
passes her life. will ask the reader
to accompany me in imagination to
that far-away empire.
1t is o'clock on Silly tropical
morning as we approach the private
residence of a merchant who. besides
having three charming wives. is
blessed with a couple Of sons and
daughter. After crossing a courtyard
paved with cobblestones we ascend
four granite steps which extend across
the entire frontage of the building,
and, passing between two large wood
en- doors, enter the house proper
This consists of several apartments
The reception hall comes first, then
the ancestral hall and finally the sit
ting and sleeping rooms.
The members Of the Shun family
are not abroad yet, though it is just
time for them to be called, but the
servants have already commenced
their duties. An elderly female at
tendant attired in thin black cotton
clothes and possessing large, natural
feet, now reverently enters the an
cestral hall, carrying sheaf OF
brown-colored ''jossticKs" and several
tiny cups of tea on a lacquer-ware
tray. Approaching an oblong altar
upon which are arranged an image OF
the Yeuk Wang and of other deities
supposed to preside over the chief
doors of the house she places the
sacrificial cups of tea in front of the
losses and lights the sticks, which
emit a fragrant odor of sandalwood
and CARGO Having done this she,
making several obeisances, leaves the
chamber and proceeds to the one DC
,cupied by Mis- Ching All Choi, her
mistress. The servant finds that Miss
All Choi has just risen from her four
posted wooden bed, which is inclosed
by embroidered curtains and a
mosquito net, and is standing near II
gauze-covered window, tending some
flowers growing in couple Of fam
tastic-looking bowls.
Miss Ching Arises.
The young girl, whose age is Is, IS
at present only attired in close
fitting white linen jacket, which
shows to advantage her small yet
fauItlessly proportional figure and
her full though delicately complex
toned face Her forehead is high
and intellectual; her eyebrows curve
upward from the nose. which is small
and broad at the base; her eyes are
almost almond-shaped and of liquid
black color, deeply dashed, while her
mouth is small and we'll formed, and,
being generally half parted, reveals a
row of the most even and pearly
teeth, which look more artificial than
real in their perfection. 1t may in
terest some to hear that Chinese
ladies are fastidious with regard to
the tooth brushes they use, and usual
1y keep stock of new ones by them;
those with very short and stiff
bristles being the kind generally
preferred.
Miss All Choi possesses small and
shapely hands, but they are marred by
the extraordinary protection Of the
nails, which are allowed to grow to a
length of two or three inches, this
being regarded as the sign Of gen
tility in the "Flowery Land" Her
and boof-lil1e shoes, covered with gold
and embroidery, and are uunaturally
small and cramped, through having
been bound tightly from infancy.
Mysteries of the Toilet.
A little girl now enters the room
with hot water. and while her mis-
tress performs her additions she and
the anah (servant) busy themselves
about the wardrobe, which comprises
a number of pigskin boxes filled with
silk garments: those for the winter
beine lined with much-prized silver
TOXSRlD. I06u MISS An CnOl Op0uS
her toilet box, tho lid Of which is
fitted with a movable looking glass
Hairbrnshes are seldom used either
by ladies' or gentlemen in China and
the former always go bareheaded ex-
cept in winter. when they wear a
band, generally ornamented in front
with pearl or iadestone. which is
PASSED round the forehead and tied
behind. thn crown OF the head re-
maining exposed.
Placing the box on the table, the
young lady sits down on a hard ebonv
chair. and adjusting the glass so that
1t reflects her face. leans back. The
little GIRL now begins to fan her while
tho 9nah proceeds 10 dress the wealth
Of hI""1y hair which is let down TO it's
f''''~~+ '"Ne+h This is an exoeedin DIV
fn+~ioato and irksome task. that takes
cutie an hour and often much 1ononr