The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-01-02
VISITING IN CHINA.
cEREMoNlALs THAT ARE PROPER ON
/. SUCH OCCASIONS

'THe Duties OF Nosteas Gnd Guests |
Are Intricate, and the Etiquette
. smncks OF Hypocrisy-The Houses !
: and Their yurnishings.
All Chinese houses are hidden from
passershy In the stree. ty high, bianis !
walls. while on each side OF the en-.
trance are the stables and the apart |
ments set apart for the gatekeeper |
and other servants. In CHINA The mule J
takes the place Of the horse. and near |
the door OF the courtyard n we'll |
groomed. we'll fed mule will generally
be found hitched TO an iron ring in the |
Will, this being the animal which the
master either rides or harnesses to his
cart. When visitor is expected after
accepting an invitation, IL the hostess
and her daughter Il law ar.. not in
waiting to receive the guests, there are
sure to be half dozen women serv-
ants. while the family Will be In wait
ing III the court beyond. They will be
dressed In their amcS: apparel, rich
silks, magnificently embroidered, with
the hair elaboratcly dressed and adorn.
ed with jewels, and bearing rich siiyer
and gilt fans, also much decked with
Jewels. On entering the guest ad.
dresses the mother-in-law first and
afterward the other ladies, the visitor,
IL woman, being welcomed IN the
Chinese fashion-by placing one closed
hand upon the other md moving it up
and down. If the children have been
brought out fer inspection. as is very
generally the case, they will be drawn
up In line and will greet the visitor
with pretty and graceful courtesy.
AS rule, Chinese children will be
found extremely pleasing and attract
I've, their quaint and fascinating lit
tie dresses, jackets and trousers, which
suit their dark skins and bright eyes
80 admirably, lending much to the gen.
eral, happy effect. A Chinese house
hold Is a community In which the par
ents are the head, over which the moth
er rules with rod Of iron. Each SON
must bring his wife to his mothers
house on his marriage, and he must
there remain with his growing family!
Until she Is fortunate enough to give
birth to son the position of the
daughter-in-law Is very much like that
Of an upper servant, her life being fre-
quently one Of the greatest misery The
best rooms of the houses face the
south, and these are occupied by the
mother-in-law. she having usually a
suit Of apartments. with reception, din
Ing and bed rooms, which are separated
by handsomely carved screens. The
flooring Is Of brick or stone md un-
covered, this being even the case in the
emperor's palaces. What is more, it is
seldom clean and Is made the reposi-
tory for all sorts Of rubbish, being care!
fully swept. however. when a visitor is
expected.
In the 6 .ception room of we'll to do
Chinese house a handsome table is
usually found placed against the wal,
opposite the door, with chair on each
side, while around are cabinets filed
with bronze and porcelain. In the bed
room n k'aug, or oven bed, occupies
more than half the space, and on this
bed the Chinese woman spends more
than half her existence. sewing. eating
and gossiping thereon, and at each end
of this bedstead are carved wardrobes.l
The dining room Is separated from the
reception room by solid wall and not
by screens, as In the other apartments.
while 1t must be reached by going out
Of doors. although 1t Is under the samc
roef. The furniture consists Of a high,
square table, with two or more polish
ed and none too comfortable looking
chairs, side tables for the serving of
the many dishes which go to form the
meal, and upon the wall Inscriptions In
Chinese characters.
On the threshold the hostess stems on
one side and entreats her guest to en-
ter, which the latter, to be polite, must
strenuously refuse, requesting her.
hostess to precede her. This little bit
Of Chinese etiquette cnn be prolonged
for some time, when Of course the
gue7s enters first, rs was originally
IT lded. She is then conducted to
place Of honor, this being the chair
at the right Of the table, which she
IN ust Mt first refuse, repeating the
previous meaningless performance,
ending by occupying the place. Pipes
are then brought in, but If the visitor
Is foreigner and does not smoke the
hostess foregoes her accustomed puff.
Presently ten is brought in, clear as
amber. Aavc-ca with flowers und serv-
ed without sugar or cream.
With it are served delicate small
cakes, sweetmeats, candied fruits, red
fruit marmalade pressed into small
squares and walnuts Drowned in hot
oil and dipped in sirup. What is con-
sidered vulgar in England is considered
polite In China, for during the meal
the guest must smack her lips to show
the meal is appreciated. Very few are
educated, the great majority being
able to neither write nor read Proba-
bly, first Of oil the guest will be asked
her age. for the Chinese ask the most
pointed and personal questions. The
older she is the moro admirable will
she appear IN the eyes Of her hostessy
Tor youth In China does not gain much
respect. The hostess will then want
to know If her parents are living, how
many brothers and sisters she has, and
from these fpOnirioe will ,,occ IN -