Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-02-06
VISITING In CHINA.
cEREMONIALS THAT ARE PROPER ON
SUCH OCCASIONS.
The Duties of Hostess and Guests
Are Intricate, and the Etiquette
Smacks of Hypocrisy-The Houses
and Their FurnishIngs.

Are Intricate, and the Etiquette
Smacks of Hypocrisy-The Houses
and Their Furnishings.
All Chinese houses are hidden from
passersby In the street by high, blank
walls. while on each side of the en-
trance are the stables and the apart
ments set apart for the gatekeeper
aud other servants. In China the mule
takes the place Of the horse, and near
the door OF the courtyard a well
groOmed. well fed mule will generally
be found hltched TO an iron ring in the
wall, this being the animal which the
master either rides or harnesses to his
cart. When n visitor Is expected after
accepting an invitation. If the hostess
and her daughter-in-law are not in
waiting 70 receive the guests. there are
sure TO be half a dozen women serv-
ants. while the family will be in wait
ing in the court beyond. They will be-
dressed IN their finest apparel. rich
silks magnificently embroidered. with
the hair deliberately dressed and adorn-
ed with Jewels. and bearing rich silver
and gilt fans. also much decked with
Jewels. ON entering tie guest al
dresses the mother-iu-law first AMI
afterward the other ladies. the visitor
II a woman. being welcomed in the
Chinese fashion-by placing one closed
hand upon the other and moving II up
and down. II the children have been
brought out for inspection. aS is very
generally the case. they Will be drawn
up In line and viii greet the visitor
with pretty and graceful courtesy.
As n rule. Chinese children will he
found extremely pleasing and attract
i've. their quaint and fasciuat-c- d..
tic dresses. ja ketS and trousers. which
suit their iark skins and bright owes
SO admirably. lord NJ much Go ;hc -an-
eral. happy effect. Ih... SEQ louise
hold Is u community in which the par
ents are the h adj ov.r which a.. u tia
er rules with a rod of iron racn son
must bring his wife 10 his sI,thcl->
house on his marriage. aud Ec must
there remain with his growing family
Until she is fortunate enough a. give
birth 20 son the position o. the
daughter-in-law Is very much like that
OF an upper servant. her life being FIRE
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 n
suit Of apartments. with reception. d n
ing and ed rooms. viii h are separ. ted
by handsomely carved screens The
flooring is OF brick or stone and I'M
covered, this being even the case IN the
emperor's palaces. What is more il 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 reception room Of Il well 10 10
Chinese house a handsome table Is
usually found placed against the wall
opposite the door. with n chair on each
side, while around are cabinets filed
with bronze and porcelain. In the bed
room a 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 wardrohcS.
The dining room is separated from the
reception room 10y a solid wall and not
by screens. as in the other apartments.
while il must be reached 10y going out
or doors, although IL is under the same
roof. The furniture cons SIS Of ! b Ch
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 steps on
one side and entreatS her guest TO en-
ter. which the latter. 10 be polite. must
strenuously refuse. requesting her
hostess 10 precede her This little bit
OF Chinese etiquette can be prolonged
for some time, when of course the
guest enters first. as was originally
intended. She Is then conducted Il
the place OF honor this being the chair
at the right OF the table. which she
must at first refuse. repeating the
previous meaningless performance.
ending by occupying the place Pipes
are then brought in, but II the visitor
is foreigner and does not smoke the
hostess foregoes her accustomed pun
Presently tea is brought in. clear as
amber. favored with towers and serv-
ed without sugar or cream.
With II are served delicate small
fruit marmalade pressed into small
squares and walnuts Drowned in hot
oil and dipped In strip. 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. Proha-
bly, first Of all the guest will be asked
her age. for the Chinese ask the most
pointed and personal questions The
older she is the more admirable will
she appear in the eyes Of her hostess.
for youth I'm 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 inquiries will pass Oh 10
dress. any peculiarities in the visitors
toilet being carefully noted. and the
1ewelry. lace and ribbons are religious