The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-17

champion MS case. an effort may be made
60 bring the employer to terms by persua-
sion. Failing in that. II will be only by
chance that the employer can get his work
dcnc. The guild which believes its mem
Der wronged Is against him out of loyalty
10 its connrade. and every other guild will
hold of because il is not their ''pidgin.'
There Is a law that reads well against boy
rott. but no man in China can compel an
other 10 work for him without a contract
arrangement. and ingenious reasons for
rot working low easily from tho native
tongue II an issue is threatened over 1t.
The law Is seldom invoked on any such
account. Chinese regard their obligations
toward each other. and as a sense of jus
fsce is pretty we'll implanted in the race
there is seldom occasion for trouble.
Whatever may be thought Of the moral
scruple OF the people. the thing that they
call face" which covers much more than
honor or tic reputation for honor. counts
With them above everything else. Loss of
face is the worst misfortune that can be-
fall a native in the eyes of his own people.
The small tradesman viii do up a for
esgner without the slightest scruple. but
1AAAaAA aAA go SIN 800 'N
among their own. One who has no large
or important dealings with Chinese may
BUFFER experiences that lead him to con-
clude that face is for sale absurdly cheap.
but native merchants who are big enough
to deal on a good scale with foreign houses
Invariably save their face. no matter what
else may have to go. 1t is the same way
among themselves in affairs. especially If
fhax touch tho fore IF tho pnild
IN THE SERVANTS HALL.
OF course there are servants guilds. a
foreigner may regard his Chinese servants
as of so little account that he may do or
say at his pleasure. vent his temper or be-
have as he likes before them and it goes no
further. II there is anything about a for
eign employer Of servants or his household
that escapes notice or goes without COM
ment where it will be emembered to his
credit or discredit reports from the guild
halls are altogether misleading. They get
at the family affairs and discuss them
among themselves with the utmost free
dom. When a servant is discharged and
another is wanted the second one will sure
" know what happened to the other man
from the other mans standpoint. Besides
that. he will have in his head a fair notion
OF family history and relations which his
predecessor may be supposed not to have
observed.
Cases have been known in which foreign
ers wishing 10 get information about the
private. affairs of other foreigners have
managed it through asking their own serv-
ants 10 find it out for them. The servants
30 to the guild hall, make their inquiries
and bring back the Information wanted.
c.. s,taroeffn~ narratives of 6OinCS SUD-
posed to be under cover in foreign Shang-
mai society have not only come to light in
that way, but have been spread broadcast.
There was an instance only recently in
which a man whose own character is of
the best and whose conduct is exemplary
was denied admittance to one of the clubs
because the membership committee had
chosen TO make inquiries and had learned
something not affecting the man at all but
a member of his family. 1t was supposed
10 be a family secret. but as the commit
Tee had been able 10 discover it the infer
ence was that IL might be learned by others
and thus suffer publicity. 1t was not de-
sfrable 10 have on the club roll a man
whose family might become the object of
unpleasant comment.
Thus it does not do in China more than
elsewhere to count on the servants as unob-
serving or as disposed to refrain from dis
cussing family affairs whenever they see
an object in doing so. And their guild
serves sometimes as an excellent channel
FOR that sort of Information. As may be
supposed. guilds discuss affairs of employ
ers with the utmost freedom. 1t is always
known at a guild if a man is exacting or
lerient. good pay or bad, a customer to be
sought or avoided. The guilds are sleeves
through which the entire industrial life of
China passes.
FREDERICK w. EDDY.