Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-05-30
QUEER THINGS IN CHINA.
Mrs. A. w. Wilson.

The poverty of China is heartbreak- |
ing, While some OF the immense fortunes |
OF the globe are found there, yet such |
abject poverty have not seen else
where. The patience and endurance OF
the millions while hunger and cold
stand at the door are worthy of note.
| know that almost eco foreign men,
women and children aud thousands Of
Christian Chinese were slain by in
furiated mobs last spring and summer.
There is a seeming contradiction be
tween my statement of patience and
the facts of the past year. Yet IL is
true that out OF the depths OF want
there comes mower Of endurance that
Is wonderful. In this rover lies one
Of the dangers OF the present situation
the more that 1t is coupled with
quiet resistance Of nature, very difficult
TO combat.
Poverty leads to begging, which In
China is systematized 1t is a legitimate
occupation, to which men, women and
children are trained. There are guilds
and officers, king, queen, treasurer, &c.
These reduce the organizations into
working order, giving each member his
or her district. Thieves are banded
together in the same way, and have
heard that neither these nor the beg
care ever iptrude upon q comrades
territory. ONLY tramps invade anothers
rights. A tramp, whether beggar or
a thief, is clishonorod,
Bepgars collect at regular intervals,
and woe betide the family or business
house that refuses the small sum but
a "cash''- requested In fact, il ia
useless to deny the gift, for the entire
body in that vicinity would know how
| 10 persecute the establishment for so
rash an action. The brotherhood would
appear, 80 or 100 strong, Of loathsome
| man and women, nor would they leave
until double or treble the amount was
| forthcoming. The law does not hinder
| the Fraternity.
The house where spent the winter
was entered several times and the losses
we're coneidelab 1 think about the
| fifth time a member of the guild was
| consulted and gays The clue.
| The Chinsman has curious plan fof
| vengeance, He kills himself to spite
his enemy. No injury to Celestial
| ia an great an when the man he hates
commits suIeide. for in the land of
ghosts the suicide NAV distress him as
could not be done in life. Nothing can
be worse than the epmity Of the dead.
| Also i'll lucK comes 10 the family where
a visitor dies, A most makes haste to
send his best friend home IL illness at
taoks while his guest. The inns are
reluctant to receive such an one, and
even the bepear or thief WHO is su,,rned
becomes mower for evil to the family
on whose premises he may happen to
die,
"a a coffin Is a most accountable present
In the living. IL ia Gift to he
cherished with pride. for now the pro-
vision for death Is beyond perad.
venture. In sumo psrts of China the
coffin ia carried to the home with great
nolnp. a fire procession and music
heraidinp the caskets for the parents-
one or both. Sometimes fine speeobes
| are made. and the old neon1e feel
bonored. while tho neipbborhood offers
CONGRATULATIONS unon fine affection of
such dutiful children.
IL may he Tint wears are before the
father AMI mother. hui nothing ever
afterward can mean 40 much To them
as this act Of devotion. Hepoefortb
this last resting place will be cared
fer. andFabsept friends will be expeotetl
to isympathize with the honest pride
and pleasure.
i have said before the majority of the
Chinese are very poor--so poor that
| SUNDAY la IA much n work dAy aa alV
other. II is sometimes a question:.
when a man or woman becomes a
Christian. what proyision shall bs
made for the household ON SUNDAY
when a few cash day are their only
earnings The 10. Ia or % cash earned
on SUNDAY Ia cash varies In value.
mostly recurring 10 or - TO make one
cent United States curreroyl are oftan
ali that stands between tho children
and hunger. The half Of day of reet
from work means nothing III eat for
that time. Hence the family of fine
moor man can have no SOCIAL life. The
entire Community IL enpaped in find.
inc work that will ,ield q few oasb.
II the children should have a small
present they cannot indulge In cookies
as our little ones do. me howl Of rico
from the shop at the corner Is the need
} of the bour. y -
Social life among tina WEALTHY is
hammered by conyentionalities i sun.
nose the men nav and do meet tooethe,
: without let ar hindranceT inf / hnvs
been to,d5 that the formnIitias ara "a
cumbersom. that time is wasted or
points Of etiouette even among Chinsae
, pentlemen. Knou n IL az al. ono
the ladies' of both .Janan and China.
: have seen full ho,ir snent In aeatino
n small oompany az On or 81. the bostass
: amending much strength and man,
words In nersuadinp her onasta tn h,
, aeated accnrding IN ber nlaaanra III
|