Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-07-18
THE CHINESE LADY.

InrOuRn the misleading accounts or
travellers who have not had the oppor-
tunity or taken the trouble of really
studying the socinl life of the Chinese
comparatively nothing is known re-
specting the Chinese lady of today, says
the American Queen. Her manner Of
living, her characteristics and accom-
| plishments are either sbrouded in
| mystery or misunderstood. Having had
exceptional opportunities for observing
| the domestic life OF the people of the
Middle Kingdom" 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 empiie
1t is 7 O'CLOCK on a Silly tropical
morning as we approach the private
residence of a merchant who, besides
having three charming wives, Is blessed
with u couple of sons and daughter.
After crossing courtyard paved with
cobblestones we asoend four granite
steps which extend across the entire
frontage of the building, and, passing
between two large wooden doors, enter
the house proper. This consists of sew
eral apartments. The reception hall
comes first, then the ancestral hall and
finally the sitting and sleeping rooms.
The members Of the Shun family are
not abroad yet, though 1t is just time
for them to be called, but the servants
have already commenced their duties.
| An elderly female attendant, attirsd in
| thin black cotton clothes and possessing
large, natural feet, now reverently enters
the ancestral hall carrying sheaf Of
brown colored "joss- sticks' and sew
eral tiny cups of tea in lacquer. ware
| tray. Approaching an oblong altar upon
which are arranged an image of the
Yeuk Wang and OF other deities sup.
posed to preside over the chief doors of
the house she places the sacriicial cups
of tea In front of the josses and lights
the sticks, which emit fragrant odor
of eandalwood and CARGO. Having done
this she, making several obeisnnces,
leaves the chamber and proceeds to the
one occupied by Miss Ching All Choi,
her mistress. The servant finds that
Miss All Choi has just risen from her
four posted wooden bed, which is in
closed by embroidered curtains and a
mosquito net, and is standing near a
gauze.coversd window, tending some
flowers growing in couple OF fantas-
tic-looking bowls.
The young girl, whose age is 18, is at
present only attired in close-fitting
white linen jacket, which shows to ad.
vantage her small yet faultlessly pro-
portioned figure and her full though
delicately ,oomplexioned face. Her fore.
head is high and intellectual; ner eye
brows 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 aud we'll
formed, and, being generally half parted,
reveals row Of the most even and
pearly teeth which louk more artificial
than real in their perfection. 1t may
interest some to hear that Chinese ladies
are fastidious with regard to the tooth
brushes they use, and usually keep a
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 protraction OF the
nails, which are allowed to grow to a
length Of two or three inches, this
being regarded as the sign of gentility
in the "Flowery Land. Her feet are
closed in peculiarly sharp and hoof-
| like shoes, covered with gold and en-
i aud oto ptudii auh
cramped, through having been bound
tightly from infancy.
| A little girl now enters the room with
hot water, aud while her mistress per.
forms her additions she and the anah
(servant) busy themselves about the
wardrobe, which comprises number
of pigskin boxes filled with silk gar
ments; those for the winter being lined
with the much priced silver foxskin.
Then Miss All Choi opens her toilet
box, the lid of which is fitted with a
movable looking glass, Hairhrushes
are seldom used either by ladies or
gentlemen in China, and the former
always go bareheaded except in winter,
When they wear band, generally orna-
mented in front with pearl or jade
stone, which Is passed round the fore.
head and tied behind, the crown of the
head remaining exposed.
Placing tie box on the table, the
young lady sits down on hard ebony
chair, and, adjusting the glass so that
| it reflects her face, leans back. The
little girl now begins to fan her, while
| the annh proceeds to dress the wealth
of black hair, which Is let down to its
fullest length. This is an exceedingly
intricate and irksome task, that takes
quite an hour and often much longer
to complete, according to the style of
couture worn.
The face is next attended to with
equal care. and white chalk and rouge
are brought into use for this purpose.
A little of the chalk ia soraped into
the palm OF the hand and mixed with
water, and this paste is applied to the
face. over which it is gently rubbed,
the qrouge being used In similar
manner, until delicate artificial COM
plexion is produced.
The young lady now rises from her
chair and dons very broad pair of
black trousers and loose silken gar
inent with bell.shaped sleeves of great
width. Chinese ladies are celebrated
for the severe modesty of their dress,
as they sssiduously hide the contour
of their figure by every conceivable
| means.
Having completed her toilet, Miss
All Choi leaves her room and enters
another, where she meets her mother
and perhaps the second or third wife,
with whom she partakes OF cup OF
| tea and some cakes.
At 10 O'clock they sit down to meal
of rice, fish and vegetables. After that
venerable gentleman of scholastic
repute is conducted into the presence Of
| the mother and daughter. He instructs
the latter in reading and in the tenets
OF Oonfuciauisn or Taouism Installing
upon her mind good moral principles.
He remains about an hour, and is sue
ceeded by an elderly female, who in
turn teaches her the art Of working
embroidery, in which the ladies' excel.