The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-07

10 mold the interest OF the Christian
women. They have banded themselves
int" an organization with their own Of
| hcers and leaders; meeting every sec
end Friday at the different homes. So
much depends upon the Christian wom-
en- OF today that we feel they must be
thoroughly taught OF God in order 10
meet what lies before them.
Unconsciously. almost, the true
| thought OF the people is revealed to us.
| went upstairs the other day, where
| lived temple keeper and his family.
on the table lay piles OF paper cut into
squares. silver paper being pasted on
the back Mother and daughter were
busily fashioning these into hollow
tubes. like those you see here today.
| This is money" they explained in a
shamefaced way. 1T viii be taken to
the mountains To burn. When your
4 friends die" they continued, do you
worship their spirits? We do
The old idea OF ancestor worship. We
can hardly realize how powerful is its
hold over their hearts and minds.
II is sad TO see so many bright young
girls without school advantages. One
| wishes that our compulsory school law
| were better enforced among tie Chi
| nese residents.
| One who is near to the hearts of wo-
men sees so much suffering. Chinese
women" said one. ARE never happy
| Said another in amaZement. speak
ing of our marriage customs: You
| can choose for yourselves? You don't
| have to marry at all II you don't wishi
oh. YOU ought to be thankful"
Each week the hospital is visited.
| flowers left. and meetings held. A pit
iful story came to light here not long
since. In an upstairs ward a Chinese
man lay dying. attended only by his
wife. n poor frightened little thing. toe
crushed oy the coming sorrow to be OF
assistance. Outside the air was frag-
~ rt-ft h. arft. Of frl
twi:tered merrily. even the crickets
added their tiny notes to the chorus of
praise. The warm afternoon sun
shone in through the open window as
though to tempt the sick one back TO
life: yet all unheeded. In the mans
heart was n great darkness. for he was
passing away without Jesus, the Light
giver.
Soon the workers came by, for 1t was
the day of the meetin. Simply, loving
the many mansions. Raising himself
up in bed he whispered: You people
are good. / want my little boy brought
up with you. 1 want him to be n
Christian"
When next they came his bed was
empty. He had passed to be with
Jesus. At the last bright look came
over his face. and he cried out: "Oh.
friends. we must all trust in Jesus"
The poor woman sobbed though
her heart would break. For a long
time the husband. the only support OF
herself and three children, had been
unable to- work because of Illness. /
Pressed for bare necessities she sold
her eldest child. bright girl of seven /
on this money. $50. she had been liv-
ing.
Think Of It. in this fair city child I
OF tender years sacrificed that food I
might be had for mother and babies, /
As We look at our own girls. SO ten
derby loved. We cannot imagine the ne
cessity which would impel US to sell
one.
Yet can We blame the mother? She
was acting up to the only light she
had. Doubtless she loved her little
daughter. and shed many n tear before
she could bring herself To consent to
ne parting. Perhaps also her thought
capped forward into the future. when.
better days at hand. she could redeem
her little one. AT least the child would
receive food and clothing while there
you'd be one less TO struggle for. at
home.
The case of footbinding off Vineyard
street still goes on. II Will take about
hree years before the process is COM
)lete The child is in hiding most of
he time. running If any one approach
nave the feet OF their eldest daughter !
,Ornd. She herself wishes il.
You don't want your feet crushed,
said 10 her cEe day.
"Oh. yes. l dol" Make me a lady"
vas her reply. II want to walk like !
his" Indicating the swaying gait the I
'hincse think SO graceful. /
/ find on the other hand a growing
eminent in favor of natural feet.
quite a number in our midst have al :
eady unbound. l know of several such
myself. while others tell OF more.
How pretty I said 10 a woman one :
az. touching the dainty bits OF en-
robbery. NO, not pretty, she replied.
Inside not pretty"
said another. contemptuously: Rich
len like to get a small-footed wife
nd dress her up pretty; but she is OF
o more use than = doll
Chinese women. We find, are just like Z,
ny others; their love for pretty things =
just as deep. \
Yes. l mean to unbind." remarked n
lother; but not yet. have just =
lade a supply of new shoes. and can
ot give them up. WheE these are
one, / will put yours on" / could not
clip sympathizing with her. for her
ny shoes were pretty. II takes about
vo months to wear out a pair. At this -
rte IL will be- nearly year before she ~
ready to adopt ours OF somberer hue
II Is encouraging TO note that the .
len also are thinking differently in
gard to these matters
Small feet no USE" scoffed a Chi
ase man. Two weeks ago big fire in
hinatown. Upstairs four women
mali feet. no can run. Husbands car
: on backs. More better big feet"
was talking the other day with a
'uns Chinese editor concerning the Is
IMPRESS DowaCer'S edict prohibiting Il
ctbindinE. How do your people OF
.nerally regard this proclamation"
.ked. His reply indicates the thought | II
the more influential classes. IN
They approve Of it," he said. Now
any women are adopting foreign
inas md their husbands are not