New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-08
SOME HUSBANDS HENPECKED.
All Chinese Wives Not Docile-Dr. Kin
Talks of Her Countrymen.

1dIhS VI acT
The Chinese as they are seen in this country look
stolid and uninteresting. and different from
everything that the Western mind is accustomed TO
regard human and civilized. that the majority
OF people probably look upon them beings with
whom they could not possibly have anything in
common But little Chinese woman. who talked
about Chinese literature yesterday afternoon at the
homo Of Mrs. Charles F Clark No. S3l Madison
ave. for the benefit of the Ophthamic Hospital,
succeeded in convincing every within the sound
Of her voice that this stod exterior was only
mask behind which lay refinement OF soul and
intellect unsurpassed by any Western nation II
is Dr. Yamei Kin's seIf-appointed task interpret
the East to the West. and she is herself a living
Interpretation, her personality being the best
ommendation she offer for the to which
she belongs and which she loves.
DR.. Yamei Kin gowned yesterday in Chinese
robes Of white. with wide black borders and beauti-
ful embroidery. In her hair were a couple of
chids. and round her throat wide gold necklace
with blue stones. Her subject was Chinese Novels.
Plays and Folklore" and she spoke English II
II were her mother tongue. only with a purity of
accent that few Anglo-Saxons attain TO.
The lighter class Of Chinese literature" DR..
Kin said as treated with contempt by our Swans;
but it is this that shows life-the exquisite
fancies, the quaint conceits. the love of beauty
which lies at the bottom Of every Chinese heart in
spite OF apparent stodity. This stolidity is only
outward mask, which in many has
been assumed protection in an uncongenial
environment.
This literature, though despised by the learned.
IS read by every one-by the openly and by
the men surrcptitousy. 1t goes back in the form
Of folklore and poetry, 10 the earliest days OF our
history, and running through 1t all you will find
one Of the dominating characteristics Of the Chi
mind. l the love of nature. Every one
In China loves nature. A Chinese gentleman always
looks forward, his highest ambition. to retire
ment into the country. 4 Chinese peasant. bound
beneath load which might be expected to leave
room for any higher thought will STOP If he
comes suddenly upon q beautiful prospect. and say
to any who happens to be passing. rs not that
beautiful? One OF early poets. Tai Chin, who
lived in the second century has been noted ever
since lover OF chrysanthemums. He used to
work in his front garden while his wife worked
ut the back. and all the country used TO come and
their chrysanthemum shows. Tai Chin, for
time. held a high official position. but he did
think it worth while to bend the hinges of his back
to such stupid set OF superiors for five pecks OF
rice day. So he retired into the country to raise
Chrysan themums.
Nothing has surprised me moro in this country
than your indifference to nature. I IN New
Hampshire one autumn. when the leaves were
turning. Nowhere else in the world. perhaps,
could one have seen such a sight such a wonderland
display OF color such mosaics of light and shade.
the neishhorhood found them Indifferent it all.
And marveAed that people could live with 50 much
beauty spread out before them and toe oblivious TO
But there are other points It seems. in which
the Chinese resemble this and other nations. They
even have henpecked husbands IN China
Il dare say you think said DR. Kin, from the
way the law is laid down To- them. that all chi
wives dOce and amahle and obedient;
but they not. We q story about three
henpecked husbands, who met in secluded spot
on the outskirts Of the village 10 discuss their
troubles. a bad boy thought il would be fun 10
play practical joke on them, so he broke on their
deliberations with the dreadful that the three
venerable sisters-in-iaw-they call married women
sisters-in-law in China-were coming down tho
street. each with a hroomstiCk. Two OF the men
and. finding they had been deceived. returned 10
find their companion sitting undisturbcd In his
place As he had always been as umid as any OF
them, they could not understand, ana resolved 10
ask the secret Of his courage. u was speedily re-
veaed, FOR when they spoke TO him lie ala not an
swor. He had died Of fright
There IS also n Chinese Mother Goose. the lect-
urer said. They do not call Il Mother Goose but
the rhymes are very similar. one OF them has been
translated into English. as follows:
Patty cake. patty cake. little Girl fair.
There's a priest IN the temple without any hair
You take a stone and I'l take a brick.
And Wei hit the priest 81 tie back u TIE neck
The Chinese novel, OF which the lecturer had con-
siderable say. differs from the European IN many
ways. consplcUously in the matter OF length.
''Our most popular novel said Or. Kin. is IN
tTenty-four volumes, with I'D chapters Of thirty
personages figure in ~, and II includes almost
every incident that could happen TO human beings.
the author IS unknown. All our novels not as
long this. but none have fewer than three or
in all literature. there Is a large element OF
the supernatural. The hero and heroine are super
natural beings who have assumed mortal form. Tho
heroine IS very intellectual and the hero, who does
like q pelluci pool rejecting the teaching OF tho
masters: but n mans mind IS mud. Men are mere
Jumps Of uniformed clay
DR. Yamei Kin IS a graduate OF Cornell Univer-
sity and has practised medicine very successfully
in China She is IN America NJ the present time
Tor the purpose OF recovering from the euects OF
overwork.