New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-04
CHINESE INSULTS.
They are Somc7tkaf Subtle, Not to
lSaU .SHLg.

THE Chinaman especially he Of the higher and
official class. has enveIoped himself in subtle ana
elaborate mesh of custom and etiquette. III WnicH
il Is his delight entEap the ignorant and UUwaTy
foreign devil" SAYS The King" And the stranG-
est thing about this Chinese propensity is that it is
by means necessary, in Chinese eyes Tor the OBJ
Iect of insult to be aware of his position II IS
enough for them that he Is degraded henceforta
in their eyes. and in those of all who capable
of approaching the fact that he has been sub
jected to this species OF moral degradation
1T will he apparent therefore. how extremely
important 1t is that Minister who = intrusted
with the interests and prestige of his country i'm
China should he thoroughly conversant with this
insIdious danger and vigianty on his guard
against all attempts to degrade his Office and
weaken mis- influence in the Far East
1.-The very puerility Of these Chinese insults tends
to increase their danger For. unless European is
sufficiently versed in their hidden Significance to re-
sent them Immediately. his loss OF face and caste
ia as great though ne had knowingly and tame
" submitted to them. He IS henceforth a subject
for scarcely yelled contempt and derision- and a
recognized target for Celestial fOOnE and levity.
ION the other hand. nothing ConfOUnds a China
man quite as much as when the object OF his in
sidous attempt suddenly displays acquaintance
with the actual significance of the attitude adopted
toward him. He becomes hOpelessly disconnected
and his respect is proportionately great his
contempt would have been had he succeeded IN
escaping detection
The following story will AFFORD excellent idea
of the Chinamau's inveterate insolence toward for
eigners through the medium OF his elaborate sys-
tenn OF etiquette I was calling on some English
friends in Shanghai few years ago They had not
long arrived from home. and comparatively
new to the country and its pecuiarities. Among
the subjects of interest they had discov-
cred in their novel surroundings they displayed
for my inspection Chinese visiting card which
had been left upon them by high class Chinaman
a day or two before. It was of red paper about
four five inches long by three in breadth. and
printed with large Chinese characters
My friends expressed some pleasure at Its pos
session. and noticed that It occupied a prominent
place in their collection Moreover, from their &C
count, their visitor had seemed very amiable and
genial gentleman.
IT somewhat startled my friends as picked up
their treasure by remarkng: Tho brute! Did he
have the insolence TO leave this on you? Anyway
don't leave it about where it be seen
" Why what is the matter with tt?' they queried
Now. my friend occupied official position
under government, which lent an additional
Importance to the matter; so fastened to explain
that their visitors interesting red card with its
imposing proportions was pleasant little attempt
TO mark his contemptuous sense Of their infinite
that he was much bigger man than my official
well, don't care what the fool thinks oh
" But in China you must, explained II you
accept that Chinaman's insolent estimation of you
you will have lost caste forever in your future deal
ings with him, and every one. Cinnamon and pos
sibly foreign rivals as wen. who aware OF your
of prestige. will not hesitate to attempt 10 take
advantage of you. But at the same time you have
a splendid chance Of asserting yourself at once.
and OF establishing yourself at the outset in
position OF corresponding superiority and advan-
tagel, IT. =. A.. -, ,u.-,,,r.. ..v.
cept by refusing to return the beggars calIF
No l said; YOU must do that 1t is part OF
your opportunity, and a. as he realizes that,
contrary to his expectation, You understand his
etiquette and have through mis- action ne Will
be thoroughly disconnected and crawl TO You IN
future. You need do no more than simply leave
upon him your card, good deal bigger IN
size than the he left upon YOU. and with your
own name printed in larger characters than his.
That WIFI finish him completely and absurd as II
seems. little things are often big things In china
and you will place yourself IN a better position to
do good service TO your country's interests than
you could otherwise EXPECT"