Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-02-02
INTERESTING TALK
ON China

ON China
Mrs Hoy, a returned missionary
from China, addressed large congreg-
alton at Shiloh Reformed church
Sunday morning MIS-. Hoy is the wife
of the Rev William Hoy, both of
whom have been engaged in foreign
mission fields for nearly twenty years
For fifteen years they were stationed
in Japan, but in 1903 they were trans
ferred by the mission of the Reformed
church to Yochow. Hanan. China,
where they have since been lsboring.
Recently Mrs. Hoy returned to
America with her children for the pur
pose of having them educated in this
country. They are now at schools in
Lancaster city, and the mother expects
Saturday Mr.. Hoy sailed from China
for the United States to visit his fam
lily and native country.
Mrs. Hoy gave an interesting and
instructive talk. She was dressed in
Chinese costume, and exhibited and
explained large number of curios she
had brought home with her She spoke
first of the social customs and manner
of the Chinese, describing their od0i
ties and peculiar characteristics, and
then referred at length to her own ex-
perience among that people, showing
how souls were saved for Jesus and the
great need of more missionaries in
that field. While showing All instru-
meut with which Chinese children's
feet are bound for the purpose of keep
ing them from growing, Mrs. Hoy re-
lated a touching story concerning that
cruelty. She had frequently heard
children screaming with agony when
their mothers and grandmothers were
tightening the instrument of torture
about their little feet. Their cries Of
distress were pitiful to hear, and the
speaker had often been panied wheE
compelled TO listen TO them while pass
ing along the streets. The foot bind
ers are drawn so tightly that nearly
| all the blood is kept from passing
| through the veins of the feet. What
little there is must be kept in circula-
ton, or the limbs of the child will de-
cay aud drop off at the knees. To keep
the circulation up the child Is com
PEELED to walk, and if on account OF
the pain and agouy it is enduring it re-
fuses to obey, the parents resort TO more
cruelty. They stick pins and other
sharp pointed things in the child's leg
and compel it to keep moving around
on its shackled feet.
The Chinese are very inquisitive aud
their superstition is beyond descrip-
tiou. Their method of greeting each
other is very peculiar. The women in
stead of shaking another persons hand,
Will clasp their own hands tight
| ly together and rub them up and down
! the left side of their waists several
times. The men clasp both hands in
front of them, shake their arms from
| side to side once or twice and then
raise them high above their heads. At
| ter that and without unclasping their
/ hands, they bow down until their heads
! almost come in contact with whatever
| they are standing on. The higher the
/ hands are raised and the lower the
/ bow, the more distinguished is the
person to when the greeting is being
! extended.
When q Chinese enters house oc-
cuaied by some foreigner, he going to
learn the name OF everything in it and
the use made of each article. He will
open the stove door, and ask how the
/ fire got there. He will open cupboaIds
/ and question the owner the name OF
everything in them. Not being in pos
/ session of ornaments of their own, they
take delight in inspecting those in the
! homes of the missionaries.
! Their superstition is without limit.
Among the ouIios Mrs. Hoy showed
was a stick about IS inches in length,
I one eud of which was covered with
/ long white hair. When China is visit
ed by a drought. a famine or contag-
1 ious disease the priests march through
/ the streets aud wave the stick in front
/ of them, for the purpose OF driving
away the evil spirits that has caused
! the trouble.