The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-29
clA]T7AN EOEE

doors begins to enter in. First of all
there must be the great front door, or
gate, in the Villas encompassing wall.
All household establishments in China
are practically forts, and there Is only
one main entrance. Next comes the main
door of the house proper, which almost
invariably leads into vestibule opening
upon a court There must be an ex-
elusive room for old John. There must
be an exclusive room for his first wife.
The oldest son is entitled to the same
privilege. In these three instances the
exclusive rooms open onto the court and
lead back into suites. Each succeeding
son must have an exclusive room, and
may not tap at his fathers door, though
always free to seek his mother. The
younger brother. half or full, may al
ways approach the door of the Oldest son.
The great court is the common meeting
place for ALL The plural wives and nee
essary house servants go to render the
1O5 doors desirable. But, whether or not
the size of his family calls for 1t, when
John Chinaman starts to build a model
domestic establishment he doesn't con-
slider it complete without the given num-
Der of doors. Whether he acquires the
means to build as a merchant or scholar
1t Is all the same. Scholarship and the
passing of examinations take the place
of politics practiced in America;
merely civil service as set forth by nom
elective dynasty.
His Pleasures.
Old John Chinaman has no stated bust
ness hours He works when there Is
work to do. If he is a farmer or man of
the soil he gets his crop in, cultivates 1t
assidiously to its fullest extent and then
takes his rest while the crop natures Of
course, there are odd jobs and chores to
do. and regular days to go to market and
other things to- engage him, but on the
whole he aims to take things easy as soon
as the green of the rice begins to turn
If he is a merchant he opens IN store
as soon as he thinks there should be Dusl-
ness doing and closes when he thinks IL
time II he Is a man of affairs he makes
and receives calls by appointment only
In Hong Kong this method of transactng
business is called the "chit book system
Whenever the rice begins to turn, or
trade grows impromising, or tn chit
hook is clear of appointments, then II Is
John Chinaman goes after pleasure His
greatest pleasure seems to lie in CONVERSE
ton with his fellows, and, considering
the paucity of newspapers and the mea-
gerness of means for communicating at
a distance. he is wonderfully well aware
at all times of all that is going on around
him that promises loss or gain. Every
man in China is a walking newspaper.
If he is a laborer his pleasures are few.
He cannot afford to lay of, and he Is too
tired after work to do much other than
Sleep II ne 10 Iarnel' uuA4us
leisure time he builds his. boy lite,
or goes to see friend, or plays checkers,
or Just naturally loafs around. He never
goes to the big city for pleasure HIS
pleasure lies In talking and smoking with
friends In the cool of the mountain side,
or in a picnic at the graves Of his an
cestors.
II he is a merchant his pleasure Is to
adjourn to the club or club gardens,
where he meets congenial fellow-mer-
chants, and they all go for trip to some
point Of mutual interest favorite form