The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-14
Runlnaged

auered by the Tartars, about two and a half centuries ago, when their heads were shaved, with the exception of one spot, from which the queue was grown, as d badge of servitude. Now, 1t Is a badge of patriotism, not of religion as is commonly supposed. When a China man cuts off his queue he denationalizes himself Thus, the first important affair in Chinese babes life Is to shave it's head. This is done when it is about one month old. If boy, the hair is per- mftted to grow on the top of the head in an oval area about the size of peach
 until he is 10 years of age. This is con sidered as an omen of good luck and also protects the tender skull From this tonlsnot the queue sprouts. If girl. a patch of hair is allowed to grow on both sides of the head until she is 16 years of age. The little girls bonnet is worn on one side of the head. and is a small affair, yet there is room for the display of taste in its makeup and fineness of materials.
 The feet of little girls are not ''cramp- ed' in our local Chinatown as in China. A woman with such small feet cannot work, and the men want their wives to be useful as well as ornamental. In China only very rich men can afford this lux ury. A diminutive foot is not a badge of aristocracy or nobility, as Is common ly believed, and as is told to visitors to Chinatown. Some rich parents band age the feet of the girls and thus pre- vent their growth an indication that they are of wealthy parents, and above work. Some dwarf the feet of their daughters to prevent them from being sold into slavery, as this units them for work. The poor cannot afford to do this. as the women sell at 5000 or 5000 as household drudges. This cruel mutilation begins when the girl Is years old and when finished the feet are so deformed that she cannot walk unaided. There is one woman-in Chinatown with such deer like feet, but she is neither oble nor aristocratic. She exhibits her stunted pe- destals to tourists and is socially ostra cized by the other women. The practice is now officially discouraged by the Chi nese government.
 Several women in Chinatown cultivate long finger nails-the nail on the fore fingers being three or four inches in length. They are the wives of mer- chants. these long nails indicating that they do nothing but sit with their hands folded. gossip, dream and look as pretty as they can.
 The Chinese have no Sabbath or regular day of worship They pray when the spirit moves them or when they desire favor from one of their numerous gods. usually consulting a clairyoyant as to the best day They observe our Sunday by closing their shops, and on this day they have their heads shaved. queues plsited and wear their best clothes. They have two temples. or joss houses" the priest in charge receiving his pay from the sale of paper prayers to Celestial sinners. and eurios to visitors. Priests also officiaie at marriages, births, funerals, etc. but do not receive salaries To do so would lower their sacred calling.
 There is little literary life in China town. They have no library or book stores, and the lecturer Is unknown. They read the compilations of Confucius, Chi- nese classics and history; and the women read fairy stories and fiction. Some of the merchants import books, newspapers and the Chinese calendar. This is a vol- ume containing a little of everything. useful and otherwise. This comprises the library of most of the houses. Their home and social life seems peculiar, strange and lifeless to our people. but they evidently find much enjoyment in it. Surrounding influences have not changed them. All peoples enjoy best that kind of life for which they were created.