The Washington herald., 1908-02-16
HOW CHINESE PAY VISITS
Social Call Begins by Telling Names
And Ages All Around.
Gentlemen, New Members of COM
muni1y, Always Take Initiative.
Wife Goes Next.

In our ordinary social life scquaint-
anceship commences through personal
introduction by friends or By letters Of
introduction; in official life almost always
in the latter way. With you a fresh
conner arriving IN your ueighborhood 70
dwell is called upon by the older resi-
dents if the newcomer be considered en-
titled To- that courtesy and you think
their friendship worta cultiyating. The
master Of the house and his Wife-noW
generally the wife onIy-leave cards upon
MT and Mrs Brown Jones. the newcom-
ers. and they. II they approve Of the
visitors, return the cali. says the Shanghai
Times.
This is not the custom with Us exactly.
With Us the newcomer makes the first
call on the old residents. The gentleman
calls alone, and after the acquaintance
ship has been formed the newly-arrived
lady viii send her maid with the message
that she proposes 10 cali on the neigh
boring lady. and the latter names the day
and hour az which she will receive her
visitor. Leaving cards with US. IS an act
OF courtesy which also occupies a very
prominent part in the daily routine Of q
gentleman's life, especially when be is
moving in official circles.
When the visitor is ushered into the
presence Of the visited the visitor bows
TO- his host Ur on more formal occasions
makes courtesy 70 him, Handshaking
not being the custom. is dispensed with.
The making If a courtesy Is called Ching
Ngan' I'm China. If any ore does that
70 you you must return 1t, although you
can return it I'm a more or less formal
way This having been done the host
viii sign 10 his visitor 10 the place of
honor which may be on the right or
left. according TO circumstances.
When both the visitors and the host
are seated the conversation is generally
1 opened. if meeting for the first time. by
asking each others surname, then theiI
other names, age district whence they
come and all sorts OF such meaningless:
/ generaIilies as you are accustomed tC
+ hear i1 high society. But il IS always
customary with Us Ia prefix the word
I honorable" g. E., instead Of saying as
( YOU do Whom have ! the pleasure OF
! addressing" we say. What is youI
/ honorable name?" other questions art
asked by us I'm tie same complimentary
strain. With you your custom is quite
different. as for YOU 10 ask the age OF
/ any Of your visitors would be considered
very rude. especially If meeting for ths
/ first time; but in China you may have
no misgivings as to shocking any one;
! tender susceptibilities by so doing
Our Official calls are principally bushes!
ones. and as soon as the business is ter
minated the host raises his teacup 10 hi:
/ lips. which cup is always there whether
wanted or not. for ia China there is n,
such custom as o'clock tea As soon a.
the visitor sees that, his attendant vii
cry out in a very loud voice, ''NgaI
/ Chiao'-that is. Get the sedan chair n
! READINGS =" or Tao Chuan''-that IS, "Pu
| the horse TO the carriage"-as the cas-,
may be When either Of these convey
ances Is ready. which is shown by the
return Of the servant and ny his collect
irg his masters appurtenances, such as
+ his smoking pipe. &C. he viii rise anC
/ give his host a deep bow. at the same
/ time folding his two hands. which bow
/ his host returns in a similar way.