New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-17
TIE CHINESE WOMAN AT HOME.


secluded slave. who whiles away the tedious
A0urs at an embroidery frame. where with her
needle she works those delicate and intricate
pieces OF embroidery for which she is famous
throughout the world Ia reality "A Chinese
lady has little time 10 give To embroidery. Her
ne Is full OF the most eNacting social duties.
Few American ladies in the Nhirl of society
IN Washington or New York have more social
functions 10 attend or duties 10 perform I
have often been present in the evening when.
the head eunuCh brought to the ruling lady or
the .,orne tand the head of the home in China
Is the woman not the mani an ebony tablet on
which was written in red ink the list of social
functions The ladies were TO attend the follow
ing day.
She would select from the list such as she and
her unmarried daughter could attend-the
daughter always going with her mother and
no. "lth her Slsters-ln- laW-and then she would
ElpoTuon the other engagements TO her daugh-
teTs-ln-!aw, who would attend them in her stead.
The Chinese LADY in Picking sleeps upon a
BRICK bed, one half Of the room being built up
g foot and a half above the floor with fiues
running through it: and in The winter a Ere is
built under the bed that, instead of having
one hot brick in her bed, she has hundred.
Sle rises about - She has a large num-
Der OF women servants. a few slave girls.
cno Il she belongs 10 the family OF prince she
has several eunuchs. these latter 70 do the
heavy work about the household. Each servant
las heT own special duties and resents being
asked 10 perform those of another. When my
lazy 6Wakes a servant brings her 2 cup of
hot Tea and a cake made of wheat or rice
-four. After eating this slave girl presents
her with a tiny pipe With long stem. from
which she takes few Whiffs. TWO servants
a very hot water, towels soaps and prepara-
lions Of honey TO be used on her face and hands
while they are stn warm and moist from the
hatllIg After the bath they remove the things
end disappear, and two other women take their
places, with tray on which are combs. brushes,
hair pomades and the framework and aces
series needed for combing her hair. Then begins
q long and tedious operation that may continue
for two hours Finally the hair is ready for
tie ornaments Jewels and flowers which are
brought by another servant. a large tray.
Tie mistress selects the ones she wishes plac-
a. Iii --r~H
It is now after II O'Clock and her breakfast
is ready TO be served IN another room. Word
that the leading lady Of the household IS about
70 appear is sent TO the other apartments.
for an daughters datlallters-in-iaw and grand
children must be ready TO receive her in the
outer room when she appears leaning or the
arms Of two eunuchs If she IS a princess, or on
two stout serving women II a Chinese.
According - her rank each one in turn takes
step toward her and gives low courtesy in
which the left knee touches the floor Even
the children go through this same formalty.
All are gayly dressed. with hair bedecked and
faces painted like her own. She inclines her
head but slightly These are the members Of
Der household whom she has sway-her
little realm While her mother-in-law lived she
Vas under the same rigorous rule.
In China where there are so many women in
the home. il is necessary IN have head-one
who without dispute rules with autocratic SWAY
This is the mother-in-law. When she dies the
frst wife takes her place as head of the family.
unless she be weak and there is some other
may he the favO-ite Of the husband. He may
give her fine apartments TO live in. many SER
wants 10 wait on her. and every luxury he can
afford: but There ms mower enos. Inc nfst "lIe
IS bead IF the household. is legally mother Of
ar the children born To any or all or the con-
crlbines her husband Possesses The children
az call her mother. and the inferior wives rec
oEnize her their mistress She and her
faugf7ters and daug7ters-in-law attend social
functions receive friends extend hospitality;
hrt the cOucuhines have'no place in this, unless
- her rer77,issior> when the time comes for
TIarc iE no
Who does n although she NAV be childless her
sclf-Isaac Taylor Headland. in Putnam's
THE NAvY's FINGER FRINT RECORDS.
The use Of the system Cof finger Prints was was
Introduced in the United states navy IN I9ot'
lat not for criminal purposes IL Is mere en-
TIcyed not primarily 10 catch oeSerlefs' Dut 10
detect and prevent their Te-enllstfnent IN,
sllres the Searneu Of the navy that the standard
shall not be lowered, and that they shall hoI
10 called on TO associate with those who have
Tho navy wants reliable men for its vessels,
snd IL gets them The men who man ITS YES
Ees are the finest IN the world, principally oe-
ravse IL pays them better. feeds them better,
treats them better otherwise and offers greater
chance OF advancement than any other naval
service, and also exercises more care IN thGH
keiection 81 about 5000 applicants for the
fsesl year l9O7-'OS $4,000 were rejected After
sppontmenL Of those accepted some 1000 de-
olned leaving $1,000 men 10 enter the service.
IN 1908 the Bureau OF Navigation, charged
with the enlistment OF me crews OF our naval
vessels recorded the finger prints OF $1,000
mon zyf+b ,,frtuaIlv the equipment that
David Wilson used for recording the finger
prints Of RoXv's child and her charge The
equipment used consists Of piece Of glass. a
bottle Of printers ink and a roller 70 spread the
in-. on the glass. which is used over and over
by transferring the ink from the glass 10 card
records by rolling on the linked glass the finger
and thumb Of each hand and rolling them again
on these card records The finger is rolled 10
obtain what is technically known as an eN-
handed record After the expanded record Is
obtained, what IS known Hat impression
IS taken as a check 10 prevent error This fiat
IMPRESSION is imprinted at the prescribed place
az TIE bottom Of the card for comparison with
Che expanded records on another part Of the
sheet
10 great amount OF skill is required to take
tie IMPRESSIONS. but an examination Of few
cards viii INSPIRE respect for the experts who
have 10 classify and identify what appears 10
he Uninltated a bewider1ng mass % cobwebs.
The time Of two experts. one a woman is gwen
= us work If care has been exercised IN
,akhg the impression the card can be ldenllhed
~ one minutes time, but poor impressions may
IKE as long as five minutes. These eXperts
can tell with pOsiiive assurance whether a man
applying for enlistment either has enlisted or
mas been the naVy's lists since the system
was started for, since the institution OF me
tyelem, records have been taken OF all men on
t NC lists. IL does not matter what man says
- name Is or what bis real name may De. he
llsg have dozen aliases but he has only one
SO 10 The navy, and that is the name ne sald
a. ms at the time Of enlistment. His name
lie sven al that time and his signature go on
niger print card. This viii be his name |
.teg as far the navy is concerned
'@ Brewer, IA The Century.
~ eCRVIVOR OF THE INDIAN MIJTINY /