The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-09-21

chairs to the wrong grOoms.
This was not discovered until the
ceremonies had been performed, and
it o considerable money to buy the
officials to unite the knots and bring
the right couples together.
$500 for Playing the Banjo.
For a certain time after weddings
were resumed it was prohibited to use
music in connection with them, and
during the period of deco mourning
all noisy festivity was punished. A
high chinese scholar of Picking who
played the banjo was fined $500 and
given twenty-five lashes.
In the city of Wuchang a Greek had
been granted the right TO open a bio
graph show for a month. He mad just
begun to exhibit his motion pictures
when the imperial deaths occurred. The
officials said the show must close. and
the Greek demanded damages. He was
paid $3.50 in lieu of his loss.
In his same town of Wuchang,
which lies Just opposite HankoW, the
police We're given scissors the day the
mourning began and were instructed
to cut from the caps of the mon every
red button they saw; they were order
ed also to cut into pieces any red
clothing that might be worn. An OFF,
cial of this same region shaved his
scalp contrary to law. He was at once
put into a cangue that is. a heavy
eCoA Aoh' i'oA 4tt \ "ttc
fitted around his neck SO hat it hung
upO his shoulders, extending 50 far
out that he could not touch his head
with his hand. After that the police
srneared his scalp. with pitch and
turned him loose IN the streets.
The Sad Colors Are White and Blue.
In our ountry black is the color for
mourning. Among the Chinese the
deepest grief is represented by white,
and h"alf-mourning by blue. Red and
gold are the embleTns of rejoicing. The
day after the death of the emperor an
edict was sent out that the red buttons
must be taken off of the caps Of all
men and boys and that white or blu
buttons should take their places. Dur
ing my stay in Mukden l had an Off
clal acting as ny Interpreter. He had
been wearing a bright yellow satin
gown with a black cap OF which was a
red button. On the day of the en-
peror's death he appeared in blue but
tons and q black cotton gown. At the
same time the officials there came out
in white sackcloth. and many in gowns
of white sheepskin, with the wool on
the outside. The police put white
bands OF their sleeves, and all college
students dressed likewise.
Shortly thereafter an edict was sent
forth that for three years no furs ex-
cept the white sh~eepskins could be
worn by the officials. This seriously
affected the FUR market. SabIcS and
other costly furs going down like a
shot. Today most furs are a drug on
the market, and some Of the mer-
chants have been ruined by the en-
peror's death. am acquainted with
an American who bought a sable robe
worth $4,000 for 1920. He got a tiger
skin for $50 and fox skins for almost
nothing. Nearly all the officials have
winter costumes of silk and satin lined
with choice furs. They are buying
none now. and the only furs in de-
mand are lambskins and sheepSkins.
The mourning period has also at,
fected the traders in silks and satins
The official h dared come out III
gay clothing during the period OF
deepest grief, lost his office. and the
police punished all such. Four OF The
government officers who wore gold
watches at the time were arrested anC
fined. All Of the gentry. in addition
to not shaving their heads. braided
blue and white cords into theiI
queues, and most of the government
<Toon,,01 on Ioon En1Irfoan