Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-11

" and center, OF the He Oh CiNh'"
W Population being so mp;L'
greater there than in any 3-'.-
er country, it follows that the averags
home must occupy very limited anaT.
tiers. But the natives OF China maze
learned to make a real abiding place
in the smallest possible space. so taat
a single room with mad floor ana
sometimes a low attic overhead, where
the children sleep, forms the extent
of great numbers of homes among the
respectable people OF that country
In any small village or hamlet IL
central China you will find the one
or two streets lined on either sloe
with long rows of one-storied bulia-
ines. with roofs Of thatch or tiles.
There may be a half dozen houses
under one long roof, but partitions eX'
tending the whole width OF the build
ing separate them from one anotner'
China is full of villages. az the farm
ers group their dwellings close toseth-
er for safety square hole hallway
.up the front wall. covered with lisht
paper or else transparent oyster Shells
answers Of window. This. with 1oe
front door. which usually stands open
in pleasant weather. admits the EgHt
and air into the abode. The mousse
itself is very poorly constructed, as
It is made Of a single layer OF auops
bricks piled up on their thin edges
and plastered over or the OUTSIDE.
There are very few really subalan-
tiai buildings in the whole OF China
except an occasional temple. But such
are the homes where are born ana
reared large families Of children ana
where parents and grandparents i've
from one generation TO another. Fer
hars the ancestors of the grandfather
have lived in this very spot for nun
dreds of years. The house may nave
been torn down and rebuilt many
times. but the sacredness OF home has
never been removed from it. 1t IS
very likely. too, that some OF these
small, one or two roomed abodes have
been the birthplaceS Of some OF the
renowned men OF China. 1t is gust
here that class distinction. for which
China is noted. makes break and
does not recognize caste.
There may be low lean-io at the
back OF this dwelling. and in IL .Iotl
will sec piles of sticks. dried leaves
and bundles Of cotton stalks. TINS
is the fuel stored up for the winter
months aud is Sufcicn, 70 furnish IRE
for all The cooking in that large fam
lily. Fuel Is scarce in China and
every possible material that cannot
be used for anything else is utilized
for it. You will learn on this visit
that OF all people on the face o. the
earth the Chinese take the prize for
real practical economy. The stove
is made Of a few fire bricks SO ar
ranged with hole in the TOP that 9.
large copper pan can De placed direct
" over the fuel. aad very close 10 il
so that not any oil the heat is lost,
and the stew, or rice. Is almost in:
s.an.Iv simmering. and before Won ars
aware the meal is ready !or the table.
Al the table each ones place is nos
marked by knives. forks. plates.
spoons, and so forth. but there is only
a pair of chop-sticks and small por.
colain spoon for each member OF the
family \ large dish OF stcaming stew,
in which there are plenty OF pieces OF
pork and different kinds OF vegetables,
is place in the middle Oh each OF the
SQUARE tables. for there are usually
several Of these, according TO the
number OF the household. Perhaps
some dried fish is also there. ana be-
fore the meal is finished each person
is supplied with a heaping bowl OF
stsaming rice. This is held close 10
the mouth and is literally pushed INTO
il with the chopsticks. All eat WITH
the regularity OF ciockwork except
now and then hand is reached out
10 take a spoonful of the stew or a
nihble at the dried fish 10 make the
rice go down better
In "a corner of the room the visitor
will see pile of pigskin.covered boxes
or trunks. which perhaps reach near
ly to the ceiling. In these boxes are
most carefully folded and packed
away all the best clothing as we'll "a
the treasures and helrlooms OF tins
family.
It is in these boxes that all the wed.
ding outfit of the bride is kept. All
the jewels, and whatever Of worth or
EeacrE the family Possesses are found
t-~s: thess th.n.s ere c2ls e-o-gh: