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

a. WPuQluSS VI 1T tic we" ASo'
time or on other holidays.
II is remarkable how much these
people can stow away in the smallest
space and yet not give the appearance
of things being crowded. This knack
OF filling up space always seemed to
me as q special gift-an inheritance
from a. long line of ancestral training;
else Il could never have been so per.
fectly developed as is seen In China.
In addition 10 the numbers IN the
family We are talking of, there may
be seen dogs, cats, and perhaps fam
lily hen or two, walking about In the
same room as unconcernedly as the
others. Among the very low, pig
or two In the house Is not an urcom-
mon sight hut in our visit today the
members OF the swine family are in
box or kept in hole just outside
There may also be a few birds in
cages banging about to cheer the fami.
ly with their sweet music.
These homes are anything but neat
and comeiy, but you will be made well
come when you call. although perhaps
the chair upon which YOU are to sit
must be wiped off before yon dare
occupy H.
There will be excuses for the untidi-
ness. the woman perhaps saying that
they are too poor to keep, clean. But
you are there either to see now the
other half lives or else to carry some
message OF teaching them how 10 bet
ter their conditions or perhaps 10
bring cheer to some forlorn heart, so
Go not see 10 much. or notice the I'M
savory odors that float in from every
direction,
Before going to China had sup
posed that it was only the rich and
well-iodo families who had their
daughters feet cramred. but soon
found that the custom was very gen.
eral throughout all Of central China.
In the country as we'll as in cities, this
horrid custom was carried out with
nearly all the women.
In the province OF Canton. however,
this has never been as general among
ne poor as in other parts. hence this
Is why you here see only an occasional
woman with bound feet. Nearly all
the Chinese here are from the prov
ince o. CantonD Farther north the
custom is almost universal.
For thousands Of years The Chinese
have valued education more than any,
thing else. Every little hamlet and
village all over that great empire has
had its schools where thei" literature
has been taught to hoys whose par
cn,s have been unable 10 employe
private teachers In the house. The
system is not governmental. bur
schools are subscribed for from pri-
vate funds. Very often this provision
for schools for those unable 10 pay Tor
an education has been from purely
philanthropic motives. In other cases
1t has been kept UP by men OF means
from a religious standpoint, thinking
that by 50 doing they may gain merit
in the next stage OF existense. AT any
rate the sons Of the poor as well az
Of the rich have had more or less OF
a chance to gain an education.
The prime idea OF study with the
Chinese is TO make as many OF the
five senses as possible cid In forming
the impression of the name and writ
ten character upon the mind Of the
child. The understanding is matter
rf later period and will develop OF
itself at the proper time. The eyes
see the proportions and outline OF
the character. the mouth or voice IL
used in repeating its name. and the
ear hears the voice and so adds its
quota in the brain impression. These
characters when first taught TO chill
dren are always written upon small
squares OF paper and are felt and
handled continually while a study, so
that the brain is aided BY seeing. voc-
ing, hearing and feeling all thus help
ing the mind 10 receive Its gift OF ma
terial which it will hold till the intel
!ect is ready TO make use Of il.
The little fellow mag rot Tor years
10 come know the meaning of single
character he learns to repeat with per-
feet accuracy. but what he has learn.
81 can never be effaced from his mem.
orv. Il is his possession as long as
life lasts. In after years. when, he
begins to read books, and his faculties
Seyelop these same characters will
largely explain themselves BY their
context and the minds OF these chill
iren will open and expand In q mar.
, velcms WalreS.