The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-04
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!. THE CHINESE WOMAN OF q.
: TODAY. Z.
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Ithaca, y. Y. Feb. I'll have great
hopes for the future Of the Chinese
girls says Miss Pingsa Hu. Wellesley.
'lS; they have a past, glorious, though
dim, back of them and future full Of
rich prospects before them. They are
fine girls. 1t is my pride To have beer
born and brought up among them. 1t
is my privilege To work with and for
them.
The educational aim for the Chi
neSe. girl of yesterday was To prepare
! fn:.tler wifehood and motherhood. She
was IaHgAt .;tU. SeaS. to embroider, &,
cock To- keep tp,ilse. 10 ms1ase. sei.v
FantSr and ~alAntbase arts u1,dt.deyicrs
: neeessary.at0 Il sseeesstulv nj tress. In
I regard to scientific knowledge she
could NOT. compete with American
girls who are students of domestic
economy, but she had much common
sense. As the home was her school
and her mother was her teacher, she
usually knew how To take care of chill
dren.
The girl of yesterday in a respect
able family studied biographies Of ia
nous women, maxims of conduct and
some poetry. She did not learn to
write essays because her career did
not demand them, but she was expect
ed to write letters for family purposes.
II at the same time she could COM
pose some verses on New Year cards.
or for birthday greetings, she was con-
sidered an accomplished lady If She
could paint and play some musical
instrument, her fame usually went far
and wide all over the part Of the
country where >she lived So. strictly
speaking, the old instruction in read
ing and writing was To give the girl
moral basis for wifehood and mother
hood, and enable her To correspond
with her parents when she left home
after marriage, or with her husband or
son when they were away from home. !
Any success i'm literature art or music |
was considered merely an accomplish |
ment, not "a necessary equipment for |
wifehood and motherhood.
Aside from her moral and mental |
cultivation, and her practical training |
in household management and in |
bringing up children, the girl of yes
terday was taught social manners. She |
was expected to be gentle, modest and !
charming. She could laugh. but not
loudly. She moved about quietly. She
talked low and seldom. a sharp tongue
was considered n very unfortunate
thing for a woman to have. 4 sharp
tongue. combined with hot temper.
was horrible; she could drive her hus-
band crazy!
The home was her social world. She
was expected to look pretty, with her
feet bound. and ears decorated with
rings; but to exchange a glance with a
man, or even To look at him, was con-
sidered ill-breeding Only on such oc-
casions as New Years Day or wedding
she could see the world and
he seen.
There you have picture of the
Chinese woman of yesterday. We rev.
erence her for her practical knowl-
edge in house affairs, her social grace,
her moral character, her spirit of self
sacrifice, her power and ability
The Chinese girl of today is, how Z
ever. of different type. The old idea ;
of perfect woman, who must be a
good wife and mother. does not have ,
the same force on her as on the woman ]
of yesterday. 1t is simply Il reaction. I
She wants To Ice independent, to learn a 4
profession. To he u teacher. a secretary ,
a clerk i'm the store; better still. a law
yer statesman, Noble ambition She
Is seizng every opportunity to express :
herself. To he Independent, To earn the
pennies To support herself, is the pride s
Of her life.
You may think she is regular 3
but remember that she - &
also the daughter or grand daughter of &
he woman of yesterday. She cannot
help inheriting that spirit of self-sa"-
'ifice, that wholesome character. that (.
sheer will and power and ability to do Z
good which has glorifed the latter. !,
% a certain degree. She cannot change I.
ler nature. strip off her bold pre- s,
ensions, you will find her still wom- I,
IN. with all her loveliness. In her 3