Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-08-01
Facts, FddS and FanCieS
Up TO the Minute

y
dress in part IL reproduced IN inc
Dallas News as follows:
The mental or literary history OF
this populous empire, with the status
or condition OF its women, Is re-
markable one. This wonderful coun-
try is at present, just as well as
two thousand years ago, one OF the
least known civilized countries on the
face of the earth. Chinese customs
are so divergent from ours, and trav-
cers biases and judgments are so
conflicting concerning the institutions
of the Heavenly Empire or the
"Flowerly Kingdom" that we must
receive them with extreme caution.
] wish that you could see those Chi
nose women and children, as | have
seen them for two thousand years, in
historical vision.
But that history has shown for 80
many centuries the tenacity with
which the Chinese people-lke the
Jews--have clung to their customs,
traditions and peculiar habits.
The Chinese are unquestionably the
oldest nation on earth Their history
dates back many centuries before the
Christian era. AS we look back
through all the ages, as we study the
various races of mankind. we find no
race of people more wonderful, yet
more peculiar; no race more highly
civilized, yet none which has dwelt
longer in seclusion and darkness;
none more learned or richer in old
traditions and classic lore, yet none
whose masses are so stepped in ignor-
anCe and superstition; none whose
people honor knowledge and learning
more, yet none who resisted longer
progress and international relations.
Our thoughts are now upon Asia
that largest of the earths five great
continents-where the Chinese dwell.
Where Ancestors Are Gods.
When it comes to learning knowl-
edge and the literati, China is one or
the places where those things are su-
preme and where the learned and
lettered Classs are superior to all
other classes. They have the upper
hand in the legislative tribunals and
the administration of the empire is
placed in the control of the Academy
of Sciences of Pekin. This academy
has a membership Of over two hun
dred and thirty, recruited by them
selves from the most eminent schol-
ars and famous literati, and Chinese
women are not excluded from its roll
several have been members. Now,
these members are granted small
money allowances, and each has the
Use of a house and garden. Then
again, what do you know about that
phase of women occupying exalted
places in the Academy of Sciences In
the Celestial Empire, where they
have a hand in ruling the people and
even the monarch? Are they or not
ahead of us in such potential mat
ters? In China we perceive that the
doctrine Of mental ariStocracy is car
ried to its legitimate results. For the
more advanced a man or woman Is in
learning there, the greater is the pros
pect OF attaining to dignity and power
and influence. The masses even wor
ship the men and women who have
become great in learning. and such
ancestors as those who possessed great
knowledge are set up as their gods.
Customs are Interesting.
When it comes to the children,
have often thought that baby was
the wisest looking person on earth.
But when I've discovered little Chi
nese tots gazing at me, looking at me
from head to foot, as If reading my
inncrmost thoughts with their wise
looks, ! have long since learned that
the Mongolians are as wise as the
CauCasans.
There is nothing small about the
Chinese WOmen-eXcept their rect.
And ut the present time in nearly all
parts of that ancient kingdom, the
women and Chinese girls of all sizes
are fast acquiring the habit of buying
as much shoe leather as their sisters
living in civilized countries, where
women and children allow their feet.
as well as their minds, to grow and
expand in all the ways God Intended
they should.
Another thing, when it comes to
beauty. no country has monopoly on
that article. For during these two
thousand years and more OF ChlneSe
~, 4 4. II
dom has produced many celebrated
flowers i'm the shape of beautiful
women Have you ever seen beau
tiful Chinese woman We are told
that some are described only in poets
dreams, where visions of loveliness
are depicted in a way TO charm all
humanity. Travellers and historians
tell us that some of their pretty
women and children have been among
the worlds celebrated beauties.
1t is indeed interesting TO study the
customs of these peculiar people, for
we find they are almost invariably
lust the reverse of our own. For in
stance. the children are supposed to
be very dgnifed, while the older
heads of the family practice the friv-
Olities Of life. If a child goes wrong
!n China the parents are punished and
not the child. The boys are treated
are early ,aught to worship their an
Ccsturs but the girls, who have no
ancestors to worship, are considered
"a useless burden from their very birth.
They are reared for strangers, so
their parents say, and must worship
at a strangers shrine. At an early
age the daughter is married to a man
she has never seen. and goes weeping
into the home of mother-in-law,
whom she breads and who. with few
exceptions. prove hard taskmasters
indeed. forcing her to spend her life
in dudgery for a husband who doth
pot love her. and children who are
not taught to bestow upon the mother
that tender love and reverence so pro-
fusely showered upon those in our
Christian America.
Sad Lives of Women.
The life of the majority of the
women of China is pathetic and sad.
There are few, however. who have
been able to hold their own. even with
the mon of China. and who have filled
places of great prominence. There are
three who became rulers Of China and
whose names will live as long as
China exists. The first was Empress
Lu Hon Of the Han dynasty. who was
empress about the beginning of the
Christian era. The second. WI Tzu