The New York herald., 1922-06-25

ceased building at the foundation and
are now occupied with the decora-
tons of life.
".
Their scheme of daily living Is
based on the firm beliefrthat the nor
NAL mode of human existence 10
family life. To this end it must be
preserved at any cost Life cannot
develop in discord. If the amenities
are worth anything at all they are
worth preserving constantly and at
whatever personal sacrifice.
The children ed shel,-red, happy
existence. with servants and young
relatives to amuse them irjoors or
without as the weather permitted.
They were literally supplied by their
indulgent grandmother with pocket
money In the form of handfuls of
coppers instead of the strings OF
cash that sufficed an earlier genera
ton. From passing vendors they
bought bows and arrows If brightly
painted bamboo. whistling birds and
theatrical figures of colored earthen-
ware. inflated rubber toys and an
endless variety of rice flour cakes,
sesame seed CONNECTIONS. peanut taffy
and millet candy On festai days the
choice was wider than ever. with
fluffy punches of sugar wool (fine
spun sirup) and brittle candy toys
blown from molten taffy with all
the glassblower's art. in the form OF
lanterns, birds and fish, mounted on
slender sticks. At certain seasons
there were huge fish made of bamboo
frames. paper covered and realistic
ally painted, which swan y. a breeze
fashioned to represent birds and
dragons. which winged upward in
fascinating flight
There was a limited foreign settle
ment in this same city ard several
of the American and British women
came to call on me. Some of them
were frankly curious to know how
I had come through the "ordeal by
family" as one of them expressed
it, though of course they were very
tactful.
Mother was much interested in
these visitors, many of whom-if able
to speak Chinese presented to her.
When they left she would cften ask
questions as to their nationality
their husbands occupation, the num-
Der of their children. AS for that
question, most of them confessed to
one child or, occasionally 1--WE. But
l shall never forget the call Of a
strikingIy handsome. auburn haired
woman and the conversation that
followed her departure. In reply to
the usual inquiry. 1 said. No chill
dren at all. But she has five dogs
and has just bought in Shanghai
two more. which are coming down on
the next steamer"
NO children at all, and five
seven dogs" said Mother in tones of
horror. And hen we burst ou,
laughing. But quickly she sobered.
Foreign women do not care for chill
dren." she said.
81 do" protested. II like many
children"
''You," said my mother with
smile, "are a Chinese wife"
But happily my next caller was
sweet faced American woman, the
proud mother Of six. two of whom
she brought with her So our ma
tional reputation was saved
In a household where only my
eldest son and l spoke English my
lingual struggles were Unexpectedly
mild. Chan-King had left me a list
of everyday phrases. and my ear
grew very keen in my constant ef-
forts to understand the rapid speech
going on around me all day long.
In a very short while I could under
stand virtually everything said
to me.
My own sense of fitness prompted
me always to present myself at the
door of my mothers apartment be-
fore 1 left the house to explain to
her the nature of my errand and to
| ASK for her approval Accepting the
little formality for the courtesy it
was. she never once demurred. She
i ~