Milford chronicle., 1932-04-22
9TH GRADE GROUP
GETS FIRST HAND
INF0R NATION
ABOUT CHINA
Mrs. Humes Tells OF Trip
To Orient.

Mrs. Derrickson's geograph class
has recently been studying about
China. In order to interest the class
and have them learn more about this
land they, with several members of
the faculty, had the great pleasure
of hearing Mrs. Humes tell about
her trip there and the outstanding
Impressions that she had. The facts
came from the diary which she kept.
The Chinese seem to be a very SUI
perstitiOus set of people. One of the
chief things which proves this is
that their boats or 'junks" have eyes
painted on them. They believe that
it is necessary for the boats to have
eyes so that they may see where
they are going. 1t seems foolish, of
course, but il is one of the queer
things that the Chinese firmly be-
lieVe.
The greater part of their popula-
tiOn is in poverty 1t is possible to
buy one of their babies for n hun
dred dollars because they need mon
ey badly and the population is so
great that few people more or less
makes very little difference to them.
The poorest people of all live in lit
tie huts on the water. In many cases
the inhabitants of these huts never
leave them and so never touch land.
Boats come to these huts to sell
supplies. If they can afford TO, they
buy the food and even scrape up
what is spilled, but many live en-
tirely on what the water has to of
fer as food. Nothing is wasted.
Street in Shanghai
must be a source of wonder. There
are always the cars to get passeng-
ers. Beggars and peddlers jump on
to the running board and the streets
are crowded. Along the sides are the
shops with their numerous signs.
Some of the shops have no fronts.
These are just small places but
there is an important modern de-
partment store called the Wing On
Building" Along the way are the
native street vendors with steaming
hot food who will serve food in the
street and move along To another
place.
The cemeteries are on hills and
are very peculiar. The grave is Il
kind of casket that is built above the
ground instead of being below the
ground and out of sight.
Rice fields are almost necessary
for rice is the chief food of the Chi
nese. The irrigation is the unusual
part. Since the pumps are operated
by men, we would think that they
used their hands for it but they do
not. They operate them with their
feet
These people are very ceremoni- |
Gus and formal especially in intro |
ductions. The two people who know
each other bow stiffly three times. |
After the Introduction is over. the
two who are introduced bow three |
times. Then all three people bow |
again the same number of times.
They have one custom that would |
seem particularly odd to us. This
special custom referred to is what |
they do with their money. Instead of
banking it or making investments
they save until they have enough to
buy jewels These they have insert
ed in the flesh Often one OF them
is placed above the nose between
The eye brOws.
The wooden shoes are odd. They
are not shaped at all like ours. Each
pair has a different tone and when
a crowd walks together there is a
sound that resembles an odd tune.
Purple and brown are the real
Malay cOlors although red is often
worn when combined with Il con
trasting color. Wide striped mate
rial is either wrapped around the
body or Slipped on over the head to
form a skirt for a Chinese woman.
On the side it is twisted tightly in a
sort of knot These are considered
quite fashionable.
The Chinese are unusually skillful
in the art of blending colors. They
make their own dyes, and plan and
mark out original intricate designs.
The silks are of exceptionally good
luality while the cOlors and pat
erns are really beautiful.
Mrs. Humes told many things that
would take much time ana space TO
relate. She made her talk very in
eresting and clear with illustra-
ions and pictures. After she had fin
shed and questions were being ask
ed of her, one pupil inquired what =
lad impressed her most during all
If her travels. Probably anyone
would expect to hear about some
hing lovely or exciting but Mrs.
Iumes surprised us by saying it
vas the courtesy that was shown to :
hem and any strangers that i'm ]
,ressed her so greatly. Always they Z
we're treated royalty and with great J.
aspect.
Certainly everyone enjoyed the !,
pleasant hour and a half spent in
listening TO the customs of the peo- !
lie of China and are very glad 10 d,
ave heard Mrs Humes talk.