GRANNIE’S PARADISE

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 2

GRANNIE’S PARADISE

[Written by M. S. Primmer, for ths -‘Evening Star.’] We hear so much about bringing! grey hairs with sorrow tp the grava that it is distinctly pleasing to knout of at least one country where old ago? is a joy to be dwelt upon throughout youth and vigour. Go to the Celestial Country, grow fatter and fatter, any so gain the admiration of your leaser kin. Nor fear the increasing slenderness of your hair, for a littlcjr paint applied to the cranium will cjbver a multitude of spaces, and the (Compensations of old ago are indeed ainple. Why, just realise what it- will mean' to have, at long last, a real birthday party, such a triumph for sixty' years old} though I fear me that nowadays the ultra-moderns are hestowirng that honour on fifty years! But, all joking apart, in China old age, especially in the person of Grannie; is honoured to the point of veneration. In her small, delicate: hands lie the destiny of her daughters-in-law. of her sons, "and of all her ultimate descend-* ants. Curious this, too, when otw, realises the indifference _ with whieW girls are welcomed at birth, and inf fact until they in turn become of sons to carry on the, family name; It is, after all, but a just reward fort the many years of semi-servitude they endure till they become mothers-in-law. Then life opens anew, _ 'with! glorious possibilities. Even the joy of spanking is denied the parents,- ' thix being the prerogative pf grandmamma. During my stay in Peking it was my good fortune to be on sucliexcellent? terms with one of my pupils that I was often invited to the house—no light honour I can tell you in this most conservative of countries. The venerable “ancestress” would appear, for a few minutes, clad in the ordinary blue cotton of the poorer classes, or, having attained dignity in other directions, she no longer felt the need b| embroidered silken garments; and besides, being a widow, was she not compelled to eschew all outward garnishings, even to powder and paint ?, All of us would stand while she spoke a few words of greeting to the foreigner,, then, as she moved away,' I was- invited to sit, and so allow, the family to do likewise. Unfortunately the first time I waited for my hostess to take a chair, and on each’ request from her to sit, would most politely return the compliment, with the result that at the end of hair an hour we were both exhausted. 1 sinned more, but truly etiquette is a trial to the flesh! ; : " Xhe younger generation addresses the mighty one through its parents, and often in the third person, though .as a matter of fact, grandmothers here, as in other parts of the world, spoil youngsters and things are not as bad as they sound. , ■ , ■ Rarely is she allowed to •be alone, in case she needs some little attention, and especially is this the case at night. The favourite grandchild may then be chosen to keep watch ■ while the old lady sleeps* and we\may be certain that the reward is ample. •• And when, at last, grannie m called to join her forbears, all the family joins to do honour to her memory.' Each vear will see the' renewal or their grief, and the ’ tiniest will be told of her great qualities. ‘ Thus, even in China, woman, having no vote or other external aid, has forced her way to the top of the • tree.