MISS CHINA SHINGLES HER LOCKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 8 June 1927, Page 7

MISS CHINA SHINGLES HER LOCKS

•SHE'S THE BRIGHTEST SPOT ON THE LANDSCAPE"

A graphic description of the modern Chinese girl and young woman is given by Professor W. E. Soothill, the famous Professor of .Chinese at Oxford University in an article'on "Changed Aspects of China," in the "Contemporary Review." "She is the brightest spot on the landscape," he says, "and the most promising asset in the national life . . . Twenty years ago almost'the only girls with any education and with natural feet were the product of certain mission schools. Then nearly half the population of tho country, some two hundred millions of. women and girls, had crippled feet. "The effect on carriage, happiuess and character is only made evident, now that a new race, absolutely a new ra<:e of women, is being evolved. It is still in tho freshness of its girlhood and young womanhood, but to those who are qualified to' make comparison it is marvellous. Tho day will dawn when the women of China will appreciate the wonderful gift of freedom the West has brought to the East.

BOOT-SHOP SIGN "If a sign be sought of progress in China, perhaps the most felicitous is the signboard of tho woman's' boot store; 20 yoar's ago,it was non-existent, now it is found in every city. Then, every woman made her "three-inch golden lilies" to cover what remained, of ner maimed feet: To-day the boot stovo supplies her with beautifully made slides in bewildering.variety to wear over her flesh-coloured silk stockings. "As to her raven locks, instead of being plastered back tightly from her brow, they now flow freely, what ■? left of them, in bobbed or shingled fa?r>icn, like those of her 'Western sisters, co rapid, 'indeed, is: the spread of fashion that through China and at every station in .Manchuria and Siberia we never lost sight of shingled - hair e_nd suk Blockings. , .■ ' . , "If I am to look with admirmg anxiety on the portentous changes occurring all too rapidly in the East, let nje select with the profoundestadmiration, not uncoupled with anxiety, the Chinese Woman's Boot Store. There goes the foot that may yet rock the cradla of half the world,"