Filial Love and Affection.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5203, 9 February 1892, Page 2

Filial Love and Affection.

In the matter of filial love mid alloction, and of the duty incumbent, upon every man of supporting his parent" in old age, there is (says an English paiior) no comparison possible between oursclvc* and those upon whom wo look down from a pinnacle of superior wisdom and virtue, the nations of China. Filial duty it. in the eyes of Chinamen, the first of diitiw and even the State gives it preference over all others. Tho overworked ollicinl may in vain solicit leave of absence from his post upon the plea of illness or "I urgent private aflairs ; but tho request for permission to relinquish his duties f«r a time in order to pay a visit to an »|{i" parent is never refused. Mow crimiiml according to Chinese notions, is failuru in duty to parents, may bo seen by a report in a native paper of a case »' which a magistrato of Foo-chow convicted a son of unfilial conduct and condemned him to 200 blows with a hen*')' bamboo, and afterwards to bo placed in* wooden cage, on exhibition, in front •» the oflicial court. Hero ho will roiimi" to tho end of his days, unless tho mother comes forward to beg for a remission "f the punishment. How vast would be tl |f number of heavy bamboos required, '" ,w prodigious the number of wooden ca»e*i were a want of love and respect f" r parents punished in this country as m China, and were all tho sons who abuse their aged mothers, all who, tlieiiiHi'lvt'" earning fair wages, leave their parent* to end their days in a workhouse without making an effort to aid them, fir*' soundly flogged, and then imprisoni" > until begged off by those they have treated or neglected.