Woman's Life in China

Southland Times, Issue 15076, 23 October 1901, Page 4

Woman's Life in China

♦The Chinese recognise, 1 says a writer in the Lady's Magaztne, 'no other sphere for woman than marriage; bo to this end a girl's life from her earliest yeara is oongeorated. Hence the true reaaon of foot-binding. Do , you ask why auch tortures are endured? 'No footee bind, do husband getee,' comeß the answer, without doubt or hesitation. No sacrifice is considered too great to secure the all-important husband. In China yon oan generally pick out the "unappropriated blessings'" by the knot of hair they wear on the side of the head and the looks on either ohetk. 'When a lady becomes engaged these are pianed up by the "hairpin of women," aa a Chinese writer calls it). The method Chine B 9 ladies have of doing the back hair is often very elaborate, as will be notioed in the coiffures of a Foo-Obow or a Hinghua woman. 'In England marriages are "made in Heaven," in China at the marriage agent's. The Celestial Adonn, when he would a-woo-ing go, is, above all thiDgß, business-like. He wonld look at yoa in amazement did you suggest that he should was^e long hours in breathing soft nothings acd s'ghlDg words of love into rapturous ear*. 61 r Kruger's inability to comprehend that anyone could really believe the world to be r >und would be as nothing to the astoni/bed way the Chinee Edwin would inquire why on earth he shonld not go to a or go-be-tween, to do the things for him, 'Doubtless, aisi, the girl would be pleased to make the acquaintance of her fature lord and master; but this must not be even thought of. For is io not the etrioteßb etiquette that ahe must not talk to men— even hf r own relatives ? Gf |conrae, in low life this rule cannot be altogether carried out, but in the "upper circles" of the Flowery Land seclusion after betroth&t is strictly enforced. • "Woman," aays the Chinese adage, • is a subject to three conditions in life : At brr father's house ahe is subject to fcer parents, on marriage she submits to her husband, and m widowhood she is under the guidance of her eons." - 'Const quently, wb^n the wedding guests have departed, little-footed, lemon-hued Angelica begins to realise tbat ehe ia not only expected to obey her pig-tailed Edwin in all things., but her mother in law as wellEven his sister 8 take rank before her. She is the household drudge.'