Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 31.djvu/648

630 If the child is a daughter she is intrusted, when she has become of suitable age, to the care of a discreet and virtuous woman, who attends to her education in the house, under the eye of the mother. The education and instruction of the daughters are considered of prime importance. It is the first condition of the prosperity of the family, who can not possess a more precious treasure than a competent woman, respected by all, orderly ruling her house, bringing her children up in virtue, and wisely directing a numerous personal establishment. The instruction of girls includes the rules of deportment and politeness, reading, writing, and arithmetic; music and literature; weaving and needle-work; the culinary art, and all the various matters which it is important to know in the management of the house. So, when we notice that the heads of the family are elegantly clothed, that the table is well served, and that order and good taste prevail in all the details of domestic life, we at once discern the presence and the judicious activity of a well-trained and accomplished daughter.

The boys are also brought up in the family; but they are taught in the public schools, where they attend during the day only. It is usually judged best to seek instructors for both sons and daughters outside of the family. The parents consider themselves disqualified for the exact discharge of the teacher's work by the strength of their affection, and too likely to err in the direction of over-indulgence, or in the opposite one of undue strictness.

A more circumstantial account of the celebration of the New Year's festival, referred to above by M. d'Estrey, is given by another French writer, M. Gouin, in the "Bulletin de la Société de la Geographic." In honor of the anniversary, the Government offices and more important business establishments and enterprises are closed or suspended from the fifth day preceding to the fifth day afterward; but the poor need take a vacation of only twenty-four hours. All is silent and still in the town, except for the firing of shooting-crackers and the going about of the people dressed in their best and carrying presents, on their visits of ceremony. On the eve of the festival a green bamboo is planted in the court-yard by way of invitation to the ancestors and deceased relatives to come and partake of the repast which has been prepared for them. A flag-staff is set up at the front door, adorned with palm-leaves, feathers, etc., to which a lantern is hung at night. Within the house the disposition of the furniture has been entirely changed, and everything is given a holiday look. Bows and arrows are chalked on the ground at the entrance to keep bad spirits away, and sometimes the door is further obstructed by abattis of thorn-plants. A little square niche on one side of the wall without is reserved as an altar in honor of the genius of the quarter, on which offerings of burning torches, incense, flowers, meats, and gilded papers are made, with the firing of crackers by the bunch. The ancestors may be attending the feasts at any time. During the last three days