Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/10

2 —The relations between the father and son are very strict, as between the king and the subject. If the son enters the room where the father is sitting, he must meekly stand with hands together until invited by his father to be seated; in sitting, he must lean forward in a humble attitude; he can not rise again without permission. He sweeps his father's room, makes his bed, and rises early to perform these menial services; he often gets up at midnight in solicitude for his parent's comfort. Filial love prompts these attentions, for fear the servants may grumble and complain and thus bring disquiet to the parent. In summer the son fans his father and attends minutely to every want; this same attention and respect are shown to his father's friends. Seasonal changes of clothing are not made until the parent's consent is given. It is considered exceedingly improper to cough, sneeze, eructate, or spit before old men. Boyhood continues until the fifteenth year, or until marriage; up to this time the hair hangs behind in a long queue; when manhood is assumed the hair is tied in a knot on top of the head. All the possessions of the children, as well as their earnings, belong to the father, and no matter how much the son may have the father can claim it all. If, however, the son lives in a separate house, he has the use of his earnings as well as his wife's dower; but if the father has no money, he may sell his son's house over his head and take all. Old men will not allow their sons to drink intoxicating liquors. From all that I could learn, the son is in abject enslavement to his father. After the death of the father the property goes to the oldest son. Brothers are very devoted to one another, and aid in supporting the less fortunate among them.

The daughters have a much easier time; they do nothing but eat and dress; they jest with their father and brothers, scold them, and act with great familiarity; indeed, all my inquiries about their behavior brought out the fact that they act like spoiled children.

Virtue is rarely lost among the more favored classes. Male and female servants do not sit down together or work in the same apartment. The wife is absolute mistress of the female servants. The apartments of the female servants are under a separate roof, and male servants never enter these apartments, though their duty is to clean the yard and garden belonging to the female servants. Servants are inherited by successors in the family; they are bought and sold. Loyal servants work and support their masters when they become poor. Masters can and do free their servants.

—The higher classes employ private teachers. Children at the age of five or six begin the study of Chinese characters; they are provided with books for composition. Five