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Traits of Chinese Character.
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tions, and are also without the fear of the only true God, and have no accountability to him in all their actions, we are by no means astonished that there is so much vice amongst them. In our own lands, there is a sense of honor, a dread of sinning against the rules of society, and above all the acknowledgment of the holy Gospel as a safe guide of conduct, together with the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit upon the heart-all of which prove a curb to the wicked, and in many instances hinder the outbreak of unbridled passions. In China such restraints are not known or very partially felt. Whatever does not attract the attention of government, may be and is committed without remorse or compromise of character, In judging therefore
of this character, we must take into consideration the circumstances under which it is formed-this will help us to have more patience with the people, and it ought also to have a tendency to make us grateful for the privileges we enjoy as Christians.
If we glance at the female part of the community, we shall find somewhat in their character worthy of commendation. A woman spends most of her time at home, and if she belongs to the poorer class, there is the loom upon which she labors, or the needle which she plies; besides her more usual domestic duties. Ladies of wealth often spend a part of their time in embroidering and other fancy work. In their love of apparel, Chinese ladies are not a whit behind their sisters in the west; those of the poorest rank generally dress better and more decently than the men, and a right honorable lady's robes are magnificent in the extreme. There is no infringement of decency in their costume, for the garments encase the whole person, like a tortoise's shell; even the small feet are completely hid, for it would be a violation of female propriety to make a parade of this crite. rion of beauty. The majority of the sex, having received little or no education, have of course few resources of mental amusement; and those whose means elevate them above the necessity of manual labor, spend much of their time in a kind of busy idleness or a listless toy- ing, far beneath the great end of their being. Many of them no doubt educate their children as well as they can, but girls are not expected to know much, and the boys are at a very early age with. drawn from their sway. Unceasing toil fills up the life of females
in the lower walks of life.
As soon as they have arrived at womanhood, and usually long before, they are engaged in marriage, and as they cannot form alli. ances for themselves, this task devolves upon go-betweens, who are generally old women. Wherever there is an advantageous suitor, the