57
From the oldest to the youngest, she must study their whim and fancy. For the slightest thing that goes wrong, the Mui Tsai gets more than her portion of thrashing. In a word, the owner of the Mui Tsai is generally a much-pampered woman, who looks oo upon the girl as a butt to work off her private spite and irri- table mood. The more intense the domestic disharmony, the wilder the fury is likely to be that is vented on the Mui Tsai.
The children in the Chinese family do not have to bear up against such a lot of bullying and humbug as the Mui Tsai. Even if the Chinese children receive frequent beating from their parents, more likely than not there is someone at hand ready to intercede on their behalf. In the case of the Mui Tsai no one ever dares intervene. On the contrary, the thrashing of Mui Tsai is usually taken as such a matter of course that most of the Chinese family can remain quite callous to any form of cruel treatment meted out to the girl.
It is true that there are some mistresses who may treat their Mui Tsai almost as kindly and wisely as their own children But experience in general, points to the fact that these cases are few and far between. Such is the sad plight of the Mui Tsal
Still more evidence can be adduced to show that the circumstances under which the Mui Tsai lives is most trying. If there be one view of the Mui Tsai question which stimulates the Anti-Mui Tsai Society to harder work in the cause than another it is the suffering inflicted on them through certain nasty herei habits and superstitious outlook prevailing in the Chinese family. Even the trivial thing like sweeping the floor or making a pot of tea has some superstition attached. It is unlucky, for in - stance, for the Mui Tsai to sweep from the back of the house out- ward towards the front door. The proper way is to sweep a few times at the door first before collecting all the dirt into the dustbin. The other method of sweeping, according to the dictates of superstition, amounts to driving all the precious wealth and good fortune from the family and household.
Should the Mui Tsai fail to observe this mere trifle, and accidentally point the broom at any member of the family, it would invite misfortune. In making tea it is a bad omen to point at anybody with the bottom of the hot water boiler. Kettle Imagine a Mui Tsai of 9 or 11 years of age is expected to bear in mind these trivial superstitious beliefs, or there will be more birching for her.
Closely connected with the hardship which the Mui Tsai have to suffer on account of superstitious beliefs in the Chinese family is the question of how most of these girls are hard driven in their work day in and day out.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.