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Deum in the Ron Chamber
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yn from sheer envy, for wincin case of accusation, they were ready to pay a heavy mulet to escape punishment. But these schemes were never put into execution, and Panyu lived to laugh at her rivals. A spirit of contention and hatred had thus been kindled, and brawls in the house were frequent, which sometimes rose to blows, much to the scandai of the maid-servants.
From the description we have of the arrangements in the imperial narem, ☀ does by am meaus appear that the women are carefully watched, but that their relations have free access. One scene is very characteristic of the establishment. The first physician of his im- perial majesty was called to ascertam the various complaints of the dear inmates He was a man of considerable patience and skill, but The immense number of applicants quite overpowered him. Every our of them had to ask his advice; some he gravely told, there was nothing the matter with them; to others he gave a few pills, and was very glad at last to escape from them altogether.
On a certam spring day, they left their respective homes and re- paired to a garden to enjoy the fragrant flowers. It was here their spirits warmed, and vented themselves in curious poetical effusions apon the beauties of Flora. This is a favorite pastime of the higher classes of Chinese, and in all situations in life, they are fond of pour- ing out their hearts in high flown poetry, understood only by the initi- ated. Amongst their amusements, the voice of wisdom is occasion- ally heard from an old matron. There appeared a suitor for the hand of her accomplished daughter, who pretended to be a scholar, and had in fact read many books. The damne was not so soon taken with the proposal, but examined into the merits of the swain. lle had learning, but nothing else. She therefore turned towards the senolar, and said, "endeavor to practice what you have learned, for the benefit of the nation, and then you will be welcome to my house and home; so long however as you are a pedant, dare not to ask for the honor of becoming my son-in-law" and with this wholesome advice, the old woman dismissed him
Most of the discourses of the elderly people turn upon marriage, and the best means of settling their daughters in life. Instances are not wanting of girls choosing a partner for themselves, whom they had never seen before, declare their intention to their mothers, and then entreat them to send the matchmaker to the family of the swain elect. Sueli proceedings are by no means considered indelicate, and to make the story short, the two mistresses of the respective families a cup of tea and arrange the preliminaries
meet
There ap
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