-
Articles/Ads
Article Untitled Article ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
In proof of the ill effects of the Chinese system relative to marriage , M . Hue gives some anecdotes , premising that it aggravates beyond expression the sufferings of the unfortunate matron of the Celestial Empire i—
" When she is no longer young , when she has no children , or none of the male sex , her husband takes a second wife , of whom she becomes in some measure the servant . The household is then the seat of continual war , full of jealousies , animosities , quarrels , and not unfrequently of battles . When they are alone they have at least the liberty of weeping in secret over the cureless sorrows of their destiny . The state of perpetual humiliation and wretchedness to which the
women of China are reduced does sometimes drive them to frightful extremities ; and the judicial annals are full of the most tragical events arising front this cause . The number of women who hang themselves , or commit suicide in various ways , is very considerable . When this catastrophe occurs in a family , the husband shows usually a great deal of emotion , for , in fact , he has suffered a considerable loss , and will he under the necessity of buying another wife .
"In some cases , pecuniary interest is the only motive capable of restraining within some limits the harshness of the Chinese towards their wives . When they do treat them with gentleness and moderation , it is usually on a principle of economy , as you might spare a beast of burden because it costs you money , and because , if you killed it , you would have to replace it . This hideous calculation is by no means a mere supposition of ours . In a large village to the north of Pekin , we were once witnesses of a violent quarrel between a husband and wife .
After having for a long time abused each other in the most furious manner , and even hurled at each other some tolerably inoffensive projectiles , their anger still increasing , they began to break everything in the house . Several of the neighbours tried in vain to restrain them ; and at length the husband , seizing a great paving-stone from the court yard , rushed furiously into the kitchen , where the wife was expending her wrath upon the crockery , and strewing the floor with the ruins . When the husband rushed in with the paving-stone , everybody hurried
forward to prevent a calamity that seemed imminent—there was no time—but the fellow dashed his paving-stone , not against his wife , fortunately , but against his great cast-iron kettle , which he stove in with the blow . The wife could not out-do this piece of extravagance , and so the quarrel ceased . A man who was standing by then said , laughing , to the husband : ' You are a fool , my elder
brother ; why didn ' nt you break your wife ' s head with the stone instead of your kettle ? Then you would have had peace in your house . ' ' I thought of that , ' replied the kind husband , coolly ; ' but it would have been foolish . I can get my kettle mended for two hundred sapecks , and it would have cost me a great deal more to buy another wife . ' "
Married Women . The Story of a Nun . The Warhawk . T . C . Newby . Wei beck-street . —The last of these novels is a tale of the sea , by F . Claudius Armstrong , Esq . ; the second by Mrs . A . Crawford ; the first by the author of " Broomhill . " As to the last , we remark all the free and bold manner of writing which reminds us much of Gleig , and we regret that the author has not given his eagle a bolder flight , for which he has all the power , into a regular historical novel
The writer does not lack concentration of events whereby to produce thrilling interest , and his heroine ' s character is admirably drawn . It is a novel altogether framed after a peculiar model , and we have little doubt that the author will reach a high position of public esteem , founding , as he does , his graphic points upon the combined excellences of Cooper and Marryatt . The " Story of a Nun" is sure not to lack interest , for whattol . i . 2 II
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
In proof of the ill effects of the Chinese system relative to marriage , M . Hue gives some anecdotes , premising that it aggravates beyond expression the sufferings of the unfortunate matron of the Celestial Empire i—
" When she is no longer young , when she has no children , or none of the male sex , her husband takes a second wife , of whom she becomes in some measure the servant . The household is then the seat of continual war , full of jealousies , animosities , quarrels , and not unfrequently of battles . When they are alone they have at least the liberty of weeping in secret over the cureless sorrows of their destiny . The state of perpetual humiliation and wretchedness to which the
women of China are reduced does sometimes drive them to frightful extremities ; and the judicial annals are full of the most tragical events arising front this cause . The number of women who hang themselves , or commit suicide in various ways , is very considerable . When this catastrophe occurs in a family , the husband shows usually a great deal of emotion , for , in fact , he has suffered a considerable loss , and will he under the necessity of buying another wife .
"In some cases , pecuniary interest is the only motive capable of restraining within some limits the harshness of the Chinese towards their wives . When they do treat them with gentleness and moderation , it is usually on a principle of economy , as you might spare a beast of burden because it costs you money , and because , if you killed it , you would have to replace it . This hideous calculation is by no means a mere supposition of ours . In a large village to the north of Pekin , we were once witnesses of a violent quarrel between a husband and wife .
After having for a long time abused each other in the most furious manner , and even hurled at each other some tolerably inoffensive projectiles , their anger still increasing , they began to break everything in the house . Several of the neighbours tried in vain to restrain them ; and at length the husband , seizing a great paving-stone from the court yard , rushed furiously into the kitchen , where the wife was expending her wrath upon the crockery , and strewing the floor with the ruins . When the husband rushed in with the paving-stone , everybody hurried
forward to prevent a calamity that seemed imminent—there was no time—but the fellow dashed his paving-stone , not against his wife , fortunately , but against his great cast-iron kettle , which he stove in with the blow . The wife could not out-do this piece of extravagance , and so the quarrel ceased . A man who was standing by then said , laughing , to the husband : ' You are a fool , my elder
brother ; why didn ' nt you break your wife ' s head with the stone instead of your kettle ? Then you would have had peace in your house . ' ' I thought of that , ' replied the kind husband , coolly ; ' but it would have been foolish . I can get my kettle mended for two hundred sapecks , and it would have cost me a great deal more to buy another wife . ' "
Married Women . The Story of a Nun . The Warhawk . T . C . Newby . Wei beck-street . —The last of these novels is a tale of the sea , by F . Claudius Armstrong , Esq . ; the second by Mrs . A . Crawford ; the first by the author of " Broomhill . " As to the last , we remark all the free and bold manner of writing which reminds us much of Gleig , and we regret that the author has not given his eagle a bolder flight , for which he has all the power , into a regular historical novel
The writer does not lack concentration of events whereby to produce thrilling interest , and his heroine ' s character is admirably drawn . It is a novel altogether framed after a peculiar model , and we have little doubt that the author will reach a high position of public esteem , founding , as he does , his graphic points upon the combined excellences of Cooper and Marryatt . The " Story of a Nun" is sure not to lack interest , for whattol . i . 2 II