A QUEER PEOPLE | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 3, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 22.

A QUEER PEOPLE.

"THE Chinese," says the New York Times, "do everything backward. Their compass points to the south instead of the north. The men wear skirts and the women trousers; while the men wear their hair long, the women coil theirs in a knot. The dressmakers are men; the women carry burdens. The spoken language is not written, and the written language is not spoken. Books are read backward, and any notes are inserted at the top. White is used for mourning, and the bridesmaids wear black; instead of being maidens, these functionaries are old women. The Chinese surname comes first, and they shake their own hands instead of the hands of one whom they greet. Vessels are launched sideways, and horses are mounted from the off side. They commence their dinner with dessert and end up with soup and fish."