MODERN CHINA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1330, 6 January 1912, Page 10

MODERN CHINA.

Tho discipline and organisation witH which the Chinese rebels have taken tho fieltl against the Manchus have brought homo very clearly to tlio Western nations that China is waking up, and that in. spite of the national indolence a change nearly as startling as that which has transformed Japan within a quartor of a century is. taking place, . .. . The conflict between Oriental and Western cultures in China is the subject of a book by Mr. E. A. Itoss, '•The Changing Chinese," which is particularly interesting at the present time.A country may bo judged by the condition of its women; it _ has been written. ; The following glimpses show tlio Chinese women in an uucomfortablo stage of evolution:— Tlio Educated Daughter. • "Tlio little daughter of a fanner, was betrothed to the son of a chair coolie, Sho showed talent, studied, rose in tho schools, was helped through college, took' a mcdioal course, and became, a successful physician. Nevertheless, when tho time came she was obliged by inexorable custom to bow-to tho arrangement made for her in infancy, and ruin her life by marrying a dolt, too worthless to hold even a chair-bearer's job. ... "Some years ago nine Cantonese maidens drowned themselves , together one : night in tho Pearl River rather than accept tile lot of the wife. In throe dis-. tricts in central Knangtimg, where a girl can always get work at silk-winding, thousands of girls have formed themselves into anti-matrimonial associations, the members of which refuse to live with the husband tnoro than the customary throe days. "Then they take advantage of tlwir legal right to visit mother and never return save 011 certain days or after a Win of years. If the parents attempt to re-. store the runaway bride to lior lun-b-ind • she drowns herself br takes opium* so parents and magistrates have find to let. the girls have their, way. Hy pi^sonl'iig. herself in her hnslsmd's home mi certain festival days tho bride keeps her wilelj status."