THRIFTY HABITS OF THE CHINESE.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 54, 3 February 1843, Page 3

THRIFTY HABITS OF THE CHINESE.

1. An Habitual Readiness to Labour. —A Chinaman never scorns any kind of drudgery, but sets about- it cheerfully, even for a small recompense. He feels no scruple as to the honorable or dishonorable character of his occupation, but casting a keen eye towards the wages stipulated, zealously applies himself to the toil. There are diversities in talent and experience which necessarily lead to diversities of employment; and there is so wide a scope for freedom of choice, that the endowments of an individual are proportioned to the requirements of his work. A general distribution of labor furnishes every man with something to do, though his time may not constantly be filled up. The chances of finding the means of subsistence are many, which yields an exhilarating thought, and keeps the unemployed with a stock of hope upon their hands, even when the rice store basket is empty, credit low, and charity cold. It is understood as a point of practice, that the labourer gains as much as he can for his employer, ar. d, reciprocally, that the master cheapens his services to the lowest amount for which they can be obtained. It is not, so far as I could really ascertain, a disreputable thing for a man to receive small wages; and thus, when out of work, he is willing to close with the highest bidder, however small may be the offer. A readiness to toil patiently for a small compensation, and to buy and sell with small returns, is a title for the best chapter in the history of domestic prosperity. 2. Frugality in the use of Worldly Goods. — The Chinese proceed upon the admirable prin-. ciple involved in the common adage, “ Waste, not, want not.” Nothing is thrown away, but the meanest things are laid up in a careful and orderly manner. Confused piles, or a room strewn with a variety of ill-assorted articles, are things seldom, or never' seen in China; everything has its place, and bears the mark of good usage. Neatness in arrangement is one of the most remarkable features in the native character, and contributes very much to the? preservation of many things, and to the fiugal use of all.

3. Skill competent to enable the People to turn all advantages to the best account. —A youthlearns betimes to dress every article of food within the compass of a poor man’s dietary, in a manner calculated to secure high relish and economy at the same time. He is learned in the management of his clothes, and can, by dyeing, washing, or otherwise repairing the injuries or wastes of time, often make an old garment assume the freshness of a new one. The facility with which he adapts his dress to the nature of his work is admirable, and contributes greatly to its preservation. 4. An exact conception of money's worth. — We, Englishmen, waste more money in trifling sums than would serve to render the Chinesemen men of wealth. Little sums, with too many of us, are of no consequence, and we throw them away like so much dross; In China, the divisions of monetary value are so numerous, that the smallest sum is applicable to some purpose of ordinary purchase. A penny of our money is divisible into more than twenty pieces, each of which has a recognised value in the market. Everything is cheap which a poor man requires for the supply of his wants, and thus his money goes a great way. This makes him set great store by it, and prompts him to be chary in spending the smallest sum. Little boys and girls, when sent to a shop, will never lay down their money till they have contested the matter with the shopman, and gained the last mite they can extort in return for their money.