VISITING IN CHINA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3052, 6 February 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

VISITING IN CHINA.

VisiTiMi is made :i most serious business in China, and every individual of respectability must have a servant to carry and present his cards. A Chinese card ia not a whito glazed little piece of pasteboard, but a hugo sheet of scarlet paper, with the namo inscribed in largo characters, tho more mammothlike the character the more respectable it is. Cards arc of several kind.". Theivs is tho plain card—a single sheet of scarlet paper—-with tho name written or stamped nearest tho right hand and topmost sides. This is employed on common occasions. Then there is the official card, mostly used by mandarins on visits of ceremony. This is also a single sheet, and it contains the namo. preceded by tho entire title written down the centre, from top to bottom. Then, again, there is tho full card, which ia only produced on very grand occasions, such as New Year visits of congratulation or condolence. The full card is folded and mint contain ten folds. It does not give titles, but simply contains the namo of the individual written in the right-hand and bottom corner of the first, prefixed by the words, " Your stupid younger brother," and followed by the words, ''bows his head aud pays his respects." Where tho person visited belongs to a generation senior to tho visitor, tho latter styles himself "Your stupid nephew." If" to two generations senior, the visitor writes, " Your more than stupid nephew." Should the individual visited belong to a younger generation, the visitor takes to himself tho name of " uncle " instead of "nephew," retaining, however, the depreciative appellation of "stupid." There ace still further varieties of self-abnega-tion, according to the particular gradation of relationship ; but those _wo have quotsd will suffice to give an idea to our lvaders of the rules peculiar to Chinese

visiting. Wβ may add that the uiinl laet described is, as a matter of etiquette, always understood to be returned to the visitor, it being , presu nedly expensive to leave such voluminous proofs of regard with a number of friends.