A Piece of Old Cathay set Down in a New Land

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 19, 23 November 1934, Page 50

A Piece of Old Cathay set Down in a New Land

HERE is a. home in Brougham Avenue, Wellington, which has Chinese writing on the gatepost, twisted evergreen trees on the sloping lawns, and. masses of geraniums, beds of marigolds, gladioli and roses bordering the paths. On the pedestals of the front steps are bowls of Chinese water: lilies, which are lovingly tended by a fascinating little lady from Lotus Land. This charming person, who worships flowers, is. Madame Pao, wife of Mr. Chunhow H. Pao, who is Chinese Consul for New Zealand. Madame Pao is one of Wellington’s most popular and delightful hostesses, and is a much sought after: figure in social life.- Madame and her husband have not been in New Zealand very long. Previous to coming to this countty they. lived in Canada, New York, San Francisco and bourne. Both were born’in Shanghai, and they have one son, Johnson Pao, who is at Wellington College. Mr, Chunhow'H. Pao and Madame Pao are still trying to adapt themselves to the New Zealand climate. "Oh, these Wellington. winds!" said Mr. Pao smiling. "But we like Wellington," broke in Madame Pao, "It is so very compactjust like the rest of New Zealand-thére is a great variety’ in a ‘small-space. We find ‘the people very hospitable and.we are looking forward to visiting Christchurch very soon." Both Madame and her husband asked for details of the layout of Christchurch, and about the arrival by train through ‘the Lyttelton tunnel in the early morning after the steamer journey. . Madame received. her interviewer wearing an Baster: of. black satin. with a high-braided neck, and ‘she graciously lifted back an edge of the material and showeil the back, which was a model of neatness in silver, blue and pink, the threads which came through on to the face of the satin forming a bouquet design. Some of Madame’s most attractive cushions are worked in silver and blue, with patterns of the Summer Palace at Peiping, and all the vases in her sitting-room are Chinese. ‘This one is three hundred years old," said Madame, lifting a tall. blue and white patterned vase in. which arum lilies were poised. -Standing in the dim room on the soft carpet, holding this vase and the lilies against a background of Chinese drawings, including ‘an old portrait of Confucius. Madame cast a truly beautiful. Hastern picture. It was not at all surprising to learn from the lips of this fascinating little lady that she used to rear birds, mostly canaries. "No, nonot now," said’ Madame, lifting her soft white hands. "TI have so little: time for hobbies now. "Reading? I do not have much, time for that either, but I like poetry. Some poetry is very beautiful, I once knew a German who wrote down.the poetry that came to her in dreams. English? Oh, I learned. to speak that in -Shanghai. English is tanght in nearly all the. Chinese schools these days. Mandarin is now the official language. There dre 56 letters in the Chinese alphabet, and so naturally the Chinese: typewriters have a much:bigger keyboard than those used in the Western: world, where there are only 26 letters in the alphabet:’" When asked. to give: her viewpoint on the present conditions of the new women 6f China, Madame said that no foreigner could remain long in: China and doubt the- potentialities. of the Chinese woman. Her energy. practical: qualities and. courage have become self-evident during the past few years, ‘and possibilities have become realities. Independence is the new cry.. Just as it-is the ery of womankind elsewhere in the world; it. has been echoed and amplified, in, China. to-day.

"In China women are beginning to believe in. their -independence," said Madame, "In the past a woman’s place was the home, and the Chinese woman from time immemorial has been pictured as the radiance therein. Now, women are beginning to ask about life in general. Don’t we have a place in all this; and if we took our place could we not, perhaps, improve things? they cry. ‘ _‘The traditional woman. of China did not look directly at male strangers. I will tell you an ancient story: .1I-told if during an after-luncheon address which I gave recentt!y. A young Chinese woman, when rolling up her sleeve to rescue her fan which had fallen into a well, was horrified to find that a young man, a fugitive from justice, who was hiding behind some shrubs, had: seen her. --She was so upset at the indiscreet exposure of. her arm’ that she believed the young man must-need marry her! Contrast this with the present modern woman, who would rightly regard the .feelings of her past sister as ridiculous. Formerly, it was not conventiona] for a Chinese woman to appear too often iu the streets or to talk to men too freely :-now she elbows bet way through busy thoroughfares, rides on.tram-cars, ‘entertains male friends, and insists upon. going to all kinds of public -places, and takes a lively interest in polities. As far back as the Boxer rebellion, there was talk of Chinese amazons, who were measured ‘for men’s uniforms with tlie intention of joining in the fight for Nationalism. ~A ‘Dare to: Die’ corps has been in existence sincé those days, and during 'the recent Japanese jnvasion of China, the: Chinese women have organised themselves into a ‘Women’ S League for National Salvation.’ "But here is afternoon tea," ‘said Madame’ Pao, ‘and her: visitor had the unusual experience of sampling Lichee nuts after the delicious :little "cakes, which } MtaRame bad made’ herself. Hearing Mr. Pao and Madame Pao spedking- ‘toxetlier in Chinese was like listening to the whispering of .winds in far-off trees, and the sighing of waters; high and low their’ voices went in rippling cadence, strangely reminiscent of..the music of Chinese wind-bells, the. echoes of which lingered in the ears of the delighted interviewer long. after she, had left that lovely home. . . ann