ives is practised, but is not recognized by law. Women of the
upper classes are treated with much respect. The home of a Chinese man
is often in reality ruled by his mother, or by his wife as she
approaches old age, a state held in veneration. Chinese women
frequently prove of excellent business capacity, and those of high
rank--as the recent history of China has conspicuously
proved--exercise considerable influence on public affairs.

Deforming the feet of girls by binding and stopping their growth has
been common for centuries. The tottering walk of the Chinese lady
resulting from this deformation of the feet is the admiration of her
husband and friends. Foot-binding is practised by rich and poor in all
parts of the country, but is not universal. In southern and western
China Hakka women and certain others never have their feet bound. It
has been noted that officials (who all serve on the itinerary system)
take for secondary wives natural-footed women, who are frequently
slaves.[11] Every child is one at birth, and two on what Europeans
call its first birthday, the period of gestation counting as one year.

In their social intercourse the Chinese are polite and ceremonious;
they do not shake hands or kiss, but prostrations (kotowing),
salutations with joined hands and congratulations are common. They
have no weekly day of rest, but keep many festivals, the most
important being that of New Year's Day. Debts are supposed to be paid
before New Year's Day begins and for the occasion new clothes are
bought. Other notable holidays are the Festival of the First Full
Moon, the Feast of Lanterns and the Festival of the Dragon Boat. A
feature of the festivals is the employment of thousands of lanterns
made of paper, covered with landscapes and other scenes in gorgeous
colours. Of outdoor sports kite-flying is the most popular and is
engaged in by adults; shuttle-cock is also a favourite game, while
cards and dominoes are indoor amusements. The theatre and marionette
shows are largely patronized. The habit of opium smoking is referred
to elsewhere; tobacco smoking is general among both sexes.

Except in their head-dress and their shoes little distinction is made
between the costumes of men and women.[12] Both sexes wear a long
loose jacket or robe which fits closely round the neck and has wide
sleeves, and wide short trousers. Over the robe shorter jackets--o