Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1888 — Chinese Dread of the Wet. [ARTICLE]

Chinese Dread of the Wet.

In Western lands it is a proverbial saying of one who is peculiarly stupid that he does not “know enough to go in when it rains.” In China, on the contrary, the saying would be altered so as to read: “He does not know enough to stay in when it rains, ” and to a Chinese the idea that a human being has any functions which can be harmonized with the rapid precipitation of moisture can only be introduced by trepanning. They truly say of the streets and the people in them, “When wind blows, one half; rainfall, none at all. ” Ab the Chinese, in their way, are a particularly practical people—not less so thun the Anglo-Saxon, though less energetic—there must be some good reason for their persistent refusal for centuries to encounter rain. Of the fact there can be no manner of doubt. The Tientsin massacre of 1870 might have been quadrupled in atrocity but for a timely rain, which deterred the rowdies already on their way to the settlement. A portable shower would be one of the most perfect defenses a traveler fn the hostile sections of China could desire. We are confident that a steady stream of cold water, delivered from a two-inch nozzle, would disperse the most violent mob ever seen by a foreigner in China in five minutes of solar time. Grapeshot would be much less effectual, for many would stop to gather up the spent shot, while cold water is something for which every Chinese, from the Han dynasty downward, entertains tbe same aversion as a cat. Externally or internally administered, he regards it as alike fatal. The remote causes of their deepseated antipathy to wet weather lie imbedded in the Chinese constitution, hut the proximate causes, in our view, are twoiold—the porosity of cotton cloth and the absolute scarcity of dirt. To our readers the reasons will, no doubt, appear inadequate, not to say frivolousbut this, we believe, is because they have not reflected profoundly on the subject. Why the Chinese shonld persist in wearing cloth shoes we do not pretend to say, but wear them they certainly do. Damp feet are not only uncomfortable, they are dangerous to health. Oiled boots are luxuries for the few, and in seven cases out of eight he who goes abroad when it rains will do it in cotton cloth shoes, which will be ruined. He has no light sandals. He never washes his feet. Hence it is easier and more philosophical to stay at home—which he does.— Tientsin Chinese Times.

The Democratic idea to reduce taxation to an extent that will put a stop to raising surplus revenue Las evidently secured popular favor. The Republican monopolist idea that taxing a man makes him richer, more prosperous and contented, and, if a w orkingman, advances his wages, has had. its day and must go. It will go with the Republican land-stealing policy, with the bloody shirt and other Republican “great moral, ideas.” But the Republican idea is free whisky and taxed sugar, iron, blankets, hats and shoe's, rice and salt, and other things of prime necessity. The Democratic idea is tax whisky and beer, and make the necessities of life cheap. Exchange.

The present administration has been subjected to a great deal of abuse for what its opponents term its unfriendly attitude •toward old soldiers, but it appears that the pension list goes on increasing at a wonderful rate all the same. On Nov. 1, 1886, there were 369,551 pensioners on the rolls, and this nnmber had grown to 416,648 by Nov. 1, 1887. The net increase for the first four months of the present fiscal year was 6,873 in ezoess of the net increase for the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.—Chicago Times.