Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1900 — Naming the Chinese Baby. [ARTICLE]

Naming the Chinese Baby.

In China girls are called Instead of Mary Ann or Marguerite “Spring Peaeh,” “Cloudy Moon.”. “Celestial Happiness” or what may not be considered so nice, “Come along a-little-brother” or “Add-a-younger-brothcr” or “Lead - e verlasti ng - younger- brothers.” The latter means that a son would have been more welcome than a little “go away child,” as they call the girls. They belong to the family of the husbands to be and do not count in the family of their birth, so that when a Chinaman is asked. “How many children have you?” he makes no count of the girls, although he may have ten. The boys only he counts, and his reply will indicate only the number of boys. He gives his sons such names as “Ancestral Piety,” “Ancestral Knowledge,” “Practical Industry,” "Able to Sing Out.” “Second God of Learning,” “Excite the Clouds.” “Beginning of Joy,” “All Virtue Complete." The little slaves who begin life as household drudges before they graduate lower answer to such names as “As You Please," "Sparrows’ Crumbs,” “Joy to Serve,” "Your Happiness,” “Not For Me.”—Kansas City Journal.