Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1904 — Little Girls Hard Lot In China. [ARTICLE]

Little Girls Hard Lot In China.

After the marriage in China girls have no part with their awn family and no part in the worship of their ancestors. To have no son means no ancestral worship, and the girl is often sold us a daughter-in-law. Poor people buy their sous' wives when they are but babies, as they can be had then for a few dollars. These little ones-gre usually drudges in the mother-in-law's household. A missionary overheard two women conversing. One said: “I am going to get a daughter-in-law into the house. You see, a daughter-in-law is no more expense than a servant. If I curse or beat a servant she leaves, but you can beat a daughter-in-law and get obedience, and your work will be done as you wish it.” The other replied: “Just so, just so. I am thinking of getting a daughter-in-law too. I can then live at ease.” As a consequence of this custom little girls look forward not to betrothal or to marriage, but to becoming mothers-ln-law, when they In turn can have authority.—Good Housekeeping.