[347] One of the six departments of State administration.
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[348] This seems a curious charge to bring against a people who for a stolid and bigoted conservatism have rarely, if ever, been equalled. Mencius, however, uttered one golden sentence which might be brought to bear upon the occasionally foolish opposition of the Chinese to measures of proved advantage to the commonwealth. “Live,” said the Sage, “in harmony with the age in which you are born.”
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[349] Only slave-girls and women of the poorer classes, and old women, omit this very important part of a Chinese lady’s toilet.
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[350] Alluding probably to the shape of the “shoe” or ingot of silver.
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[351] See No. XLVI., [note 271].
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[352] Literally, “One who would make wild geese alight and fish dive down for shame;” or, as the next line from the same poem has it, “a beauty which would obscure the moon and put flowers to the blush.”
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[353] Slave-girls do not have their feet compressed.
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[354] Wherein resides an old gentleman who ties together with a red cord the feet of those destined to become man and wife. From this bond there is no escape, no matter what distance may separate the affianced pair. The first go-between, Ku Ts‘ê, was originally seen, on ice, arranging matches with some one below:—
“Marriage is not a trifling thing—
The Book and the Vermilion String!