The Chinese often ask a person's age, but this in reality should not be done except when the conversation Jeads up to such a question, for in= stance, if the person. concerned is 2 venerable gentleman, when opportun. ity occurs, it is quite correct to ask him what is his kao shou "his high Jongevity."" and when he has replied, hho should be congratulated on his youthful and energetic appearance. To abruptly ask a person his age is not really good manners. wit thet St lis that Should further than the "top your foot "oom. he shoul be ally' make some exe ther, but be Fequested Yo return foreigners tu this respect are trentd ery_ courteous one =peclaly it the oftcat ie' nigh, {or as in other counties: the Sie: the ofa the greater his pid 'To make visits t the proper time matter'of considerable' impor ance, especially If an ofo is con. gemed. "Should the' forcgn vier him in person its hat the time of the int terview shoul be arranged before. hand. A merely formal visit can be made by simply leaving cards at the ware, to go ough teh case bet att tine when it is town that the offal will not be at home, Etiquette of Present Giving ihe receiving of presents is an: other question that often places the foreigner in a quandary and much de-ends upon, the sender and the res sons for hig gift. The usual way 13 take a portion of the things sent, and also to give a substantial gratuity to the servant who brings the presents Intimations of a funeral of per-Son should be acknowledged by' the sending of a piece of blue silk which are placed appro: Priate to the occasion. For a wedding the same procedure should be followed, except thatthe silk must be of a red colour and the characters of a congratulatory nature, As is well known it is the custom in China to welcome a guest by pro: viding him with a cup of tea. This universal throughout the whole of the country and is followed by all except the very poorest classes, and even they will, as a rule, offer hot water as a substitute. The only ditference is that in the rich homes, it usual to provide one of the famous brands of tea, such as Lung Ching Dragon Well" or Hsiang Pin Fra grant Piece," while poor families can only provide the cheaper kinds.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.