Happiness and Industry Keynote of the Day So much has been written during the past few years" about droughts, banditry, war, and. famine, in Ching during the past few years that itis Something of a pleasure to be able to strike a different note, 'The Chinese foolle in the normal environment. his thriving rice fletes and pro life garden plots, is the very embodiment smiling edntentmentand happiness. Of' his apparent Inborlous work he has skilfully made. an_ occasion for delightful ce-operation and rejoicing among. neighbours and friends, the outsider it would seem that the planting of the young rice plants in the sticky mud, stooping. to insert every plant in the sell under" the water, with the sun blazing down an tones back all day long, would be the feast desirable thine for rejoicing and enjoyment. How does the country-rman manage his. tsk?
"Hair-combing" Firecracker (On the day appointed for the planting of rice on any one farm a single loud firecracker is let off at earliest dawn to notify the neighbours, who were informed on the previous day, that i¢ is now time to arise, This Is called the "hair-combing" firecracker, for it is the women who are the most skilful rice planters." The men carry the: young plants to the Meld, but it {s'the women who do the actual Planting, Thus they are noticed. to fause early and comb their hair in Feadines "for work." Half-an-chant ater the fret firecracker, two more are let off to notify all that it is time to proceed to the farm where the planting is to be done. Arrived at the farm tea is passed round and Instructions are issued by the owner, suitable fields tsslgmed to each group fof workers, and men appointed. Aistribute the young, plants, When ati is in readiness three more eud firecrackers are" exploded notify all to atart work. "With Jaughing and joking a whole row of women" will dlatsibute themselves Fight across the end of a lei 'The fastest and best planter Leads out always keeping a few rows. ahead the other planters as she inserts the young plants in the rich mud. with "rhe men dig. Up {he young. plants which have bern frown inthe seed' bed, with thew hands, carry them out to the fields find clatribute them 10. the "women.
Bach women takes a stib about four feet wide, and. the. whole Tine. of planters move down the eld and as oon as one field is Mnishod proceed te another, planting one after another with astonishing rapidly.
The farmer enjoys. his promised harvest with the keenest anticipation, At eight o'elocle all sop work for breakfast of rice gruel and plenty of felled" vegetables. hey "proceed aleNly tothe field and work. with fnhusfasm. until noon when special dinner is served. 'The dinner Teally Constitutes ZeastYor all the workers Svhove supplies of food have probably been getting short at the end of the Tong winters "An abundance of meat and' fish-dialles "are served to give the hungry. workers strength forthe Tong day's work, A special dh for dinner is a bowl of well cooked eas Which "represent. the fertility 60 Kreenly hoped for from the new felés of nee, "After the meal time Is allowed for rest. before. the owner tives orders 'a8 to the fields to. be planted during the afternoon.
"eating the Granary"
11 is usual {0 engage enough works exe to complete the. planting al: in tone day. If necessary' the work Wil fontinte until after" sunset, After the last field is planted. the toppy crowd of workers "get hold. of he owner and "seal the granary,'—they plaster his face and hands with mud, {o indicate the promise of a. full Branary sealed away for the winter With clay plastered over the doorway. After this symbolic piece of fun the hole crowd of workers turn 10 an-biber huge meal." By the time dark-hess set in and the weary workers igo. home they' will not only. have done' the biggest. day's work for many months,-but also will have talon the mossi food they have had a chance fo consume in any one. day for many' months.
exchanging work with his neighbours each. farmer gets his arduous worke done quickly and happily, just at the right time, and then is free to proceed with the next job that comes up in the routine of farm work, "Thus the rice. transplanting casson becomes a. happy time. of feasting and enthusiastic co-opera tive tail as the group of neighbours rotate from one farm to another. the "North-China" to arrive at some of its far distant destinations.
Correspondence and suggestions from readers will be welcomed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.