The Most Beautiful Model for Christian Families. + The domestic life and habits of many families called Christian, frequently presents a very sad picture. The parents are wrapped up in temporal affairs, lukewarm and indifferent as regards religon, negligent in the bringing up of their children. The father is probably a frequenter of the saloon; where he spends the family income and by his drunkeness gives scandal to his children. He treats his wife like a slave, curses and blasphemes, and grumbles about God and the world, and does not mind taking an unfair advantage of his fellow men. The mother intent upon the vanities of dress, is neglectful of her household duties, inclined to be forever scolding and fault-finding, whereby she gives her husband occasion to remain in the saloon: towards her children she shows an unreasonable foolish love. The children themselves, as must be the case where education is wanting, and such bad examples prevail are morally spoiled, disobedient, impertinent to their parents and teachers, quarrelsome amongst themselves and idle. The girls are vain, dressed up dolls of bold behavior. The older sons visitors of saloons, night revellers, worldlings, pugilists! O God! what dissension, what perpetual trouble must reign in a family like this where hardly anything is heard but scolding and quarreling, cursing, blaspheming, grumbling, impure, defamatory and calumnious conversations, where they are all at war with one another, with their own conscience, and even with God. What a hell upon earth is such an ungodly family life! And what an Earthly Paradise on the contrary was that blessed life of the Holy Family at Nazareth. How pious and godfearing were Mary and Joseph! how regularly they went to the Temple, how conscientiously they fulfilled the divine Commandments; how modest and humble they were, how cheerfully they bore their poverty although they were descended from a royal race. how contented and resigned to the will of God in the midst of the most severe trials as for instance when they were obliged to flee into pagan Egypt. How devoted they were to each other in reverent virginal love and fidelity! with what sacrifice did St. Joseph labor in the sweat of his brow for Jesus and Mary! with what attentive faithfulness did not Mary look after the little household, and fulfill her maternal duties! with what love and resignation were they not both subject to the Divine Child! But how Jesus deserved their love! Although He was the Lord of Heaven and earth, the King of Kings, He was so obedient and humble that He did everything to please His holy parents. "He was subject to them" in these words the Holy Ghost Himself embraces the thirty years of his mortal life. He helped St. Joseph in his ordinary carpenter's work cheerfully, with a touching humility and a persevering industry, and when He was a little boy He assisted His mother in the care of the house. He was subject to his earthly parents with love; but He also accomplished with exactness the will of His heavenly Father and loved all mankind as His brethren, with whose redemption He was charged. O! how very different would the outlook be in many Christian families if they looked up to this glorious model of the Holy Family at Nazareth, and strove to imitate it! What a heavenly peace would find entrance there! What con tentment and resignation would soon alleviate the sufferings of poverty and misfortune! What consolation would religion, the example of the Holy Family, the Savior's passion, the love of the crucified One, the hope of perfect happiness for Eternity grant to them! Choose then, O Christian families, the Holy Family of Nazareth as your constant model, venerate it, as it is the urgent desire of our Holy Father that you should do, enroll yourselves in the Confraternity of the Holy Family and say daily with devotion the following prayer: Daily prayer before a picture of the Holy Family. O most amiable Jesus, who by Thy exalted virtues and Thy example in domestic life hast sanctified the families chosen by Thee upon earth, look down upon this our house. We kneel at Thy feet and implore Thy grace. Remember A that this house belongs to Thee, because it has been consecrated and offered up to Thee in an especial manner. Mercifully protect us, and save us from danger, help us in all our necessities, grant us strength to persevere unremittingly in the imitation of this Holy Family; so that by remaining ever faithful during this earthly life to Thy service and Thy love, we may one day praise Thee in heaven for all eternity. O Mary, sweetest Mother, we implore thy protection in the firm hope that thy divine Son will grant our petition. And thou too, glorious Patriarch St. Joseph come to our aid with thy powerful protection and present our petitions to Jesus Christ through thine and Mary's hands. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, enlighten us, help us save us! Chinese Family Life. By Rev. John Weig, S. V. D., Missionary in China. MONGST the acknowledged aims of our opening century, may fairly be mentioned that of the extension of our knowledge of China the great country of which one of our most far-seeing scholars has recently remarked "although long discovered it has got to be practically rediscovered." Interest in China has grown wonderfully during the closing decade of the nineteenth century: the study of its language and customs has taken definite form in England, France and Germany and now Columbia University announces the establishment of a Chair of Chinese history, language, customs, and manners. Speaking of this departure, the President of the University said, that as far as present equipment for the study is concerned, there is nothing yet available, but books of travel and books and letters by missionaries. It is true that only the missionaries can speak authoritatively, for China is still to us as our own country was to Europe of the 17th century, an unknown region. Therefore, the writer is pleased to place the information acquired during years of residence and missionary labor, before the readers of St. Michael's Almanac, being assured of the interest which must always attach to the story of one who speaks whereof he knows. As I have been most frequently questioned regarding Chinese family life, I choose it for the title and subject of this article, although it is a delicate and difficult matter to discuss. In reviewing it, we naturally come first to the consideration of the conjugal relations which obtain here, where the woman as in all heathen countries, is ranked as man's inferior-practically his slave. Chinese law favors the man most flagrantly: it takes slight notice indeed of the husband's wrongdoings, while on the other hand, if the wife is considered to have sinned against the husband, no punishment is thought too severe. For instance, should a woman die from the effects of her husband's cruelty, the murderer goes practically unpunished; should she, on the contrary, strike or injure her parents-in-law, the husband may kill her at once, with the comfortable assurance that for such righteous indignation he will merely receive one hundred blows as a public recognition of his offence. Strangling would be the wife's portion, were she in his place. that of wife and mother-in-law is most peculiar and most mischievous: between these, there is constant strife, and the blame therefor, in almost every instance, may be laid entirely to the unjust treatment of the young wife here permitted. Of all domestic relations in China however, All the members of a family live together: parents, children and the wives of the grown-up sons, but there is no division of property or income until after the death of father and mother. when the sons receive, each, their portion, no provision ever being made for the daughters of the Chinese household. One hears in the open streets of the village, loud abuse often mingled with the vilest language and apparently for most trifling cause: on investigation it will invariably be found that the disputants are mother-in-law and daughter-inlaw. These affairs frequently end by the latter returning to her parents' home or running away elsewhere; there are enough wife dealers in China to afford such refuge. Sometimes she hangs herself jumps in the river or eats opium, for she Now we come to the relation of children to their parents. is perfectly aware that she has no redress against | early morning until far into the night, receiving her mother-in-law, and that even inattention to in return, scanty food and many blows. the older woman is considered ground for divorce. The wife is really a slave so long as her husband's mother lives; should she and her children need clothes, she is given some cotton which she must make up herself and the remainder if any, she may sell. Usually, she has to beg from her own family and failing this resource she obtains her needs by stealing. She must carry out the slightest wish of her husband's people, do all the house work, such as cooking, sewing, making shoes, spinning cotton, weaving cloth from The Children in China have no rights-parents may do what they will with them. The law indeed, does not directly allow the slaughter of innocents, but the punishment for child-slaying is so slight and so seldom inflicted that the crime seems to stand approved. So-called China experts report that they have lived in the seaport cities, even making short journeys into the country, and have not CATECHISTS RESCUING ABANDONED CHILDREN. hence found the dead body of a single child Child-killing, nevertheless, exists in China and not in portions thereof but throughout the whole land. In proof of this, we have the testimony of all missionaries, irrespective of nationality or creed. How often during the last ten years, have I had personal experience of the sad fact! The Chinese as a rule do not deny it: the fate of these poor innocents has touched the hearts of human heathens themselves, and they have formed societies (pao-ing-hui) for the purpose of succoring them. I give herewith some extracts from the rules of one of these societies in the city of U-si, province of Kinguaen. It is the custom in the villages everywhere to drown the girl infants. They are scarcely born and begin to whimper, when they are thrown into the water. It is frightful! It is customary amongst the poor to throw the new born into the water. This frightful custom has been disguised with fine words; men say: "We marry the children to the flood;" or "we let them change over into another body" (Transmigration of Souls!). finally, this wrongdoing has gone on so long and is so universally prevalent that no one protests against it. Even boys are now drowned and not alone by the poor; the wealthy are beginning to do likewise. Thus, one rich family has drowned more than ten girls, and in the little village of N... there were more than a dozen girls thrown into the river in one year. Horrible! What shall we think of such parents? and what are the teachers accomplishing? They look quietly on many of them seeking. to justify the evil action. For this reason, we wish to form a society which shall furnish rice and money to the destitute, so that they may nourish their children. for six months and if the parents cannot, with this help support the little ones, then we will act in their place." This is not an announcement of Catholic missionaries, but of a heathen society. It is because of the infant murders, that in some Chinese states, foundling houses have been erected in the large cities. They are all new enterprises, heathenish copies of the Catholic foundling asylums. Their orphan asylum in Shanghai spent in one year $1550. Yet one half of the children died. The institution in Canton can care for 300, and spent in one year $3000. That in Ningpo shelters about 70 children. But these asylums do not accomplish their mission. The spirit of Christian love does not abide in them, and the heathens themselves acknowledge and universally bewail this fact. Mr. Milne is authority for the statement, that nowhere is there an abode for living beings, dirtier than the orphan asylum at Ningpo. Beautiful in theory but sadly futile in practice are these Chinese efforts of charity: only a few children are. cared for and even they are badly nourished, so that most of them die, while the survivors grow up without any education and are often sold to infamy, becoming the property of strolling players and jugglers who destine them for a lifetime of shame. The reason for these horrible crimes is principally the great poverty of the Chinese: they cannot support many children and especially do not wish to be burdened by girls. A boy in their estimation is worth more than ten girls, for the latter leave the home circle on marriage, becoming members of another family, while the boy continues the race and guarantees that the sacrifices to the dead, so necessary in the eyes of the Chinese, will not be neglected or omitted. In times of famine, the infant murders are frightfully increased: the children are thrown into wells and ponds, set out in the street, brought to the idolatrous priests, or occasionally to the PLEASANT EVENING HOURS. missionaries. How many such poor creatures whom I had been forced to give back, after I baptized them in the home, because I did not have the means to feed them, were then starved to death before my door or were killed by their desperate parents! going where he will, and hearing and seeing the speech and actions of his heathen comrades, but nothing good. I have heard conversations amongst children of five or six years, that drove the blood to my face. At home the children see and hear much evil. Another reason for this barbarous custom They hear the bad language which fathers and is the heathenish superstition, that of the trans- mothers, sisters and brothers make use of. They migration of souls. Perhaps I may not be be- see and children's eyes are sharp -- how their lieved when I say that I have seen a heathen | elders deceive and steal. It is a sad fact that father torture his child to death in the most cruel manner with a hatchet. Why? He had already had several children who died soon after their birth yet he killed this one, for he thought, - "in this child there is an evil spirit carrying on a wicked sport and I will so torture him that he shall have no desire to return." When a child is about to die, it is usually laid before the door and while yet breathing, is eaten by the dogs and pigs. It must not be allowed to die in the house, lest its spirit bring misfortune within the walls and it is not buried but left to lie on the earth or wrapped in a ragged mat placed just beneath the surface, whence it is dug up by savage animals and devoured. O, the horror of this custom against which we have so often revolted in vain! OPIUM SMOKING IN CHINA. The Chinese children as a rule do not receive any education; only those of rich parents attend school for a couple of years. The average Chinese are according to our ideas, beggars and most of them, very poor ones! The small boy in China must work: he must watch cows, hunt for fire material, or with the manure basket over his shoulder, follow the track of the beasts of burden. He grows up like a wild being his only home the street or field strokes of the rod. these heathen parents laugh and think their children smart, when they repeat the vile language which they have heard, or when they lie and steal. And yet sadder are the many devious ways whereby they lead their children, to do evil, and how they teach them deceit and theft. O the misery of these little children often cut me to the heart! They are such dear creatures, so willing and docile and intelligent! How easy are they to lead! The unlimited power of parents is shown by the fact that they still have the custom of burying disobedient children alive and may not be punished for it. A father can obtain permission of the mandarin to flog his rebellious son before him and if the boy die under the infliction, the father has but to suffer 100 A child however who strikes his parents or grandparents will be beheaded: if he kill them he will be cut to pieces alive if he mock them he will be throttled. Throttling is a lesser evil than beheading, inasmuch as the body remains entire, whereof the Chinese, who has consideration for his parents from whom he received a whole body, is very solicitous. On the very subject in which the children are the most interested that of marriage, they |