[349] Only slave-girls and women of the poorer classes, and old women, omit this very important part of a Chinese lady's toilet.
[350] Alluding probably to the shape of the "shoe" or ingot of silver.
[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."
[353] Slave-girls do not have their feet compressed.
[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! On ice by moonlight may be seen The wedded couples' go-between."
--_A Thousand Character Essay for Girls._
Hence the common phrase "to do the ice (business)," _i.e._, to arrange a marriage.
[355] This proceeding is highly improper, but is winked at in a large majority of Chinese betrothals.
THOS. DE LA RUE AND CO., PRINTERS, BUNHILL ROW, LONDON.
TRANSLATED AND ANNOTATED BY HERBERT A. GILES, _Of H.M.'s Consular Service_.
LONDON: THOS. DE LA RUE & CO. 110, BUNHILL ROW.
PRINTED BY THOMAS DE LA RUE AND CO., BUNHILL ROW, LONDON.
THE LO-CH'A COUNTRY AND THE SEA-MARKET.[356]
Once upon a time there was a young man, named Ma Chün, who was also known as Lung-mei. He was the son of a trader, and a youth of surpassing beauty. His manners were courteous, and he loved nothing better than singing and playing. He used to associate with actors, and with an embroidered handkerchief round his head the effect was that of a beautiful woman. Hence he acquired the sobriquet of the Beauty. At fourteen years of age he graduated and began to make a name for himself; but his father, who was growing old and wished to retire from business, said to him, "My boy, book-learning will never fill your belly or put a coat on your back; you had much better stick to the old thing." Accordingly, Ma from that time occupied himself with scales and weights, with principle and interest, and such matters.