CHINESE WOMEN.

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few of the Chinese women have any pretensions to personal beauty, according to our idea of it, and those who have are so covered with paint, that, farther than as objects of curiosity, they have few attractions for a foreign eye.

The hair is always remarkably neat, generally very long and abundant, and dressed in a most elaborate manner, ornamented with gold or silver bodkins, and flowers, such as the Indian jasmine, which are de lightfully fragrant, and disposed with much taste and effect.

Those who are blessed with the celebrated small feet, always outrank the other females of the family who are unhappy enough to have them flourishing in a state of nature. The excess to which this compres sion is carried by many, is perfectly wonderful. Some of the women are so mutilated by this horrid custom, as to be unable to walk any considerable, distance; and when compelled to make the effort, which is painful and difficult, they find a stick, or the shoulder of a servant maid, a necessary support.

The revulsion of the blood to the feet, when the bandages which confined the limb are removed, is said to be perfectly insupportable, and no less painful is the unnatural confinement of the growing limbs of young children, who suffer this inhuman torture, for the sake of fashion. We are informed that it is necessary to watch them closely during growth, as the pain they endure from the bandages frequently induces them, when unobserved, to tear them off, in order to obtain relief.

The size of these curious feet varies from four inches, to the usual length of the female foot. Those on which the bandaging has been carefully performed,

198 WAR HORSES.—TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD.

are scarcely any longer than when first compressed. The toes are turned under the sole, and the point of the foot is terminated by the great toe, which alone prescrves a resemblance to the original form.

Numbers of poor women, who have been reduced in circumstances, are hourly observed in the streets, lamed and tormented by the only remaining badges of their former rank, and suffering from the accumulated misery of want and deformity.

We have heard Chinese fathers speak of this custom in terms of reprehension, but they urge the prevalence of the practice, and the ridicule to which those who neglect it are exposed, as an excuse for its continuance.

WAR HORSES.

GENERAL Washington had two favorite horses; one, a large, elegant parade horse, of a chestnut color, high spirited, and of a gallant carriage; this horse had belonged to the British. The other was smaller, and his color sorrel. This he always rode in time of action; so that whenever the general mounted him, the word ran through the ranks, "We have business on hand."

TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD.

As you value the approbation of heaven, or the shame of the world, cultivate the love of truth. In all your proceedings, be direct and consistent. Ingenuousness and candor possess the most powerful charm; they bespeak universal favor, and carry an apology for almost every failing. "The lips of truth shall be esta. blished forever; but a lying tongue is but for a mo

ment."

A FABLE.-APHORISM.

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The path of truth is a plain and safe path; that of falsehood is a perplexing maze. After the first departure from sincerity, it is not in your power to stop. One artifice unavoidably leads to another; till, as the intricacy of the labyrinth increases, you are left entangled in your own snare. Deceit discovers a little mind, which stops at temporary expedients, without rising to comprehensive views of conduct. It is the resource of one who wants courage to avow his designs, or to rest upon himself; whereas, openness of character displays that generous boldness which ought to distinguish youth.

THE CRUEL SPIDER.

A FABLE.

A SPIDER, having been totally deprived of his web by the broom of a clean housemaid, instead of setting to work to make another, took a survey of his neighbors' dwellings, and having, at length, found a spider who was much more feeble than himself, he turned him out, and took possession of his house.

How cruel it is of the strong, to oppress and tyran. nize over the weak, when they ought rather to protect them.

APHORISM.

SCARCELY an ill to human life belongs,
But what our follies cause, or mutual wrongs;
Or, if some stripes from Providence we feel,
He strikes with pity, and but wounds to heal.

A MIMIC I knew,
To give him his due,

Was exceeded by none, and was equalled by few.

He could bark like a dog,
He could grunt like a hog,

Nay, I really believe he could croak like a frog.

Then as for a bird,

You may trust to my word,

'Twas the best imitation that you ever heard.

It must be confessed,

That he copied them best;

You'd have thought he had lived all his life in a nest.

THE BIRD CATCHER.

The Chaffinch's tone

Was completely his own;

Not one of the tribe had the difference know

The Goldfinch and Thrush
Would often cry "Hush!

Our brothers are singing in yonder bush."

And then what a race,

To fly to the place!

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Where the cunning rogue cleverly caught the brace.

Now it happened one day

That he came in the way

Of a sportsman, an excellent marksman, they say.

While near a hedge-wall,

With his little bird call,

He thought it fine fun to imitate all.

And so well did he do it,

That many flew to it;

But alas! he had certainly cause to rue it,

As it proved no fun

For, the man with the gun,

Who was seeking for Partridges, took him for one.

He was shot in the side;

And he feelingly cried,

A very few minutes before he died:

"Who for others prepare

A trap, should beware

That they do not themselves fall into the snare.