1. Chinese men shave their heads, all but a small patch of hair. This is
allowed to grow very long, and is plaited into a pigtail. I have seen
Chinamen with coloured ribbons woven into their pigtails.

[Illustration: {Two Chinamen}]

2. When men are at work they twine their pigtails round their heads.
When they wish to show respect to any person they let down their
pigtails. A man who has a long, thick pigtail is very proud of it.

3. Sometimes men who are sent to prison have their pigtails cut off.
This is thought to be a great disgrace. When they leave prison they buy
false pigtails to wear.

4. When Chinamen fight they pull each other about by the pigtail.
Sometimes a schoolmaster punishes bad boys with his pigtail.

5. Rich women are very proud of their tiny feet. Chinese ladies can wear
shoes about four inches long. Fancy mother wearing a doll's shoes!

[Illustration: {Chinese women holding fans}]

6. Girls have their feet bound up tightly when they are five years of
age. The bandages are made tighter every week, until the foot stops
growing. Of course, the poor girls suffer very much. The Chinese have a
saying: "Every pair of bound feet costs a bath of tears."

7. When the girls grow up they cannot walk. They can only totter along,
and they have to lean on the arm of a maid to keep themselves from
falling.