are its sex, the number and sex of those already in the family,
and the financial condition of the home.

In general the Chinese prefer a preponderance of boys, but in
case the family are in good circumstances and already have
several boys, they are as anxious for a girl as parents in any
other country.

The reason for this is deeper than the mere fact of sex.
It is imbedded in the social life and customs of the people.
A girl remains at home until she is sixteen or seventeen,
during which time she is little more than an expense. She
is then taken to her husband's home and her own family
have no further control over her life or conduct. She
loses her identity with her own family, and becomes part
of that of her husband. This through many years and
centuries has generated in the popular mind a feeling that
it is "bad business raising girls for other people," and
there are not a few parents who would prefer to bring up
the girl betrothed to their son, rather than bring up their
own daughter.

"Selfishness!" some people exclaim when they read such
things about the Chinese. Yes, it is selfishness; but life
in China is not like ours--a struggle for luxuries--but a
struggle, not for bread and rice as many suppose, but for
cornmeal and cabbage, or something else not more palatable.
This is the life to which most Chinese children are
born, and parents can scarcely be blamed for preferring
boys whose hands may help provide for their mouths, to