CUSTOMS 241 



its former reputation, and Shanghai is to- 

 day the commercial metropolis of the 

 Chinese Empire. I have selected a few of 

 the minor customs of these two cities to 

 write of because, in the one city the classic 

 thought of China has not opposed them, as 

 in the other they have not become obsolete, 

 although in daily contact with the spirit of 

 modern commerce. 



Most of the customs have a basis in the 

 history of China, but in many cases the 

 facts on which they are founded have been 

 forgotten. Often diametrically opposite 

 explanations are given of the same custom 

 by those who possess exact knowledge as to 

 its history, and thus do doubts increase as 

 one inquires. It is, however, certain that 

 superstition and a false belief in regard to 

 the supernatural element in human life are 

 responsible for the mistaken notions of the 

 Chinese as expressed by many of their 

 curious customs. 



Beginning somewhat at random, there is 

 a custom which prevails at both Soochow 

 and Shanghai that when one sends a cat to 

 his neighbor as a present the latter in 

 return sends a small quantity of salt. The 

 reason is that to give a cat is bad luck and 



