A Chinese Feast. — Dramatic Representations. 487 



seems must in China form the accompaniment of every im- 

 portant event, whether joyous or sorrowful. 



At tliose performances whicli are given in public, the 

 multitude is admitted gratis, and of this privilege they avail 

 themselves to the utmost. Each man selects the best seat for 

 himself, on the street, in a tree, or on a roof. Mandarins, how- 

 ever, and rich private individuals have their own little stage 

 scenes in the interior of their usually spacious mansions, in 

 which from time to time they have theatrical representations 

 for the amusement of a small circle of friends. Some Manda- 

 rins even go the length of having their own players, who 

 receive regular annual pay, and form part of the household. 



Notwithstanding the very extensive collections of Chinese 

 plays, with several of which the learned classes of Europe 

 have been made acquainted by the valuable labours of 

 Julien, Bazin, Remusat, and others, there are but a very few 

 of true literary value. The plot of most of them is exceed- 

 ingly simple, the actors themselves specify the characters 

 they are to play ; between each scene there is usually a lack 

 of connection, and frequently the most telling scenes and 

 situations are marred by the most arrant trash, or the 

 coarsest jests. Only a very small number of these rise 

 above the level of the buffoonery of former ages, and judging 

 by the accounts given by travellers, who have been present 

 at such entertainments in even the large cities, including 

 Pekin itself, the di-amatic art would as yet seem to be in 



