A Tiny Chinese Baby

Dressed in the picturesque, bright hued 1 costurue of her country, little Mai Tsin. ' daughter of the Chinese minister, looks for all the world like an animated Japanese doll. To this miteof humanity belongs the L distinction of being the only Chinese baby I of noble birth in America, and she has an ' empire all her own and numeroussubjects, over whom she holds undisputed sway. Her birth in Washington June 34, 1891, was the occasion of much rejoiciug and the 'c customary ceremonies attending an event j of the kind among Celestial families of ' rank. On the third day after, the babe was ] bathed for the flrst time, before an image ' of the goddess of children - supposed to guard and care for a child until the , teenth yearis reached - then daintily dressed ' in the flnest of fine garments and formally ' presented to the menibersof the household, each of whom bestowed upon her a beau ' ful and costly gift, either of jewels or silk. After she had been sufficiently admired and discussed by the family, a few friends who ( called to offer their congratulations in sgii.were adjaijted and allowed a glimpse , of the wee f oreigner. On this important day also a little sil ver bell and an ancient coin of a particular kind were bound with a piece of red silk tape , around each tiny wrist in such a marnier as to leave a foot or more of loóse string ( tween. According to a popular superstition generally followed in the far east, this string is supposed to have the effect oL restraining a child when in after liíe he or she is inclined to be naughty or disobedient, and the silver and coins are used to insure wealth and prosperity to the wearer. At the expiration of 14 days the cord is removed. A common expression among :he Chinese when children are troublesoin is: "Why can't you behave? Didii't j jur mother bind your wrists?" When the ceremonies of this eventful day were completed, baby was carried back to the bedroom and kept secluded there for one month, unseen by any one but the nurse and her parents. At the end of that period she was robed as before in her ceremonial garments and this time, accompanied by her mother, participated in a reception given in her honor. The interest of this occasion was increased by the public bestowal of the name Mai, after the fiowery month, by her father. This is only her baby or "milk" name. When she is löyearsold, she will be weighed for the first time and christened. The first anniversary of Baby Mai's birth was celebrated in a manner highly gratifying to her Celestial highness. She was the recipiënt of many beautiful gifts and numerous toys, from home and abroad. At a certain time of this day she was placed with much ceremony upon a large table, in the midst of various articles previously arranged, such as a pair of money scales, a brass mirror, a paint brush, a pencil, one or two books, a silver rattle, a string of gold beads. etc, the supposition being thai the first article grasped by the little 1-year-old would indicate her future character, employment or condition in the world. The entire household was assembled to witness the proceedings, and all watched in breathless exeitement while she was being seated. Which would she choose - the pen cil or book, thereby proving that she was the possessor of literary talents of a high order; the silver musical toy, indicative of musical ability; the brush of the artist - which? Every one was on the qui vive, but laughing, mischievous Baby Mai had no doubts herself as to her preference. She was no sooner placed in position than she made a fraiitic dive with both little brown hands and grasped in one the mirror and in the other the beads and beat them together gleefully in the midst of the general approval. Her selection was interpret ed by her fond parents to meau that she would always be abundantly aupplied with this world's goods and very ïair to look upon. At an unusually early age Mai began to walk, and one day when she was toddling along pushin a chair before her the ceremony of "cutting the cords of the feet" was observed, to facilitate her progress. This important operation was performed by her nurse, who procured a large knife from the kitcht-u, and immediately bebind the child went through the motions of cuttiDg a supposed cord connecting the feet of infants, causinf; them to stumble and fall. With these exceptions the brief life ol little Mai has been thus far very much like the life of any American baby. She has her toys and dolls aud books, and every pleasant day, attended by her Chinese nurse, she takes a walk in the grounds and parks immediately surrouuding her home. Her quaint little figure, in its oriental dress and heavily beaded headdress, always attracts much attention; but, utterly unconscious, she runs and playsat her own sweel will, as bright and happy looking a child as one could wish to see. All the members of the legation are her williuK slavea, and nomore think of disputídk her imperious commands than they would those of their