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Show IE CURIOSITY SHOP. Collection of Fugitive Facts and Out-jf.tbe-Ordinary Information , 1 Carefully Compiled. SAUNTER ABOUND EUROPE. f 1 Effect a Bed Sunset Has On the I Jlorrow Notes and Items 1 of Interest. i. u tho case In regard to many other . it i claimed that we owo the inven-f0 inven-f0 visiting cards to tliV'hinese. So uaeo as the period at th( n dynasty lorn yisitiug cavda were known to be in in China, and that is also the date of ! introduction of the "red filken cords" llch figure 80 oonspiuously a the cn-mmeat cn-mmeat oftrds of that country. From Lnt times to the present day the Chinese re observed tho strictest ceremony with lard to the paying of visits. The cards lch they use for thia purpose are large d of a bright red color Vfhen a Chinaman desire to marry his rent intimate that fact to a professional natch maker," who thereupon runs rough a list of her visiting acquaint-ice9 acquaint-ice9 and selects one whom she considers Stting bride for the young man, and then e calls upon the young woman's parents, m9d with the bridegroom's card, on Mch are inscribed his ancestral name and e eight symbols which denote the day of s birth. If the answer is an acceptance ) J his suit the bride's card is sent in return, ii should the oracles prophesy good con-rning con-rning the union the particulars of the , gagement are written on two large cards " fi together with the red cords. |