Then comes another song in English, and then the second unloading of the Christmas tree, which has kept its place in the chapel since its proper day of Christmas cheer.  Then the whole occasion is honored by an address from the Governor, in simple words, with smiling face and transparent good feeling.  It is not every children’s holiday that has a Governor at hand to grace the occasion.  As the President of the Board of Trustees which, under the A.M.A. fosters the Ramona, and as Governor of a territory which has nineteen Pueblo villages and the reservations of the Navajoes and the Mescalero and Jicarilla Apaches, he is a faithful friend of the Indians.  This is apparent from his first report just made to the Secretary of the Interior.  The 21,000 of the Navajoes he reports as possessing 250,000 horses, 500 mules, 1,000 burros, 5,000 cattle, 700,000 sheep and 200,000 goats.  Their wool-clip the last year reached 2,100,000 pounds.  Here is a grand field for a mission.

* * * * *

THE CHINESE.

* * * * *

“THE UNBELIEVING WIFE SANCTIFIED IN THE BROTHER.”

I Cor. vii:  14. (Revision.)

Our Chinese brethren have their full share in the family feeling which for ages has been nurtured in their race.  This feeling is even intensified by their new life in Christ.  They long for what they hope to make a Christian home, and greatly desire to perpetuate themselves in children who may follow them in following Christ.  But what are they to do for wives?  Many live in a virtual celibacy that is hopeless, because enforced by the betrothals made for them in China by their parents or elder brothers.  These are accounted sacred, and are honored by our brethren with an oblivion of their own fancies or affinities that will be adjudged to be either stolid or heroic, according as the person judging is disposed to think kindly or unkindly of this people.  Many have returned to China for the express purpose of consummating this betrothal in marriage.  They remain a few months with their wives, and then return to California to find work and provide for them.  Such persons are obliged by their principles to live in virtual celibacy.

Some greatly desire to send for their wives, but not only does the Restriction Law bar the entrance, but the father in China will probably raise effectual objection.  A son is as much the property of his father at sixty as at six, and all he has, not only in property, but in wife and children as well, is under the father’s control.  The daughter-in-law, if strong and willing, is a very serviceable person about the old homestead in China, and the appeals of the son for the enjoyment of his wife’s society in California are answered with the advice to get him another wife here.  One in China and one in America seems to them a very safe arrangement.  Eight thousand miles of ocean intervene and assure against domestic broils.