Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-14
SHAM HOSPITALITY

During the time we were at our northern
mission, we were witnesses Of q most curious
fact, which was wonderfully characteristics of
the Chinese. 1t was one Of our festival days.
and we were to celebrate the holy Office at the
house Of the first catechist, where there was a
tolerably large chapel, TO which the Christians
Of the neighborins villages were in the habit
ofcoming in large numbers After the cere
mony, the master OF the house posted himself
in the middle Of the court, and began TO call
to the Christians who were leaving the cha
pei
/" Don't let any body go away, to-day in
yite every one to eat rice in my house"
And then he ran from one group TO another,
urging them to stay; but every one alleged
some reason or other for going, and went.
At last he spied a cousin Of bis who had almost
rca:hsd the door, and rushed toward him,
saying
''What, cousin Are you going too? In
possible! This is holy day, and you really
must step" -. -.
Mo- said the other, "do not press me,
for L have business at home that I must at
tend to-"
Business what, today day Of rest,
Absolutely, you shall stop. I will not let yOu
CO."
And he seized his cousins robe, and tried
to bring him back by main force, while the
desired guest struggled as well as he could,
and sought to prove that his business was too
pressing to allow Of his remaining.
well, T." said the host, &" since you possibly
cannot stay TO eat rice, we must at least drink
few glasses Of wine together. L should be
quite ashamed if my cousin went away from
my house without taking anything"
"Well, replied the cousin, '' Il cont take
much time to drink glass Of wine, and be
turned back.
They re-entered the house, and sat down in
the company room. The master then called
in loud voice, though without appesring to
address any one in particulsr-
Heat some wine, and fry some eggs.'
In the meantime, till the not wine and fried
eggs should arrive, the two lighted their pipes
and began to gossip; and then lit and smoked
again, but the wine and eggs did not make
their appearance. The cousin, who most likely
had some business, at last veDtured to inquire
of his hospitable entertainer how long he
thought it would be before the wine would be
ready.
"Wine 90 replied the host Wine Have
We got any wine here! Don't you know very
well that never drink wine 1t hurts my
stomach"
ain that case" said the cousin. "you
might have let me 60. Why did you urge me
to stay i''
Hereupon the master Of the mansion rose.
and assumed an attitude of lofty indignation
"Upon my word said he, "any body
might know what country you came from.
What! i have the politencss 10 invite you to
drink wine, but You have not even the polite
ness to refuse; where in the world have you
learned your rites? Among the Moguls, L
shoVld think
And the poor cousin understanding that he
had been guilty Of terrible solecism, STAN
mered some words Of apology, and filing his
pipe once more, departed.
We were ourselves present az this delightful
little scene, and SOON as the cousin was gone,
the least We could do was to have a good
laugh but the master of the house did not
laugh, he was indignant. He asked us
whether we had ever seen such an igno-
rant, stupid, and absurd man as bis cousin;
and he returned always to his grand principle;
that is to say, that q well bred man win al
ways render politeness for politeness. and that
one ought kindly to refuse what another kind
Iy offers; "othsrwise," he cried, "what
would become of usr'-Hxek's Trareis in
China and Tartars.