Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-03-22
w. ID. WALLACE.
THE BLACK SPOT
A STORY FROM CHINA.

60 unPfOoucute, ndQ lately received su D.
stantial addition to its stock of European in
habitants. A battalion of her Maiesty's in
fantry, two batteries of artillery, detachment
of sappers, and body Of marines, had been
landed, while eleven new sail, what with trans
ports and what with steam frigates, were at
anchor in the Roads. There was a new attor-
ney-general, too, and several new clerks, see
retaries, and aides-de-camp to the governor,
for the climate is q trying one, a vapor bath in
one wind, kiln in another, and there is q
great consumption of young gentlemen holding
official situations at Hong Kong. The COVER
nor gave four dinners and a ball, for British
hospitality does noe grow mildewed in the far
east, and the Rifles gave ball, and so did the
ll7th Foot, and so did the admiral, and the
chief justice followed suit. Then the civilians
had their turn. BY civilians, in this case I do
not mean civilians in the Angls-In sense
of the word, but merely the merchant-princes
OF Hong Kong; men who have appointed them
selves to irresponsible offices, in murderous
climate, at salaries absolutely fabulous. Trade
is more profitable there, in that small golden
key-hole that unlocks the boundless Chinese
Empire, than perhaps in any other Granny Of
earth, but the Nemesis that waits on profit is
not absent. No ones liver is in its normal
condition, and the old ''residenters" might be
gorged with their own gold, so yellow is the
prevalent complexion. But they are hospitable
folks, those mighty merchants, and the ball at
the club-rooms In Victoria Town promised to
eclipse those which the governor and chief
justice, and the ll7th, in their white washed
mess-room, and the admiral on board his gaiy
lighted flagship, had given during the last
fortnight.
The ball was splendid affair. The bands
of three regiments had been culled for the
choicest musicians; Cantonese gardeners had
furnished, despite hostilities between our
Queen and the Brother Of the Sun and Moon,
a perfect bower of roses and tulips for the oc-
casion. Every green thing on the island must
have been cut down to furnish the verdant
covering OF the portico, and about a ship load
OF the Wenham Lake Company's ice had been
bespoken for the refreshment and refrigeration
of the guests. As for the supper, Europe, In
dia, and China had united their efforts and
done their best. Gold and silver plate, won
derous porcelain, glass Of England and Bohe-
mia, crystal lamps, delicate viands, costly
wines, obsequlous WATERFALL that dollars
and trouble could produce-and dollars and
trouble can effect a good deal-were forth
coming, and all that was wanted to promote
the happiness of the com pany was one breath
of the cool healthy breeze from home
But this the Hong Kong merchants csuld not
give them, nor Fortnum and Mason supply
The ball went off very well. There were
crowded rOoms-crOwded for colonial rooms
at least-and that Is great source of enjoy
ment, for people cannot take their pleasure
thoroughly unless they are devoid of elbow
room. There was not many ladies, to Judge
Of matters by European standards. This Hong
Kong ball was a very different affair from
those country assemblies, where the daughters
of clergymen and half pay officers sit round the
walls-s sea Of neglected book-muslin-and
where young Finch, the ensign, or Dick Wap-
shot, the Squire's son, looks round with the
air of a sultan, and tantaliEes the expectant
misses before he makes one of them proud and
happy by an invitation to dance. No, in In
dia or in China ladies are at a premium, and
learn their own real value. Where there is
bat one pair of fair shoulders and one pair of
bright eyes to every dozen Of red coats or blue
ones, the disparity Of the sexes tells entirely
In the ladies' favor. Such was the case at
Hong Kong, but there were handsome women
present, and, however few, they attracted
none the less admiration.
Among them, beyond comparisoa-the belle
OF the bsll-room-was the beautiful Mrs. G.
fair young wife. almost bride, who had just
come out from England with her husband,
Capt. G., the junior captain of the Rifles
Capt. c., "Geordie," as we used to call
him, had just got his promotion before sailing,
and had been married less than q year. He
was fine manly fellOw-the best cricketer and
osrsnan in the Rifles, and fayorite with old
and young, high and low. He deserved the
Victoria Cross in the Crimea, every body
said. don't know how he missed getting
1t; and the men swore by him, and would
have followed him through fire and water.
1t was great proof Of poor Geordie's pop
ularity that don't think anybody grudged
him his good luck in getting such a pearless
wife as Mrs. c., the beautiful NEWCOMER,
was considered. All the easigns and mid
dies, and half the heutenants, naval and mill
tary, to say nothing Of the parboiled young
gentlemen in mercantile houses, were fairly
raving about the angelic stranger. The foolish
boys devoured her with their eyes, and wrote
sonnets to her eyebrows, for aught know; and
she never moved along the little parade at
band-time without an overwhelming escort;
but no one ever said that eordie was not vor-
thy Of the good luck he had found, and the
great prize he had drawn in the lottery matri-
monisl-he, the best fellow" in the service
do not remember more attached couple:
and yet so free were they from the regular Ed
win and Angelina psthos, the c0raRi popKlO
demonstrations, that a superficial observer
would have set Mrs c. down for a firt.
and Geordie for careless fellow. Yet every
body knew how they loved each other-every-
body, down to that stupid garrison Adopis,
young Crammingtsn, of the Horse Artillery,
who has since owned to me that he penned
nine copies Of art-breaking verses on pink
paper, nine "perfumed billets," as the young
BOBBY called them, and never dared, somehow,
10 deliver TO their destined recipient any one
Of these inestimable productions. However,
on this night at least, Mrs. c. was in the
highest spirits, and waltzed and iirted we'll to
all appearance, and was the very center of all
attraotion-the target of all eyes Geordie,
who knew her too well to be easily made ieal-
Gus, was in very good spirits, too; 30 were most
people. 1t wasa very gay night, all the gayer
because active hostilities were expected be-
tween John Chinaman and his namesake and
best customer. Mr.. John Bull. Nothing gives
80 high Eest to life as a spice of danger, es-
Pecially in that enervating tropical climate;
and many who were destined to perish inglori-
ously by sun and malaria, were laughing and
chatting gaily with hearts beating high over the
expected campaign. At the bufet-where re-
Treatments we're in great demand-Cspt. c.
was the center Of q merry group who were
drinking in libations Of champagne to the fu-
ture education Of the fowery landau educa.
tion only to be prefaeed and grounded by
the exertions Of those manly figures in red
and blue, with the v. r. on their buttons,
whora her Majesty has sent as schoolmas-
ters to teach the celestial gentry respect for
the Law Of nations. Mrs. G. went through
dance after dance, rs the band played on
with admirable taste and spirit, and still
partners buzIed about her, and her little
ivory memorandum book was as filed with
writing as a bank ledger. 1t was wonderful
no. actively the dancing went on, and on