Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-10-11

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heavy fees from the members, power over
the common interests of the business. and
and occasional festivity. The impressions
these people ma ke upon the American
mind. after close observation of their
habits, are very mixed and contradictory.
They unite to many of the attainments
and knowledge of the highest civilization,
In some of which they are models for our
selves, many of the incidents and most Of
the ignorance Of simple barbalism. 1t
may yet prove that we have as much to
learn from them as they from us. Ger
tainly here in this great field, this Vest
ern half of our continental nation, their
diversified labor is blessing and a neces-
sity. 1t is ALL perhaps more even, than
the Irish and the Africans have been and
are to our Eastern wealth and progress.
At the first, at least, they have greater
adaptability and perfection than either Of
these classes of laborers to whom we are
so intimately and sometimes painfully &C
oustomed. ...... ......
There are quite number Of heavy mer-
camille houses here in the hands of Chi
nese. The managers are intelligent, su-
perior men. Their business is ir supplies
for their countrymen, and in teas and
silks and euriosities for the Americans,
They import by the hundreds of thousands,
even millions, yearly; and their reputa-
tion for fair and honest dealing is above
that Of the American merchants generally.
These are the men, with the Presidents of
the six companies, into which the whole
Chinese population is organized, as l have
: described, with whom Mr. Colfax and his
friends dined last night. There were for
C malities and negotiations enough in the
: preliminary arrangements of the enter
. tainment to have sufhced for pacifcation
s of Kentucy politics. or the making of q
+ new map of Europe: but when these we're
;, finally adjusted, questions of precedenco
IS among the Chinese settled and proper
: choice made among the many Americans
y who were eager to be hidden to the feast
d all went as smooth as town school ex-
: animation that the teacher has been drill
, ing for a month previous. The party
: numbered from 90 to 60, half Chinese.
n half white folks The dinner was given
d in the second story of Chinese restau-
t rant, in leading street Of the city. Our
hosts we're 6ne.lookiug men with impress
d sve manners, While their race generally
r seems not more than two-thirds the size
j. of our American men, these we're nearly it
o not quite as tall and stout as their guests.
IT Their eyes and their faces bcamed with
d intelligence, and they we're quick to per-
II ceive everything and alert and au tait in
l. all courtisies and politeness. An inter =
prefer was present for the heavy talking !;
h but most of our Chinese entertainers spoke
s. a little English, and we got on well enough
p so far as that was concerned; though
70 handshaking and bowling and scraping and
1t a general fcxibility of countenance, bodies
sr and limbs had a very large share Of the
A. conversation to perform. Neither here
n nor in China is it common for the English
;, and Americans to learn the Chinese Ian
II guage. The Chinese can and do more
l. readily acquire ours, sufficiently at least
% for all business intercourse. Their bro
n ken or pigeon English. as tits called,
e is often very grotesque, and always very
II simple. . .... ra .ah
It We were seated for the dinner around
l. little round tables six to nine at the
n table, and hosts and guests evenly mixed.
There was profusion Of elegant China
IS dishes on each table; each guest had two
n or three plates and saucers, all delicate
:. and small Choice sauces, pickles, sweet
IS meats and nuts were beautifully scattered
h about. Each gucsth I'D a saucoro of flowers,
s. q China spoon or bowl with a handle; and
4. d pair Of chop sticks, little round and
smooth ivory sticks about six inches long.
E. Chi sing-TOhg, President Of The San Yup
n company presided at Mr. 'Colfax's table.
,f Now the meal began. D II consisted of
If three different courses. or dinners rather,
u between which was recess Of half an
St hour, when wc retired to an autc.rocm.
ST smoked and talked. and listened to the
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