The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-09-28
Story Of an Energetic Woman.

Doylestopn Inteltioencer writes Perhaps
the citizens OF your county will be inter
ested in some account of Miss King
our new American tea importer--and
her adventurous trip to the Celestial
Empire some fifteen months ago. It
will be remembered the metropolitan
press announced the departure of sim
gle lady, who had Just started on busi-
ness mission to China. From the first
the enterprise was made piquantly in
teresting by sort of mystery regarding
her plans and ultimate designs. 1t was
known that she was going alone, and
that she was going for tea it was even
intimated that this first bold step would
prove but the initiative in grand COM
mercial experiment, but beyond that the
community was kept most provokingly
in the dark. The lady said her fare
wells and took up her journey, while
people pondered in amazement over the
novel expedition. A year and three
months have passed, and she is again
among us, after a most interesting ex-
cursion around the world. And now,
since the trip was successful one, the
result of which enables the original pro-
ject to be put into execution, the ban of
secrecy is removed, the history Of the
whole enterprise is laid bare, and ap-
proving listeners are called upon to ap-
plaud this noble effort on the part ofone
woman to open up a fresh avenue of
commerce for the benefit of her sex.
The name of Susan King is widely
known throughout the city. She is now
u rich woman, but when she came here,
many years ago, she brought only gui-
tar in her hand and twenty-five cents in
her pocket. Yet even at that early age
her remarkable enterprise was apparent.
She put. up at the best hotel the city
then boasted OF, and started out at once
in search of music scholars, 80 represent
ing her case to the families called upon,
that within twenty-four hours she had
engaged her class, received payment in
advance, and returned to her hotel in a
carriage with forty-six dollars in her
pocket. The best points in the under
taking, however, remain to be told.
Though representing herself as profess
sor of music, and the originator Of spe-
cial theory of instruction, she had in fact
so limited q knowledge of the science as
to be obliged to hire teacher to carry
out her plans, and was the first, as well
as the last, to institute method of mu-
sicsl instruction by proxy. This little
incident will convey an idea of the pc
culiar character of the woman. Her
fifty years of active life have been spent
in money making. Business is her spe-
cialty. She has dealt largely in real es-
tate and is now a millionaire. The en-
terprise which promises to lend new lus-
tire to her name found its protector in
Madame Demorest of fashion celebrity.
On the suggestion of Miss King this
lady conceived the idea of putting her
friends money to good use. Many
things were thought of and talked OF,
but as readily disposed of because of
their impracticability The question,
"What would furnish pr ofitable employ
ment to the greatest number of wo-
men I" was repeated over and over again,
and finally found its solution in most
feminine way-at the bottom of good
cup of tea. The decision was arrived at
on Thursday OF one week and by Mon
day of the next Miss King had taken out
her letters OF credit, bought ten thou
sand dollars worth Of gold for travel
ling expenses, and set out on her soli-
tary way. Arrived at San Francisco,
she spent few weeks there in learning
what she could of the country for which
she was bound, and then set sail for
Yokohama.
Her letters of introduction carried her,
of course, into the highest circles of Eng
disappearing Japan. She at once en-
tered the home of Sir Harry Parks, the
British minister, who, with his wife, ex-
pressed the most cordial sympathy with
her undertaking, and offered to do ev-
erything in his power to assist her. Sir
Harry offered her a military escort of
two hundred men in her journey through
the interior of the country, but refusing
ell guardianship or protection she took
her sedan chair and coolie servants, and
went forth alone. AS ignorant of the
topography as of the language of the
country, her situation would seem to pic
ture itself decidedly embarrassing one !;
but the woman who had baff1ed poverty
and overcome the hardships of younger
days, was not to be daunted now. She
quickly perceived that to assimilate her
self to the natives was her safest method
of procedure. To be sure fish oil and
rats were not the most tempting articles
of food, nor did seat on the floor with
chop-sticks in hand, suggest very much
of the refinement of home yet all of
these became possible in time, and as a
consequence she was permitted to pene-
trate regions never before trodden by
stranger feet. In many places this ven
turesome woman was received as di-
vine impersonstion. They worshipped
her, they offered her every honor con-
ceivable to their bewildered minds, and
followed her through the streets of their
cities in such dense throngs that she was
once or twice obliged to implore the in
reference of the magistrate to prevent
her from suffocstion. Presents and gor-
geous entertainments were forced upon
her at every stopping place. In short,
she became the object of universal in
terest and admiration. Herself an ad-
venturer and seeker after curiosities, she
became the most curious of all, and for
once, at least, since the days of Confu-
cius, q woman succeeded in awakening
the profound attention of the Celestials.
The tomb of Confucius, by the way, was
q most interesting point in Miss Kings
pilgrimage. But the chief object of this
mission is not to be lost sight of. The
purchase of teas began with the earliest
opportunity, and continued until she
finally embarked ON her homeward voy-
age, by the Cape of God Hope and At
lantic Ocean. Besides making arrange
ments for supply of any amount of the
best quality that is grown, she has plant
ed grove" of her own, from which
she expects in four years to get her first
crop. Meanwhile she has brought with