Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-11-11
SUSAN KING
The sNew American Tea sImporter-The
Story Of an Energetic Woman.

will be Interested in some account of
Miss King-our new American tea inn |
porter-and her adventurous trip to the
Celestial Empire some fifteen months
ago. 1t will be remembered the metro
politan press announced the departure
of a single lady, who had just started
on business mission to China. From
the first the enterprise was made pl-
quantity interesting by a sort of mystery
regarding her plans and ultimate de-
signs. 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 a
grand commercial experiment, but be-
vond that the community were kept
most provokingly in the dark. The lady
said her farewells and took up her jour
ney, while people pondered in amaze
ment over the novel expedition. A
year and three months have passed, and
she is again among us, after most
interesting excursion around the world
And now, since the trip was a successful
one, the result of which enables the
original project to be put into execu
ton, the ban of secrecy is removed, the
history of the whole enterprise is laid
bare, and approving listeners are called
upon to applaud this noble effort on the
part of one woman to open up fresh
avenue of commerce for the benefit of
her sex.
The name of Susan King is widely
known throughout the city. She is
now rich woman, but when she came
here, many years ago. she brought only
guitar 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 boosted of, and started out
at once in search of music scholars, so
representing her case to the families
called upon that within twenty-four
hours she had engaged her class, re-
ceved payment in advance, and return
ed to her hotel in a carriage with forty
six dollars in her pocket. The best
point in her undertaking, however, re-
mains to be told. Though representing
herself as professor of music and the
originator of special theory of instruc-
ton, she had in fact SO limited a
knowledge of the science as to be
obliged to hire a teacher to carry out
her plans, and was the first, as well as
the last, to institute method of musl
cal 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 making money. Business is her
speciality. She has dealt largely in real
estate and is row millionaire. The
enterprise which promises to lend new
lustre to her name found its protector
Madame lap1npacf of facb 90 %
brity. On the suggestion of Miss King
this lady conceived the idea of putting
her friends money to good use. Many
but as readily disposed of because of
their impracticability. The question,
"What would furnish profitable EN-
ployment to the greatest number of
women?" 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 Monday of the next Miss King
had taken out her letters of credit,
bought ten thousand dollars worth of
gold for travelling expenses, and set out
on her solitary way. Arrived at San
Francisco, she spent few weeks there
in learning what she could of the coun
try for which she was bound, and then
set sail for China.
Her letters of introduction carried
her. of course, into the highest circles
of English speaking. She at once en-
tered the home of Sir Harry Parks, the
British Minister, who, with his wife,
expressed the most cordial sympathy
with her undertaking, and offered TO do
everything in his power to assist her.
Sir Harry offered her military escort
Of two hundred men in her journey
through the interior of the country, but
refusing all guardianship or protection
she took her Sedan chair and coolie SER
wants and went forth alone. AS ignor-
ant of the topography as of the Ian
guage Of the country, her situation
would seem to picture itself decidedly
embarrassing one; but the woman who
hardships of younger days was not to
be daunted now. She quickly perceived
that to assimilate herself 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 refine
ment of home; yet all these became
possible in time, and as q consequence
she was permitted to penetrate regions
never before trodden by stranger feet.
In many places this venturesome woman
was received as divine impersonation.
They worshipped her, they offered her
every honor conceivable to their bewil-
dered minds, and followed her through
the streets of their cities in such dense
throngs that she was once or twice
obliged to implore the interference of
the magistrate to preserve her from
suffocation. Presents and gorgeous en-
tertainments were forced upon her at
every stopping place. In snort, she
became the object of universal interest
and admiration. Herself an adven-
turer and seeker after curiosities,
she became the most curious of
all, and for once, at least, since
the days of Confucius, woman
succeeded in awakening the profound
attention of the Celestials The tomb
OF Contucius, by the way, was the most
interesting point in Miss Kings pill
grimage. 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 the homeward vow
age, by the Cape of Good Hope and At
lantic Ocean. Besides making arrange
ment for supply Of any amount of the