The New York herald., 1876-03-20
TEMPTING A HUSBAND.
TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OFFERED FOR AN
OTHER MANS WIFE.


OTHER MANS WIFE.
from the Greenwich Journal
Some years since, while t=rrying at Shanghai ant
Hong Kong. the writer became acquainted with 5Ir.
King head OF the highly respectable firm OF Messrs.
King Co, doing business Shanghai.
Mr. King had recently returned from visit TO the
United States whore he had formed an alliance with
blooming young lady, the daughter OF Presbyterian
Clergyman residing Boston, who, after the nup-
tal ceremony had been performed, accompanied her
lord to the Celestial Empire On their way they
stopped for few days at Hong Kong After en-
sconsing themselves In comfortable quarters IN,
couple were visited by rich mandarin. The latter
regarded the lady vory attentively and seemes
to dwell with delight upon her movements.
When Mrs. Kns at length left the apartment he said
TO her husband, in broken English worse than broken
China, "What you give for that wifoy--wfe
yoursS" "Oh," replied tho husband, laughing at thu
singular OF his visitor, 1910, ,OO0." This tho
merchant thought would appear to tho Chinaman
rather high figure, but he mistaken. "Wen,"
said the mandarin, taking out his book with air OF
business, "sposo you give her to me; | give you
SIS 900" II is dl1lcult TO say whether Mr.. King
moro amazed than amused but the very grave and
solemn air OF the Chinaman convinced HIM that he
sober earnest, and he compelled, therefore, "a
refuse the oiler with much placidty AZ he could
sumo. The mandarin however, continued 10 press the
bargain. "l gtye you $4,000" said he; you takd
Mr. King who had no previous notion or thought OF
the commercial value OF the commodity which he had
taken with him ON his business tour was compelled at
length TO inform his visitor that Amcrcans were not IN
the habit OF selling thor wives after thoy had come IN
possession them; assertion which the Chinanan
was sow TO believe.
II was Mr. Kings custom, as well every other
commercial house doing business nj Shanghai TO have
their clerks dino with them daily, leaving theiI
Chinese wives behind soon alter my arrival al
Shanghai was invited to dine with Mr. King. There
were lew gentlemen and seventy three Of his clerk
afalu nj he tull hoy AL a. AN IL
gcnteel appearing young men; stranger would I'M
agno them To be gentlemen While seated at the dinner
table Mr.. King related the foregoing narrative with
great giee laughing at his young and pretty wife, say
ing nc had recently discovered her full value, as hf
had been offered $40 900 Tor her; very high hgurc
wives selling at that time, Tor the average pric
! paid by the clerks for an ordinary Chinese shop
Keepers daughter about $3.50. the price beina
agreed upon with the parents before the young peopd
each other when introduced, II pleased with each
other, the bargain was ut once consummnted IL The
woman should prove to be transccndently beautiful
the parents might receive So moro as cumsha. or a
present
he comes in possession OF his wife he pur-
chases rents small, light constructed bamboo
house which, with liberal supply OF coarse mats and
few articles Tor culinary purposes suices for residence
which is kept all and clean "A hounds tooth
the wife dong, however her own houscwork washing
and ironing her lords clothes, which are kept IN per
feet Sno very domestic, seldom never seeI
upon the street. and more true and faithful wve
never existed: IN TACT they dare not be otherwise fol
their parents would chastse them severely. The hus
band seldom takes meal at home the wife subsist
chiefly upon rice and tho cost of maintaining her to
gcthcr with her wardrobe, will exceed $50 per year
Mrs. King, beng conscientious and energetic lady,
resolved every effort in her power to break up th
infamous traffic Chinese women; hut being ignorant
OF the and customs of tho people IN that distant
country, having no backcrs-her husband feeling
ndiierent-fuled IN accomplishing her merltorious
object AS last resort she issued edct requiring
every one her husbands clerks TO abandon forth
with and OIL their Chinese wives or they would
not be suffered to dine ut the table with her.
The result easily be imagined Tor On the following
day the clerks made his appearance at the
allotted place business which placed Mr. King In
awkward position, blocking the wheels oi his immense
business.
much trouble and unnecessary expense and strange as
1 II may appear the clerks had tho sympathy OF tho
whole community OF shanghai; and however humiliat
Ing might have been TO Mrs King, she obliged
rcsclnd her eicl and when the writer left Shangha
the wheels OF business again in motion and every
thing went on swimuiingy.