The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-02-15

COutIdIy W dill IulcS duu IcS SuldLlOuS.
He came home tipsy to the palace and
tried to pick a quarrel with me.
I answered nothing. He, furious,
struck the Golden Branch; he called
me girl who can not blush,' sidiot
who takes off new clothes to put on
old ones Besides which, he wanted
me, q greensboro leaf of the Golden
Branch, to perform kotoou before my
mother in-law. If you don't have him
decapitated, shall not be satisfied"
Exit.
"Oh, what revengeful temper!"
chants the poor bothered Emperor,
quoting an old proverb. "However
intelligent madman may be, he finds
it difficult to control his own house
hold" He resolves to hear counsel on
the other side. The son-in-law, Couo al,
therefore gives his version of the story.
The result is that the Emperor, instead
of Furnishing him, acknowledges the
service he has done the State, gives
him red robe covered with dragons,
metal plate commemorative of his
herOism and flial virtues to be hung up
in his reception hall, and a sword
wherewith to behead a culprit, without
referring the case to imperial justice.
He scolds his daughter for disobedi-
ence to her father and mother-in-law,
adding, "In future don't come here
until send you the order" Finally,
with Chinese sincerity, he sings (aside),
"Couo al deserved punishment, but
could make my daughter a widow?
Not only have not done so, but 1 have
given him presents in return for the he
roism with which he and his father have
defended my grand dynasty"
"Hao pou@ @hao! Is it good or bad?'
asks Ii in high state of delight. He
explains how all the parts, including
those of the women, have been per-
formed by men ever since the Emperor
Tchien loung, having taken an actress
as concubine, forbade women to appear
on the stage.
In spite of their strange and conven-
tional style, the actors are not without
a certain degree of merit; but they have
a queer idea of properties and scenery.
Does a warriorintend to mount on horse
backp He majestically sets a few
steps in advance, lifts his right leg and
makes it describe a semi-circle, as if to
set his foot in the stirrup; the public
understands what is meant. Does he
thrash the air with his riding-whip?
The public knows that the horse is gal
loping. A severe old man, broken
down by age, advances, holding in his
hand two pieces of stuff, on each of
which wheel is painted, thereby indi-
eating that the Emperor arrives in his
chariot. An honest mandarin, misun-
derstood by his sovereign, betakes him.
self in despair to forest. His mother
follows him, bringing some canvas
which represents rock. After singing
her sorrows, she sets the rock in a cor
ner. The son has resolved to set fire to
the forest and avenge his
wrongs, Chinese fashion, by
committing suicide. A rosined torch
is brought him: he lights it; which
means the forest is burning. He brand
ishes the torch, blackens his face with
the smoke, bites at the flame u His
mother screams; they fall, and are
taken as burnt to death.
For six or seven TAOS (sixpences) any
spectator can alter the programme, and
have (by special desire) his favorite
pieces performed. Lii and his friend
make use of the privilege, and beg the
manager to give them shiao shi-a re-
alistic representation of scenes OF. pop
ular life; sort of vaudeville seasoned
with coarse jokes, in which, by word
and gesture, Chinese license takes its
full swing. From these little comedies
they learn that, with Chinese stage
lovers, discretion is the better part of
courtship. Nothing quiets their trans
ports more effectually than the threat
to call in the neighbors. Even when
the course of their true love is running
smooth, they fear to become the vic
tins of treachery.
"Sit down, SIR" says a primrose
tinted Juliet, "on the edge of this
couch. will 60 and bid my parents
goodnight, and then return to keep
you company"
4 "I hope your good sentiments won It
change into bad ones," answers her
saffron-complexioned Romeo. "Dont
60 and fetch robust young fellows to
knock me down with fisticuffs; don't
be the ruin of poor young man"
"Take courage" says Juliet. "l
have no evil intentions. l only take
leave of my parents to prevent their
suspecting any thing"
Another inamorata, student, comes
nearer to the ideal of "All for Love, or
the World Well LOST ..t. .t
sinister Couo-wei," says the lady
"I respectfully beg you to leave the
house. / won't listen to you; l vii
call the neighbors.
: "Call them. They may drag me be
, fore the mandarin; they may give m,
: 40 strokes of bamboo. I am perfectly