Smyrna times., 1877-10-17
For the Smyrna Times.
My First Week in a Chinese School.

crous has always been one Of my bcsetting
SINS" and | recall that memorable week
with some pride. as one of the few times
when | cOnqured my risbles and was grave
asasphinX, under very trying circumstances.
| opened my school in small upper room,
in the house of my chief patron, rich
Chinese merchant, named Kaw Hong Take,
and as he Is progressive man and speaks
English very well, was not surprised to
Ind European furniture there But the
walls were hung round closely with painted
scrolls OF remarkable designs, and display
ing the usual disregard of Chinese artists
| TOR proportion and perspective. One young
lady toys gracefully with a rose, as large as
! her head-another is leaning over the
bent trunk of tree, about ten feet from
the ground-and a tall bird has only to
stretch his neck a little, to reach the ton.
most bough Of 4 tree that shades him. But
my pupils, six in number, from a married
man down to a bright mischievous little
fellow of seven years, recall me from rapt
contemplation of these works of art, and
am III the midst Of an examination into
their knowledge of English, when droll
little figure appears in the doorway. 1t is
the wife OF the merchant, and as she has
Just returned from a ceremOnious call
upon some city friends, and is arrayed in
her best, 1t Is an auspiciOus moment to
sketch her. Mrs. Kaw Hong Take is a
Malayan, a native Of Penang; she is very
short and very fat, and her dress is adj
mlrably adapted to set off these qualities.
1t differs from the Chinese lady's dress and
Is not so pretty, being much more negligent.
The skirt is short and scant, of narrow red
woolen plaid, and over this is worn a
handsomely brocaded lilac silk tunic,
fastened from throat to waist with diamond
brooches. The sleeves are long and loose,
disclosing occasional glimpses of several
pairs OF bracelets, and the plump, shapelv
hands are literally loaded with rings.
among them several large diamonds Her
ears are adorned with buttons of the same
brilliant gems, recalling a style that pre-
vailed in the United States some years ago.
Her hair, " black as the ravens wing is
combed straight back, like her Chinese
sisters, but instead of the outstanding pufis
and elaborate adornments with which they
dlslgure their heads, her back hair is
arranged in pretty looped coil, encircled
with bandeau of eXquisitely-wrought cold.
most graceful and effective head dress.
| llnger over Mrs. X. S hair, because it is
the most pleasing part of her toilet. and.
besides, | am 10th to describe her shoes.
Can you believe that below all this glitter
OF gold and rustic of silk and sparkle of
diamonds, my lady wears-straw sandals
that will not permit walk more graceful
than shuttle, and suggest the idea of slim
shod at every step! But She has pleasant
round face and a laugh as merry as a
chHd.s and the tout ensemble is not un. |
pleasing. Mrs. X. presently vanishes and |
am again busy with my pupils, when She |
reapearS; denuded of her lilac silk diamonds |
and coronals, in print gown, work basket |
In hand and evidently come to stay. Now |
trouble begins! If she would but leave my |
pupils unmolested, should not mind her |
drawing herself up, feet and all. into |
chair, until she looks like an animated
ball or the loud and frequent yawns. that |
may be only polite intimation that She is |
bored; | could even become accustomed. | |
think, to her sudden, shrll, sharp com |
mands to a distant servant. But imagine |
my despair to have her break in upon a
recitation, with some ill-tmed remark. or
jest, or to look up from an explanation of |
a word or sentence and find her seated |
among my pupils, nosily discussing the |
pictures in their books. During that first
eVentiul week she brought them and me |
cake, coffee and oranges at all times and |
seasons. She came running in, spoon in |
hahd' one DAY, with message, unntelligi- |
bic to me, but which sent two of the bows |
pell NELL after her, out of the room
Another day she made a sudden and un
expected swoop upon the pigtails of two of
the scholars, and, in the middle of a recita.
ton, unplated, combed and rebraided
them as cOOlly as if the school room had
been barber shop. She found her seven
year old son, one morning, rather untidv
as to face and hands; the small circum
stance OF his being in school did not pre-
vent hef having soap, water and towel
brought and then and there giving him
thorough washing. Afterward she arraved
hlm IN clean tunic, and when this novel
performance was ended, regarded him with
a smile and sigh of motherIy satisfaction
All sorts of merchandise found their wov
to the school room for the inspection If
the mistress, from satin brocades and
bracelets, down to the chickens and vere
tables for dinner. And even the becrars
stood on the threshold, to receive aims
Indeed, time would fail me to tell of olI
that transpired in those first days, to test
my temper and risibles. Mrs. Kaw Hong
rake received guests, gave household orders.
transacted business and did the family
sewing In my little domain, until began
10 iear That should never be able to evoke
y iNui oNSl COuluolOU. But little by |
little, after that first week. NV nuniis
learned that an English school was moi con.
1ucted like a Chinese, where each vies
With the other in loud studying and the
'oom is miniature Babel. Mrs. X. was
ess apt, and it was several weeks before
'he ceased to be nuisance, only endurable
because she meant no harm. Now, how
ever, the plump little lady curls herself up
On large sofa and usually behaves with
lecorum; occasionally, it is true, she rolls
'ff her high perch and moves about among
ny scholars for little social enjoyment.
md she still entertains her guests in nv
Dom; but as they are full of curiosity at
he novel appearance and methods of the
oreign teacher, they are quiet and inoffen.
i've. My pupils soon became accustomed
o the regular routine and rules of an
English school room, and now are as
ractable as one could wish. Indeed the
jhinese adapt themselves almost too readily
o fixed laws and are in danger of falling
nto grooves in everything. To induce
hem to think for themselves is the most
lifficult part Of their education, so long
md blindly have they followed the ira.
litions of the sages.
Western nations should offer them moth.