The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-12-04
He was in home dress, like any gen.

like an Oriental picture, parsonage
out of Lalla Rookh, or something quite
apart from our common place world, in
robe of pale blue flowered Grape, lovely,
delicate and lustrous, q, silvery azure.
falling in soft, graceful way over
brocade silk skirt of the peculiar yellow
green which is known in the fashion
plates as "faded leaf" color; in this at.
| tire the refinement of his features and
slightness of his form were more appar-
ent than when in his visiting costume.
The interpreter, who is also a servant,
came Immediately and took his position,
standing several feet from his superior;
and soon Mrs. Ko KunsHu entered,
dressed as when l first saw her, followed
by the two little girls. And on my re-
marking that had not seen the baby,
the professor, understanding my words,
smiled and said something to his wife,
which seemed to be asking if the baby
could be seen, to which she, half laugh
ing and giving her head slight toss,
seemed to answer: II don't care" So
the interpreter disappeared for a moment
and returned leading tiny girl two
years old, diminutive specimen of a
Chinese woman, a wee thing with round,
grave face, and clad in indigo blue
clothes figured with white, like some of
those India silks which were so much
worn a few years ago. The little thing
stood quietly holding fast to his hand,
and solemnly contemplated us-fantasti'
cally attired creatures that we were
her eyes.
And now, with considerable help from
the interpreter, we had some interesting
conversation about the education Of
children. The father said they were
to be taught English at once, and sent
them for their new books, which were
copies of Halliard's First Reader" in
which the superintendent now gave
them q little instruction, to the great
delight of the family. Then he went to
his study and brought out pile of Eng
lish and Chinese school books which
had been given to him, and was very
eager to get information about our Ian
guage. He produced our cards, and
asked us one by one to pronounce our
names, and then each card he labeled
with the Chinese Mine required three
characters, which were made in per
pendiculal row at the upper right-hand
corner. These were done with few
skillful strokes of q dainty black brush
or pencil which he took from some re
ceptacle attached to a girdle beneath his
robes.
|
in this manner for his own convenience,
the names of his visitors, who had al
ready been numerous, to Judge by the
quantity of cards in the decorated porce-
lain salver which he brought from his
study.
AS the Chinese is language of sym
bo]s, of fhieroglyphics rather than IL tiers,
u single character represents what with
| us it might require several syllableS to
express. Fhe spoken diuleets are numer-
Gus, according to different provinces OF
the empire; but the Mandarin dialect,
as it is called, is the purest, and has an
extensive literature. 1t is otherwise
known us the =" Court dialect" being
the language "fixed upon by govern
ment to be learned and used by officials
throughout the empire" so that those
who acquire ii can always find persons
with whom they can communicate in
every part of China. This, as he in
much an unknown tongue to the COM
mon class of that nation as our own is
The mandarins. of whom there are
several ranks, have special privileges
They all wear blue, and they alone can
use gold embroidery on their clothing
and their wives are attired according
to the position of the husbands, which
IS seen ut once by the color on their caps
or the peculiar emblazonry on theil
robes. 1t is their custom in the pres.
Hua has already been described) with
the hands on the knees, and in very
composed manner. No mandarin car
with propriety return Il visit on foot
and when he appears on the street nc
person of inferior order must presume
to salute him.
In spite, however, of all such limita
tions we found our interviews with the
Ko Kun-Hua family delightful; and this
last one was closed by our trying to pro
nounce the name (Which sounds as i
written "Ko Qung-Whah v" and b,
a-drinking-"h high tea," am sure i
ought to be called. The Interpreter
who appears to be man-of all-work
, and always full of business, smart, capa
BILE and bright wherever one meets him
whether indoors OF on the sireet-cam
in with waiter on which were six cup
of tea, each in its "salver," which h
set on the table before us.
The etiquette is for the guests to tax
up their cups, when the heads of tn
house Immediately initiate them, an,
then all silently partake together; bu
though we understand that such wa
the custom, anu saw that Mr.. and Mrs
, Ko Kun Hua waited our movements
, not one of us ventured to do this, no
, even when the Mandarin said, "Tak
teal" for how should we manager
, that was the question. Each cup wa
: on long narrow "salver" or waiter {
metal, which had a sunken circle int
which it fitted, and each cup had cove
on it like small saucer turned LottoI
upward. We waited, as with one cor
sent, till Mrs. Ko Kun-Hua, seeing ou
E dilemma, raised hers with her rigt
3 hand and daintily carried it to her lip
t holding her arm high, and she sippe
: with the cover on. We all tried, an
: made universal, ignominious failur,
: In fact, as for myself, | could hardl
convey mine safely to my mouth will
= out using both hands, such concer
Y was in lest the cover should drop OF
: We tried again; and then we LAUGHED
n the whole company of us; and then I'll
v host and hostess, with considerab
e kindness and courtesy characteristic
: that people toward their guests, remove
|. the covers from their own cups and la
; lowed their example; and then we q
0 took tea, decorously and in state. \
|. spoons, no sugar, no milk; they nev
g use them. A few tea leaves are put
the bottom of each cup, boiling wat
: poured on, tke covers put in place, al
S thus, with all the flavor kept in, it
s served.
g They were extremely agreeable al
e obliging, and no doubt if our curiosi
), had so far overcome our good breedi
| lid. - n L Al.