Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-12-05

Ko Kun-Hua had the good sense to see
that it was proper to forego the usual
punctilio under the circumstances
though we all suspect that the offending
interpreter, Chin Tin Sing-for that is
understood to be his name-received a
reprimand after they reached home,
and perhaps rightfully, from their point
of view.
No one of them wore gloves, and
with the exception of the interpreter,
each had long, black, folded fan,
which during the entire visit was held
closed in the right hand across the knee,
doubtless in conformity to some code
of ceremony. Even the little girls did
n not open or play with theirs, but sat
perfectly quiet and upright on the sofa
where they were placed, models of good
mothers under similar circumstances
would very likely have been under the
necessity of saying Don't touch thatr'
" Don't swing your hands so. "You
must not put your feet up on the sofap
"You must not meddle with the lady g
thiigs" "Take care! you'll break your
FAM "Now, if you don't sit still. II
shan't let you go with me againm and
many more such remarks and injunc-
tions, which these well-bred Chinese
children did not need. They were hare
headed, and had queer pantalettes tied
once around their ankles and again a
little higher up, and their garments
were similar to those we saw at their
house, only much nicer ones.
The interpreter wore a blue cotton
skirt, and upper garments of dark blue
woolen cloth, skull cap, and common
Chinese shoes. He was taller and larger
than the Mandarin; but the latter
looked the superior that he is, and the
face of a gentleman and a scholar, re-
fined and Thoughtful, and his bearing
was as lofty as that of Spanish gran
dee. His attire was elegant. A skull
cap of solid kind of satin, with the
red silk button, which denoted his rank
came down to his forehead. On his
feet were Mandarin boots." which
seemed to be of soft, white leather, and
reached half way up to the knees in
wrinkles like Turkish boots. His lower
garment was skirt OF blue silk, and
the upper one was OF superlative beauty
and richness, made of silk of deeper
blue, and worn over another of Il lighter
shade, the smaller sleeves of which
showed below the ample folds of the
outer when he raised his hands. 1t
had close collar, and was fastened
with gold buttons and on the shoulders,
the sleeves, and down the breast were
eXquisitely wrought medallions in a
pattern which indicates his rank. As
you see him standing there in his robes
of state, you can but say that he is a
man of noble aspect and presence.
The attire of Mrs. Ko Kun-Hua as far
exceeded her first as one blue silk could
outdo another. The petticoat was laid
in the finest perpendicular plaits, SC
narrow that they looked like creases.
and presst d smoothly down; and by
some arrangement a plain breadth was
made to overlap iii front, where it had
sumptuous decoratio i-no doubt for the
same reason as that of her husband-ol
gilt braid, in curving lines from top tC
bottom. Her upper robe was of blue
brocade of n different shade, as SHIN.
mering and bright as silk coulC
be, edged with a stiff band of brilliant
flowers on white round the neck, ant
also forming yoke-shaped trimming
while the bottom of til, sleeves wa
bordered with similar wrought flowers
in colors on white silk, to the depth O
several inches. No belt or confinement
anywhere, but loose, flowing drapery
and she looked just like the richly
dressed ladies we see on fine Chinese
fans and rare porcelain.
We had felt great curiosity to know
what she would have on her head, since
Chinese women do not wear hats, bon
nets or wells. Her hair was arranged al
before, only it was now so much GOV
cred with ornaments at the back and ;
sort of upright tillet in front, that onl,
on the top of her head could any b.
seen.
Her little feet were in sight, encased il
daintiest of shoes, though not so dimin
utive as among Chinese ladies of ex
| treme fashion in the most exalted rank
who are known to wear shoes only tw,
and a half English inches in the lengtl
of the soles. Hers were at least fou
inches with the tiniest of high heels an,
pointed toes, and were extremely pretty
with fowered heels and delicate gil
lines in zig-zag curves, and row abov
row of embroidery on white in pale blu
and red.
You may wish to know how she wa
able to walk, but you can easily get a
idea of the method and the difficulty
you will attempt to go the distance of
long hall by stepping only on the edg
of your heels. 1t is slow kind of mo
tion, as if one might topple over; an
we observed that in passing out to th
carriage she helped herselfby putting ou
her hand on the side of the house.
We had some conversation with on
guests thr ough the interpreter, findin
out that the lady was contented in thi
strange land that she had one Chimes
woman with her to take care of til
baby; that the little girls names e.
near as we could understand) wei
Wing Ho and Wung Ho; that the re;
son why the boys did not come, too, ws
because they were studying; that the
were going to move into diflere1
house, and many other things.
Then they all, at some spoken wore
rJse together, invited us TO come an
see them again, shook hands all roun
the Interpreter put the children into tt
carriage, saw the Mandarin and his wi
in, then he himself mounted to the se
beside the driver, and all rode off, lea,
ing with us most favorable impre
: sion of their dignity, courtesy and ge
eral high breeding.
About week later it was my une,
pected good fortune to make the fami
a second call, in company with the S
perintendent of the Chinese missic
, school in Boston, and one of the lax
teachers and her daughter; and this tin
) - the hour being late in the afternoon
l they were all at home. The same la
as courteous as page-in-waiting
I some royal household, admitted us, /
! ceived our cards, and showing us in
, the same room as on my first visit, sal
' "Sit down." then sped away to ma
4 known our coming.
e We, however, thought 1t more +
/. spectful to wait standing, and such W
: our attitude when, without momen
: delay, the Mandarin came in, havi
: hastened at once, as did his wife on {