Daily Republican., 1879-10-11
FOR TEA DRINKERS ONLY.

FOR TEA DRINKERS ONLY.
An Added Interest I'm the Exh1llra.
ting Beverage-One Cup More
Please.
From California Paper. F''%4 as.
On the camp ground in Fresno coun-
ty we heard story which may seem to
be sensational" and If it BIZ true, it
will produce a profound sensation with
large class of people in the United
States. 1t is so strangely horrible that
we would not give it to the public,
were it not that we think the public is
entitled to the knowledge, and that
there is a possibility" and some
probability" Of its being true. This is
lit:
A gentleman in Fresno county had a
Chinaman in his service to whom he
offered cup of tea. The Chinaman re-
fused to drink it. He insisted, and
the other as persistently refused.
Knowing the fondness OF the Chinese
for tea, he asked reason for the re.
fusal and the other refused to tell.
Becoming vexed at the obstinacy of the
''heathen," he threatened but it was
OF no avail-he would neither drink
the tea nor give his reason for refus
ing.
His curiosity was thoroughly aroused
having heard strange stories about the
preparation Of tea for market, and he
determined to ascertain the reason o.
the strange conduct Of the chinaman
His threats became so demonstrative
that "Ah Sin" began to fear for his
life, and agreed to tell if his question.
er would promise not to tell the China
namen, as they would surely kill hin
if it became known that be toldit. HI
then made this statement; that it was
the custom of the Chinese to send home
Ito China-the bodies of deceased
friends; for safe transit and preserva
tion the bodies were packed in tea
that this tea was dried, and prepared
and returned to the American market
that "priyate marks" were put upOl
the chests, and that Cinnamon neve
drank tea in this country unless they
knew how it was marked, or unless i
was specially imported for their owl
use.
i We give the following reasons TO
saying this is possibly true -
| l. 1t is a we'll known fact that tn
Chinese send the bodies Of their friend
back to China; when they bury, it i
only for time, as the bones are ex
humed and sent to the land of thei
nativity.
2. According to an analysis given il
Chambers Cyclopadia, tea contains 2
per cent of tannin. and is therefore
suitable medium in which to conve,
animal remains.
3. We have not the least reason t
doubt the sincerity and veracity of ou
informants.
4. 1t is we'll known that the Chimes
are very careful in the use of tea, an
that they use, mostly if not entirely
that which is put up and imported fo
their own special use. Their best tea
if put on the market, would not sci
here because of its great price.
We have now done only our duty i
the matter We cannot say that ther
is any truth in the statement, but W
think there may be. And while it j
barely possible that this may be so.
seems unnecessary to urge our reader
to abstain from its use until they Cal
at least be assured that they can use
with safety. They who understan
the danger of taking into their system
exhalations from cadaver will be slo,
to run any risk in this matter. If it b
true, no one can tell or even imagin
what diseases may have been engen
dered by the use of tea thus rendere
poisonous.
When people refused to yield to al
guments and facts concerning the US
of the unclean carcass of the swine
science discovered the existence @
trichina, and many were induced t
refuse to eat the vile flesh because 0
the manifest danger. If, by placin
this statement before our readers, the,
are induced to abstain from the use Q
tea, we shall have done them no injury
as its influence on the nervous system
is such that its use can be of no posi-
BILE benefit, but is real detriment.
We have drunk very little tea sine
the Chinese have dwelt in any consid
cradle numbers in California. And 70
that little we shall continue to beg paI
don of our stomach until this state
, ment of the Chinaman is satisfactoril
, shown to be untrue.
Since writing the above we have re
ceived further information, and fin
that we have spoken very modest,
where others speak confidently. Man,
Americans are firmly convinced tina
the tea in which dead bodies are CARRIE
to Asia is returned and put upon tn
American market. The bare idea is S
, horribly disgusting that we felt slo1
to give it credsnce. The finer instinct
of the system must be stihed, and til
appetite grossly abused, in any on
who will run the risk OF tasting Of thi
filthiness, after learning of the danger
/, Sugar Beet Premiums for Next
Year (lsSO).
cAl I \