The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-12-04

passed between the three elder members
of the Chinese party. However, Mr..
Ko Kun-Hua had the good sense to see
that 1t 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 ot open or play with theirs, but sat
perfectly quiet and upright on the sofa
where they were placed, models of good
behavior, for American children, whose
would very likely have been under the
necessity of saying Don't touch thatm
Don't swing your hands So" "You
must not put your feet up on the sofa!"
You must not meddle with the lady's
things" "Take care you'll break your
FAM" "Now, if you don't sit still, I
shan't let you 60 with me again!" 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 q
little higher up, and their garments
were similar to those we saw at their
house, only much nicer ones.
The interpreter wore 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 gentleman and a scholar, re-
fined and Thoughtful and his bearing
was rs lofty as that of Spanish gram
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 a skirt OF blue silk, and
the upper one was of superlative beauty
and richness, made of silk of a deeper
blue, and worn over another of II lighter
shade, the smaller sleeves of which
showed below the ample folds of the
outer when he raised his hands. 1t
had a close collar, and was fastened
with gold buttons; and on the shoulders,
the sleeves, and down the breast were
exquisitely wrought medallions in q
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 rs far
1nl l. es1i Il
outdo another. The petticoat was laid
in the finest perpendicular plaits, so
narrow that they looked like creases,
and pressed smoothly down; and by
some arrangement a plain breadth was
made to overlap in front, where it had
sumptuous decoratiol-no doubt for the
same reason as that of her husband-of
gilt braid, in curving lines from top to
bottom. Her upper robe was of blue
brocade of different shade, as shim-
mering and bright as silk could
be, edged with stiff band of brilliant
| flowers on white round the neck, and
| also forming Il yoke-shaped trimming,
willie the bottom of tn. sleeves was
bordered with similar wrought flowers
/! in colors on white silk, to the depth of
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 sh would have on her head, since
| Chinese women do not wear hats, bon
| nets OF wells. Her hair was arranged as
| before, only it was now so much cov-
| cred with ornaments at the back and a
sort of upright fillet in front, that only
on the top of her head could any be
seen.
Her little feet were in sight, encased in
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 two
and half English inches in the length
of the soles. Hers were at least four
inches with the tiniest of high heels and
pointed toes, and were extremely pretty
with fowered heels and delicate gill
| lines in zig-zag curves, and row above
row of embroidery on white in pale blue
and red.
You may wish to know how she was
able to walk, but you can easily get an
idea of the method and the difficulty i
you will attempt to 60 the distance OF s
long hall by stepping only on the edge
of your heels. 1t is slow kind of mo
ton, as if one might topple over; ant
we observed that in passing out to th,
carriage she helped herself by putting ou
her hand on the side of the house.
We had some conversation with Oul
guests thr rough 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 tn
baby; that the little girls names Ca
near as we could understand) wer
Wing Ho and Wung Ho; that the rea
son why the boys did not come, too, wa
because they were studying; that the,
were going to move into differen
house, and many other things.
Then they all, at some spoken word
rJse together, invited us to come ant
see them again, shook hands all round
the interpreter put the children into tn
carriage, saw the Mandarin and his wifi
in. then he himself mounted to the sea
beside the driver, and all rode off, leav
ing with us a most favorable impres
sion of their dignity, courtesy and gen
eral high breeding.
About week later it was my unex
pected good fortune to make the famil
a second call, in company with the 81
perintendent of the Chinese missio
school in Boston, and one of the lad
teachers and her daughter; and this tim
the hour being late in the afternoon
they were all at home. The same lac
as courteous as a page-in-waiting j
some royal household, admitted us, r,
! ceived our cards, and showing us int
the same room as on my first visit, sale
7 "Sit down" then sped away to max
/ known our coming.
3 We, however, thought 1T more re