The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-09-22

There is a school for the Chinese in
Philadelphia, and, the Times of that
city tells how John Chinaman is i'm
proving the shining hour:
Mr.. So is forty years of age, and
although he has lived in America five
years he hasn't even mastered the simple
beauties of "pidgin" English. He is
the dolt of the school, but that fact
doesn't seem to disturb him a particle,
and the look of pleased astonishment his
face wore when he was told for the
twentieth time that ga" is the first let
ter of the alphabet would have driven
any but Christian teacher to distraction.
"H-e-n" said the teacher, as he wrote
those letters on the blackboard and re-
ceived an approving smile from Mr.. So.
"What does that spell?" continued
the instructor.
The pupil smiled, scratched his left
side and reflected.
"That is hen-a chicken" said the
teacher.
me sabe hen," replied Mr.. So, as
coolly as though the information was
not by any means new.
"Well, write it." said the teacher,
thrusting a piece of chalk into the
Mongolian's right hand. The idea of
asking him to write struck the other
seekers after knowledge as extremely
funny. and Sam Hing, King Gee, Moi
Kee and Chang Lung giggled like over
grown schoolhoys. The slow pupil
smiled, eyed the writing on the black
board critically, grasped his crayon
| firmly and to the astonishment Of the
Caucasians in the room executed an al
most perfect imitation Of the teachers
| ol1 of ,x,<rIJ
"Read il" said the teacher.
Chicken" was the nonchalant re-
sponse of the pupil, as he moved toward
his seat.
"Not chicken, hen," said the instruc-
tor in correction.
"Alle same hen, allie same chicken, u
replied Mr.. So, philosophically, as he
dropped into his seat and famed his
fevered brow with his primer
A lady and gentleman were the only
teachers in this school. The lady devoted
herself to All How, while John Lung
looked on and yawned at regular intervals
as though he was dreadfully bored. AL
How, however, appeared to take great
interest in his studies. The male teacher
spent the greater part of the school hou1
in instructing Quong Wha and All Loon
the latter being much the brighter
student. "The fox has a hen," said the
teacher, reading from the primer. "The
fox has hen," repeated the pupils
spelling out the words.
"This is the picture" said the tutor
pointing to an engraving.
"Me sabe fox, me sabe hen," replied
All Loon, cycling the picture.
"What fol fox got him hen?" inquired
Quong, examining the wood-cut.
"He wants to eat it, answered th'
teacher.
"Belly good fox," was the sententiou
criticism of Quong, as he looked gravel,
at the teacher, who was evidently un
prepared for any such philosophical ut
terance and consequently did not attemp
to reply to it.
About this time the attention of nearl,
every one in the room was attracted b,
the suppressed laughter of Moi Kee ant
King Gee, who were enjoying the fut
tering of paper butterfly, manufactured
and set afoat by Sam Hing. The arti
fetal insect was captured and the corlrs
of study went on. The teachers hea
the lessons of each pupil separately, ant
80 long as they are under the eyes G
their preceptors the pupils are as meel
and studious as any one could wish, bu
their moments are not spent in study
that is, to any great extent. Th
teachers, however, are loud in thei
praises of the scholars aud say the
learn with remarkable rapidity.