The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-09-08
John Chinaman at School.

A school for the Chinese has been
established in Philadelphia, and the
Times Of that city tells how John Chi
naman is improving the shining hour:
Mr.. So is forty years of age. and al
though he has lived in America five
years he hasn't even mastered the SIM
pie beauties of .'pidgin" English. He
is the dolt of the school, but that fact
doesn't seem to disturb him particle,
and the look of pleased establishment
his face wore yesterday when he was
told for the twentieth time that .A'' is
the first letter of the alphabet would
have driven any but q Christian teacher
to distraction.
LESSON IN SPELLING.
"H-e-n," said the teacher, as he
wrote those letters on che blackboard,
and received 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.
'Weli, 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
smiled, eyed the writing on the black
board critically, grasped his crayon
firmly, and. to the establishment of the
Caucasians in the room, executed an
almost perfect imitation of the teachers
chirography of the word hen.
Read it," said the teacher.
"Chlicken," was the nonchalant re-
Spouse of the pupil, as he moved toward
his seat.
"Not chicken, hen," said the in
structor in correction.
"Alle same hen, ale same chicken. :"
replied MIR. So, philosophically, as he
dropped into his seat and famed his
fevered brow with his primer.
CELESTIAL PHILOSOPHY.
A lady and gentleman were the only
teachers in this school yesterday. The
lady devoted herself to All How, while
John Lung looked on and yawned at
regular intervals as though he was
dreadfully bored. All How, however,
appeared to take great interest in his
studies. The male teacher spent the
greater part of the school hour in in.
structing Quong VIVA and All Loon,
the latter being much the brighter stu.
dent. 1.-The ,ox has hen," said the
teacher, reading from the primer. 1.-The
fox has a hen,' returned the pupils,
spelling out the words.
"This is the picture" said the tutor,
pointing to an engraving.
"Me sabe fox, me sabe hen," re.
piled All Loon, cycling the picture.
"What fol fox got him hemp in
quired Quong. examining the wood
cut.
"He wants to eat it, answered the
teacher.
"Belly good flox," was the senten
tious criticism of Quong, as he looked
gravely at the teacher, who was evi
IDENTIFY unprepared for any such philo
sophical utterance and consequently die
not attempt to reply to it.
About this time the attention of near
ly every one in the room was attracted
by the suppressed laughter of Moi Ket
and King Gee, who were enjoying tn,
fiuttering of paper butterfly, manufac
tured and set afloat by Sam Hing. Thu
artificial insect was captured and tn
course of study went on. The teach
ers hear the lessons of each pupil sepa
rately. and so long as they are unde'
the eyes of their preceptors the pupil
are as meek and studious as any on,
could wish, but their other moment.
are not spent in study-that is, to an!
great extent. The teachers, however
are loud in their praises of the scholar
and say they learn with remarkable
raniditY.