Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-24
MOncure Conway on the Chinaman.
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Times


us all.
Moncure Conway on the Chinaman.
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Times
On board the Australia there is rather ven
cradle Chinaman, called John Tuck, who is
nearly blind, and seems to do only light work.
When, a number of years ago, one of the Pacific
Mail ships was taking cargo of gold to Hong
Kong. fire broke out, the Chinese sailors were
demorazed, and this man mainly controlled
them, taking the side of the officers. It was
largely owing to him that the crew did not seize
everything for piratical expedition. [The
ship sank, and there is some talk of trying to
find the bars of gold still in that water.l The
company would not part from John Tuck after
that. They all speak highly OF the Chinese
servants on board, and surely there could not
be better servants. Our cooks are Cinnamon
and only wish there were such on some of the
Atlantic steamships on which have travelled.
Every dish that comes on the table has plainly
had special care bestowed ON it, and our daily
curry Gan old traveller tells me) is equal to any
that can be got in any country. There are on
board about hundred Chinese, men and
women, on their way to settle in the sandwich
islands Ever since we left San Francisco. and
even now. when we are in the tropics, those
people prefer to cram themselves. like sardines
In their hold beneath the deck and play dOmi-
noes while they melt, rather than enjoy their
deck and the breezes that never fail u.s.
The inner being of those Cinnamon must he
curiously constructed. The women, several of
whom have babies, do not play at dominoes, nor
anything else, yet, instead of enjoying the open
air. they sit in their small rooms beneath the
lower deck. The captain showed me around
the ship, and in one small room we found four
women and two babies, though they are all
allotted ample room. There seems to be
sWarm1ng instinct as of bees in hive. at work in
them. observed that the two Chinese babies
were decidedly pretty, and there was nothing in
their features that appeared characteristic of
guished them from bright muatto infants
Unless while he is playing at dominoes have
observed no Chinaman in a state OF repose. No
matter what the heat, or the time of day. these
men seem to be always doing something, as if
motion, rather than inertia, were their natural
state. They move about as nOiselessly as in
cessantly, and at table appear to anticipate ones
request before 1t is uttered. Their faces are
always peaceful, and have only observed one
that has any wrinkles in it. They are said to
have remarkably good health. despite their dis
regard of ventilation and their opium smoking.
Their two passions are opium and gambling;
but their friendlier critics say that they do not
carry either to the excess prevalent among
whisky-drinkers and gamblers of whittier COM
plexiOn.
1t is very great pity that somebody out here
doesn't understand Chinese who is able to get
at the real heart and mind of this people. 1t is
not credtable to the Californians that so many
more Cinnamon know something of English than
Americans know Chinese. That language ought
to be taught in American universities as it is at
OXFORD. 1t ought not to be forgotten that there
is great Chinese literature, and that Voltaire
thought COnfucins the greatest teacher of ethics
that ever existed. There Is something about
the broWs and quiet manners of these China
men, with whom we have been travelling for a
week, which ought to interest students of human
/ NOT nIppOn.hOll q
ethnologlcally; their sentiments their motives
OF life, their aims and ideals ought surely to be
studied, and this not merely as embodied in
their ancient literature, but as they influence
the lives Of their lowliest.
A PROJECTORS Opinion Of Alaska.
From the San Francisco Bulletin, October 9th.
Ed. Schieffelin the veteran prospector, came
OF as soon as the Corwin had anchored. re-
porter found him, and he cheerfully told some
of the details of his trip He says the country
up there does not suit him, and, in his opinion
although there is plenty of gold there, it will
never be great mining country, as it is too
colo and inaccessible. They found the precious
metal in paying quantities about 1, 900 miles
from the mouth of the Yukon river, in dis
trict that Is full Of springs. He thinks they
averaged $13 a day when they worked, but that
was not long: They found the place October 8,
1852, and on the 10Th every thing froze up solid
mercury in winter falls to-55o, and often lower
There are only about three months that gold
can be washed from May to August. There is
not so much timber as is generally supposed,
and it is OF poor quality. The members of his
party, besides himself and his brother, all kept
In excel ent health.
What Puzzled q Georgia Lad
From the Atlanta Constitution.
Acertain young man went to call on young
lady Chipley, and seeing her cross the hall in
Mother Hubbard he supposed by her appearance