Wichita eagle., 1888-10-05
A CHINESE RESTAURANT.
THE EXPERIENCES OF A HUNGRY
AND lNQUISIrIvE REPORTER.

No Oriental Luxurfes in Sight-A Mys-
FERROUS Compound Brought to the Table.
Two Slices of "Pe-sick-re-aut-i.''-A
Pot of Delicious Tea.
In Mulberry street, near Canal, amid the
noise. hustle and confusion of the busy mer-
chants of the bend, there is quiet and UNI
pretentious dining room 1t is presided over
at all hours of the day and night by Wah
Sing Foo, and the business is said to be
thriving one Pictures of turtles, pigs,
sharks and several kinds of hobgoblins are
pasted on the windows and their virtues, as
articles of diet, are set forth in choice spider
scratches upon pieces of brown paper. The
most attractive sign, however, reads as fol-
lows: "a good diner cents"
This was sufficient to lure reporter into
the place recently. There were none Of tho
Oriental luxuries in sight. On the walls were
few pictures of flowers, highly colored, and
a certificate that Mr. Foo, or some of his
friends, had attended Sunday school The
tables were of pine and partially covered by
a ragged material that looked like cross be-
tween a dishcloth and mop Mr.. Foo was
engaged in leveling the sole of his shoe with
a Ratchet when the reporter entered, and,
work. The reporter dropped carelessly upon
stool and waited How long the wait would
have lasted will never be known. There was
q sudden interruption. A pungent odor stole
in from the back yard, where something was
being cooled. 1t was too powerful for any
nose save highly cultivated one. The re-
porter tried to keep it back, but out it came
"a double barreled sneeze-that set every
thing to jingling.
1t struck Mr.. Foo amidship. The Ratchet
fell on his foot and the shoe dropped into
something which looked like keg of mo-
lasses There was blood in his eye and there
might have been a tragedy, had not the
innocent cause of all the connection put on
hungry look and touched his sunken abdo-
men with his finger.
THE BEST IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Foo smiled so that no one could tell
whether he was weeping, wailing or crashing
his teeth as he said:
ewing Foo all ale go to kiting see BAH
"All right, Mr.. Foo I'll forgive you Now
just set up the best in the house, up to the
eight cent limit, and all will be well"
Mr.. Foo jumped away with the air of
man who did not understand a word that had
been spoken. He kept out of sight for twenty
minutes and then appeared with large bowl
of something steaming hot, which he set on
the table and then took a seat close by. He
began to whistle peculiar call and the vel
lowish soup moved restlessly in the bowl A
spoon came with the stuff 1t required some
courage to take a mouthful, and it would
take team Of horses and derrick TO get one
up to the rack for a secord trial. A mixture
of lard, mustard, salt and biIge water may
tempt tagging appetite, but it is just a lit
tie surprising to the stomach of q man not
thoroughly used to the customs of the Flow
cry Kingdom. Mr.. Foo took the mysterious
compound away and came back in a little
while with a large platter and a couple of
small dishes. There were two slices of some
brown material on the platter Mr.. Foo adj
mitted that it was ''pe-sick-re-aut-i" There
is no doubt that it was the genuine goods. 1t
tasted SO. One of the slices was filled with
small fish bones, and the other was dainty
morsel which might have been taken, with
little imagination, to be a bit of fried num-
my. There were also some beans, cabbage
and rice. Mr.. Foo evidently runs his place
On the touch not and taste not plan. Well
it keeps one from being poisoned. A nibble
here and there demonstrated that an ash can
would be safe place for Mr.. Foo's '!layout."
II made it easy to understand why young
Chinanan wears wrinkles and appears like
an old man while yet in his teens.
A SMALL POT OF TEA
Mr.. Foo removed the dishes He wanted to
bring some more of the menu, but the re-
porter indicated that ne would prefer drink
of some kind. After a long delay Mr. Foo
appeared with tray bearing small pot Of
tea and a cup that resembled a toy. The tea
was a revelation. 1t was aromatic and the
flavor delicious and if there had not been
small family Of Croton bugs found in the tea
pot, after the tea had been swallowed, it
would have been thoroughly enjoyable. This
ended the dinner.
''Well, Mr.. Foo, how much do owe youg"
the reporter asked, simply as matter of
form
The remark brought back Mr.. Foo's cheer
fitness. and he came near uncovering his
spine with longitudinal extension of his smile
He showed for the first time that his English
had not been entirely neglected. After few
marks with a brush, through the wreath Of
smiles came the words soft and low:
''Sixta- nine-a Gen."
''Sixty-nine centsl Go to, Mr.. Foo You are
crazy! Why your sign out there says that
you give good dinner for eight cents. What
do you mean by this extortionsn
'Ah! Excus-a-me. Eight cen for poor China
man. Mclean man richee no eatee like
Chinaman. He eatee blenty soup, beef and
good tings. Muchee eatee, muchee pay. Belly
good Sixty-nin-a cen cheapee. Chinaman
losee money all time. Belly poor"
The bill was paid, and the visitor came
away with the experience and conviction that
Mr.. Foo had mistaken his calling He ought
to double up with Hungry Joe and do the
"hand shaking act.-New York Tribune
A Typical Adirondack Guide.
The great character Of our party WIS the
driver, Charley-a chap who is as hard to
catch asleep as an old weasel He is az trim
hr1ilt as nm Indian s1lunar as CI1inE "a a