Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-10-19

His Meal-RemarlSs OF tho Almond
Eyed Bystanders-Hot anl Eating
Houses-Beds and Furniture.
| callel them good humored, but
stranger would not think so, If he saw
them for tho first time. On the contrary,
the state Of things seems to be bordering
on riot. The amount of energy that
lies latent in Chinaman, waiting to be
developed and manifested by discussion
of cash, is simply incalculablc. AS we
coolly regard this throng Of half dressed.
yellow colored people. we 500 chance ac-
quaintances who have run against one
another for half all hour, screaming their
loudest with distorted countenances and
violent gesticulations. apparently threat
ening Immediate death to those who differ
from them. 1t seems incredible that tho
subject is of no more Importance than
whether n sack of potatoes or basket of
fish shall bo half farthing more or less.
Imagine our coming suddenly into such
q crowd In a short serge jacket and big
sun hat, under which Is pale faco and
beard. If the place is ono where foreign
ers arc occasionally seen, they will look
up. say "Hwan-kui' foreign ghost), and
after q fow moments resume their en-
ployment MS though we were not there
II, however. foreigners arc almost un-
known In those parts, we know perfectly
well that We shall have no peace except
such as we can secure by means Of little
mancuvering. Sometimes the landlord
appears pleased to receive us, but now
and thon he seems TO think wo tako up
too much room, with tho crowd who stand
round to look Mt us. 1t is very entertain
Ing to observe how excited such q crowd
often becomes by the advent Of for
eigner, and how rapidly the news spreads
to neighboring houses that "forelgn
ghost" has arrived Mine host stands
and threatens terrible things, which he
has not the smallest intention of carrying
Into execution. For half an hour he viii
shout and gesticulate, entrenting the un-
tutored herd TO remember the proprieties
and not crowd In so much upon the for
eign gentleman. w
A FOREIGNER AT HIS MEAL.
The point Of greatest interest Is always
reached when tho traveller begins his meal.
Ho has carried with him all ho wants with
the exception of rico, potatoes, hot water
and one or two other things. Tho laying
out Of plates. knives and forks is great
mystery. Much questioning goes ON rs
TO tho way of using them. They beg to
know the reason why we prefer TO employ
o man to carry all our apparatus for din
nor, instead of using their bowls and
chop sticks The spoon and fork. appar-
emily made Of solid silver, greatly aston
Ishes them, and tho traveller Is ready
enough TO own that they arc not silver at
all When We lift our food to our mouth,
many hands move In n similar way, as
they say quietly to one another, "Looki
Hc Is doing like this!" Standing SO
closely around our small table that wo
feel inconvenienced. wo ontreat them to
give us breathing room whilo wo dine. and
afterward We will talk to them. Many
voices break forth with pleasure at our
speaking to them. Tho foreigner
speaks our words, says one; Yes. lot
him eat. says another; Stand back, you
man without propriety," says third,
whose zeal for good manners Is evidently
due only to his desire to secure front
place.
At such time ono Is almost always
questioned In tho Same way. Tho most
trivial and ridiculous questions are asked.
The inquiries they make Of q foreigner arc
such as they commonly mako among
themselves, How far is 1t to your an-
cestral homer AFRO your venerable parents
hvingl How many sons have youa Was
your linen made In China or In EnglandI
How do you get it so whitea How arc
marriages arranged among tho foreign
childrens What is your incomeY"
A little mild banter Is much appreciated
by the crowd, but brings out moro rapid
fusilladc of questions. In tho country
places about Annoy have been asked very
frequently, "Whero is the country where
the people have ono leg?-one arm?-ono
eye?-and where there are only womenS
Have you seen these landsf" NNat tho
origin Of these notions is II is hard to say.
Perhaps some Chinese Baron Munchausen
or Dean Swift wrote burlesque book of
travels. which has In the course of time
been accepted as authentic by people
who have for SO many centuries stayed ut
home.
INNS on THE GREAT ROADS.
Z In China overy traveller carries his bed
ding with him; In the daytime It helps to