Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-11-01
CHINESE ODDITIES,
THE EXCITEMENT CAUSED BY THE
ADVENT OF A FOREIGNER.

Watching the Pale Faced Traveller 9
His Meal-Remarks of the Almon
Eyed Observation-Disclosures AMI Eatin
HOUSEHOLDS and Furniture.
/ called them good humored, but
stranger would not think SO, if he sa,
them for the first time. On the contrary
the state of things seems to be borderin,
on riot. The amount of energy tha
lies latent in Chinaman, waiting to b
developed and manifested by discussio,
OF cash, is simply incalculable. As W,
coolly regard this throng of half dressed
yellow colored people. we see chance &C
quaintances who have run against ont
another for half an hour, screaming thei1
Ioudest, with distorted countenances ant
violent gesticulations, apparently threat
ening immediate death to those who differ
from them. 1t seems incredible that the
subject is Of no more Importance than
whether sack of potatoes or basket OF
fish shall be half farthing more or less.
Imagine our coming suddenly into such
a crowd in short serge jacket and big
sun hat, under which is a pale face and
beard. If the place is one where foreign
ers are occasionally seen, they will look
up, say "Hwan-kui" foreign ghost). and
after a few moments resume their en-
| ployment as though we were not there.
If. however, foreigners are 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
maneuvering. Sometimes the landlord
appears pleased to receive us, but now
and then he seems to think we take up
too much room, with the crowd who stand
round to look at US. 1t is very entertain
ing to observe how excited such crowd
often becomes by the advent of for
eigner, and how rapidly the news spreads
to neighboring houses that foreign
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 will
shout and gesticulate, entreating the un-
tutored herd to remember the proprieties
and not crowd in so much upon the for
eign gentleman.
A FOREIGNER AT HIS MEAL.
The point of greatest interest is always
reached when the traveller begins his meal.
He has carried with him all he wants with
the exception of rice, potatoes, hot water
and one or two other things. The laying
out of plates, knives and forks is great
mystery. Much questioning goes on as
to the way Of using them. They beg to
know the reason why we prefer to employ
man to carry all our apparatus for din
ner, instead of using their bowls and
chop sticks. The spoon and fork, appar-
emily made Of solid silver, greatly aston
ishes them, and the traveller is ready
enough to own that they are not silver at
all. When we lift our food to our mouth,
many hands move in a similar way, as
they say quietly to one another, "Lookl
He is doing like thisp' Standing so
closely around our small table that we
feel Inconvenience, we entreat them to
give US breathing room while we dine. and
afterward we will talk to them. Many
voices break forth with pleasure at our
speaking to them. "The foreigner
speaks our words" says one; "Yes, let
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 one is almost always
questioned in the same way. The most
trivial and ridiculous questions are asked.
The inquiries they make of foreigner are
such as they commonly make among
themselves. How far is it to your an
cestral home? Are your venerable parents
living? How many sons have you? Was
your linen made in China or in England?
How do you get 1t so white? How are
marriages arranged among the foreign
children? What is your incomeY"
A little mild banter is much appreciated
by the crowd, but brings out more rapid
fusillade of questions. In the country
places about Annoy I have been asked very
frequently, Where is the country where
the people have one lsg?-one arm?-one
eye?-and where there are only women?
Have you seen these lands?" What the
origin of these notions is it Is hard to say.
Perhaps some Chinese Baron Muuchausen |
or Dean Swift wrote burlesque book Of |
;ravels, which has in the course Of time |
ocen accepted as authentic by a people |
who have for so many centuries stayed at |
home. |
INNS ON THE GREAT ROADS.
In China every traveller carries his bed
ling with him; in the daytime it helps to
,ack the cart, or is laid. by way of sad
lie, upon the ass. The traveller may
ount himself fortunate if he can find in
ome Mutual Prosperity or Heavenly
Union hostel tolerable room in which to
est. On the great roads, and the recog-
lized stages, the inns are pretty sure to
,e decent, but elsewhere they are often
vretched.
In those of the better sort there is gen.
rally an eating house or tea shop on one
ide of the large door leading into the
ard. The shop faces the street, and is
onnected with the cook hon g and pri-
ate rooms of the landlord. At this end,
90. are the rooms occupied by the carriers
nd others Passing through the great
oor, the visitor finds himself In large
npaved yard with buildings all round it.
IN one side are, perhaps, six or eight
nest rooms, little boxes about twelve
,et square, with paper in place of glass
or windows, doors which do not fit, and
trough the openings of which wind and
ust find their way.
very rickety old chair and an equally
ecrepit table are the only furniture, the
cd being simply brick or mud. plat
,rr, filling nearly half the little room
nd raised about two feet from the floor.
it is fue, into which, in
I'D weather, dry grass or other fuel Is
rsbed and fred, the heat and smoke pass
% in a zigzag line just under the sur
20 of the couch. and finally escaping up
vent in the wall. Other fireplace there
none; and if, as often happens, the
,imnev should be foul the warmed BED ,
bnt q Door compensation for smarting
-es ss and 4 partial sufocation- Bat But IL. there re
a other rooms sometimes at the top OF
10 e yard, and it is always an object to Sc Sc;
lre them. as they are trife larger ana
eaner and probably in better repair.
he. charges, are moderate. from lo0 70
N cash ner night-about 25 cents-with