The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
CHINESE ODDITIES.
THE EXCITEMENT CAUSED BY THE
ADVENT OF A FOREIGNER.

ADVENT OF A FOREIGNER.
Watching the Pale Faced Traveller a
His Meal-Remsrks Of the Almon
Eyed Bystanders-Hotels and Eatin
Houses-Beds and Furniture.
called them good humored, but
stranger would not think SO, II he say
them for the first time, On the contrary
the state of things seems to be borderin,
on riot. The amount of energy tina
lies latent in a Chinaman, waiting to b.
developed and manifested by discussion
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 on,
another for half an hour, screaming theil
loudest. with distorted countenances anc
violent gesticulations, apparently threat
ening immediate death to those who differ
from them. 1t seems incredible that thu
subject is Of no more Importance thar
whether sack of potatoes or basket O,
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 o pale face and
beard. II the place Is one where foreign.
ers are occasionally seen, they will look
up, say ''Hwan-kui" foreign ghost), and
after few moments resume their EN-.
ployment as though we were not there.
II, however, foreigners are almost un.
known In those parts, we know perfectly
we'll 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. It is very entertain.
ing to observe how excited such a 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 carving
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.
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 a great
mystery. Much questioning goes on as
to the way of using them. They beg to
know the reason why we prefer to employ
a 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 q similar way, as
they say quietly to one another, "Lookl
He is doing like this" Standing so
closely around our small table that we
feel nconvenienced, we entreat them to
give us breathing room while we dine, and
afterward we will talk to them. Many
voices ,ods s,. break forth with pleasure at our
speaks our words" says one; Eyes, 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 a time one is almost al
questioned in the same way. The
trivial and ridiculous questions are sa
The inquiries they make of a foreign
such as they commonly make q ,,e
themselves. How far Is it to you
,estral homer Are your venerable De t4
iving2 How many sons have your vas
your linen made in China or in England
How do you get 1t so white? How are
marriages arranged among the foreign
'hildren2 What is your income"
A little mild banter is much appreciated
y the crowd, but brings out more rapid
usillade of questions. In the country
places about Annoy have been asked very
frequently, Where is the country where
he people have one leg?-one arm?-one
'ye?-and where there are only women?
Have you seen these lands?" What the
'rigin Of these notions is it is hard to say.
'erhaps some Chinese Baron Munchausen
# Dean Swift wrote burlesque book of
ravels, which has in the course of time
'een accepted as authentic by people
Who have for SO many centuries stayed at
lome.
INNS ON THE GREAT ROADS.
In China every traveller carries his bed
ling with him; in the daytime it helps to
Jack the cart, or is laid, by way Of sad
lie, upon the ass. The traveller NAV
cunt himself fortunate if he can find in
ONE 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
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 house 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 |
uest rooms, little boxes about twelve
eet 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.
A very rickety old chair and an equally |
ecrepit table are the only furniture, the |
ed being simply brick or mud plat
orm filling nearly half the little room
nd raised about two feet from the floor.
Underneath it is fue, into which, in
Did weather, dry grass or other fuel is
ushed and fired, the heat and smoke pass
lg In zigzag line just under the sur
zee of the couch. and finally escaping up /
vent in the wall. Other fireplace there
none; and if, as often happens, the
Kinney should be foul the warmed bed
but a poor compensation for smarting
res and partial suffscation. But there
'e other rooms sometimes at the top Of
le yard, and it is always an object to se
Ire them, as they are trifc larger and
Gamer and probably in better repair.
be charges are moderate, from 100 to
70 cash per night-about 25 cents-with
ltras for food and gratuities to servants.
Boston Commercial Bulletin.
A Sisters Right.