The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-10-05
CHINESE ODDITIES.
THE EXCITEMENT CAUSED BY THE
ADVENT OF A FOREIGNER.
watching the Pale Faced Traveller at
His Mcal-Remarks of tho Almond
Eyed Bystandsrs--HoteIs and Batting
Houses-Beds and Tbuniture.

Watching the Pale Faced Traveller at
His Mcal-Remsrks of tho Almond
Eyed Bystandsrs--BoteIs and Eating
Houses-Beds and Bsuniture.
/ called them good humored, but
stranger would not think 30, If he saw
them for the 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 incalculable. As we
coolly regard this throng of half dressed,
yellow colored people, we see chance ac-
quaintances who have run against one
another for half an 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 the
subject Is of no more Importance than
whether a sack Of potatoes or basket Of
fish shall be half farthing more or less.
Imagine our coming suddenly into such
crowd III q short serge jacket and big
sun hat, under which Is a pale face and
beard. II the place is one where foreign
ers are occasionally seen, they will look
up, say "Hwan-ku" foreign ghost), and
after few moments resume their en-
ployment as though we were not there.
IL, however, foreigners are almost un-
known In those parts, we know perfectly
well that we shall have no peace except
Buoh as we can secure by means Of a 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 crowd
often becomes by the advent of for
eigner, and how rapidly the news spreads
to neighboring houses that a 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.
In 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
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 similar way, as
| they say quietly to one another, "Lookl
| He is doing like thisl" Standing SO
closely around our small table that we
feel inconvenienced, 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 bur 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 your Was
your linen made In China or In England
How do you get 1t 80 whiteH How are
marriages arranged among the foreign
| children2 What is your incomeW
A little mild banter Ia much appreciated
by the crowd, but brings out more rapid
fusillade of questions. In the country
places about Annoy have been asked very
frequently, Where is the country where
the people have one leg2-one armH-ont
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 Munchauset
or Dean Swift wrote burlesque book o.
travels. which has In the course of tim,
been accepted as authentic by q peopl,
who have for SO many centuries stayed a.
home.
INNS ON THE GREAT ROADS.
In China every traveller carries his bed
ding with him; In the daytime 1t helps t.
pack the cart, or Is laid, by way Of sad
die, upon the ass. The traveller may
count himself fortunate If lie can find Ii
some Mutual Prosperity or Heavenly
Union hostel tolerable room In which Il
rest. On the great roads, and the recog
nized stages, the inns are pretty sure t.
be decent, but elsewhere they are Otter
wretched.
In those Of the better sort there Is gen
orally an eating house or tea shop on on
side of the large door leading into tn,
yard. The shop faces the street, and Il
connected with the cook house and pri
vate rooms of the landlord. At this end
too, are the rooms occupied by the carter
and others. Passing through the grea
door, the visitor finds himself In larg
unpaved yard with buildings all round It
II On one side are, perhaps. six or eigh
guest rooms, little boxes about twelv
feet square, with paper In place of glas
for windows, doors which do not At, an,
: through the openings of which wind AM
dust find their way.
/, A very rickety old chair and an equal,
} decrepit table are the only furniture, tn
bed being simply brick or mud plat
form filling nearly half the little roor
and raised about two feet from the floor
Underneath it Is fue, into which, 4
cold weather, dry grass or other fuel
pushed and fred the heat and smoke pass
ing In zigzag line just under the SUI
face of the couch. and finally escaping u
vent in the wall. Other fireplace ther
Is none; and If. as often happens, tn
chimney should be foul the warmed be
Is but poor compensation for smartin
eyes and partial suffocation. But ther
are other rooms sometimes at the top c
the yard, and 1t is always an object to 81
cure them, as they are trife larger an
cleaner and probably In better repair
The charges are moderate, from 100 I
200 cash per night-about 25 cents-wit
extras for food and gratuities to servants
Boston Commercial Bulletin.