Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-16
JOHN CHINAMAN AT HOME,
Col Lincoln Describes Some of the
Queer Trait of a Peculiar People.

Col. Chas. P. Lincoln, deputy commissioner
OF pensions, entertained number of fello
Wolverines last evening on the occasion of the
regular meeting Of the Michigan Association at
the quarters in Elk's Hall, on the corner OF
the avenue and 9Th streets, by giving a short
lmpromptu talk upon what he observed while
he was solournlng in the celestial empire as
United States consul at Canton a number of
years ago. He gave brief description of the "lay
OF the land and then told some very peculiar
anecdotes characteristic of the Chinese in their
own country. The diet of these odd people,
whose ways are! said to be dark and whose
tricks have required the reputation of being
vain, furnished the colonel with quite an in
teresting theme.
Rice. he said, forms the main staple of all
their meals IN China, while on top of it they
cook anything in the way of a bit of meat that
they can get hold OF. The celebrated diet of
rats Is not myth, but is often
resorted 10, one belief being that rat
meat makes the hair grow SO that many a
ChInaman whose cue il beginning to grow thin,
and who thereby thinks that his chances of
going 10 heaven are being diminished, will
be seen patiently frying a rat-a dried rat
as ruIe-over a bit Of rice in the sweet
hope that it means salvation The heads and
tails OF fish, joined by the spine, thrown away
by more delicate cooks, are considered a great
luxury and may be bought in any market
Pigs tallt are common staples of meat food
1hey are also cooked on top OF the rice the
nayOr OF the meat going down into the vege-
table and making II a tribe more palatable
than II might otherwise be. A vast amount OF
pork Is eaten.
Business Is carried on in peculiar manner
In China Ii Is law that every merchant
shall, at the close OF the year, owe nobody any
thing. so that as that time approaches prices
go steadily down, in order that the impecunious
dealers may obtain enough ready cash to paw
oil their debts If they fail to do so their shops
are sure TO be closed on the first morning OF the
new year, with huge placards OF red paper
pasted on the front giving itemized accounts of
the indebtedness. The speaker was warned by
the clock of the light OF time and was obliged
to close his very interesting talk, promising to
give second edition of 1t, II the association
wished, at some future time.
Earlier in the evening several charming
musical selections we're rendered by the Schu-
bert Quartet and Miss Bertha Lincoln, daugh-
her of the president OF the association. The
latter took the part in the quartet OF Mr.
heyser. who was detained elsewhere, and she
also sang a solo in q very pretty manner
Messrs. AlonzO c. Raymond OF Detroit and
Ezra c. Perkins OF Cheboygan were elected
members OF the association. Among the dis
hngulshed people present were ex-senator
Ferry, Gen VIM l. Hartsuff of Port Huron,
Judge Cooley OF the interstate commerce COM
mission, Gen. o. i. Wilcox. governor of the
soIdiers Home; Capt Harry Sherwood, assist
ant cltV postmaster; ex-Assistant Postmaster
OeneraI thompson, Gen. Ira G. Abbott Judge
marian. large number Of ladies were also
present. who enjoyed the events Of the evening
In high degree.