The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-02-13
LETTER FROM MRS JAMES B NEAL.
CONTINUED FROM FIRsr PACE

dlSpenSary, ana hnally Mr.. Chin in
vted all the foreign gentlemen and
James dlspensary assistants. to an
evening dinner. They went and were
most kindly entertained and a few
days after, came an invitation from
Mrs. c II for us ladies. | was afraid to
try the food and hadn't any suitable
gown to wear, knew should be max
ing blunders in "manners" all the
time, but decided | must not refuse
again, as we had already done before.
So we sent out at once to hunt up a
ready made garment, and after the
man Of the shop had brought two loads
of upper garments for me to look at,
the first of which were all too expens-
i've, the second cheap but old fashion,
ed, finally sent my woman to a shop
to select, and the man brought back
third batch that were stylish (D would
fit, and were within my means, from
which, an hour before time to start, |
selected blue gown of not two startl-
ing shade, with the proper black
satin and gay ribbon trimmings and
embroidered sleeves of a shade of
royal purple much admired in this
oriental land, altogether a rather taste
full and slightly becoming garment.
This | doffed over my best black silk
skirt and two Chinese upper garments
under for | knew | should have to
take off layer or two) and plastered
back my hair as smooth as | could, put
on my gay colored Chinese shoes
made after the Tartar style Qor Manch-
uri women do not bind their feet)
all my rings, bracelets. and a breast pin
to take the place of the gew-gawS, a
Chinese woman, who dresses respect
fully to her hostess, must wear, and
with a Japanese fan in my hand went
in my chair, wondering just how it
would be. Mrs. Bergen was just ahead
of me and we arrived together; the
ta-tais. one and all were waiting for
us near the gate, which was comPl-
ment. TO be kept waiting by ones
hostess is meant for a snub, Miss
Precious was there too, and bow ed very
low. The evening James was there to
dinner. it seems he put his arm around
this small maiden, inquired of her how
it would be to come and ''be my little
girl?' This her father took as sign
that James wanted to adopt her. The
Chinese have way ofrecognizing ever
so many people as adopted this, or
adopted that, SO was warned by my
woman, that unless l meant to offend
and hurt the whole family must recog-
nize Miss Precious as my adopted
daughter The adoption is sealed by
the child's knocking her head thrice
on the ground before me and my send
ing her present of four things, ever
after calling her "adopted daughter
and being called "adopted Mother
by her, so l was in for it, and had no
sooner made my bows to all the numer-
Gus Tai-tais and to the other guest,
Mrs. Wang, mother of Mrs. Chin,
when Precious got down on the
ground struck her head to me three
times and called me "adopted mother,
Iraised her up and called her ."adopted
daughter, Mrs. Bergen said, 'can a
little girl have only one adopted
mother?" And at that her mother said
bow or "strike your head" to Mrs.
Bergen, so the operation was gone
through with the second time. Then
my little girl, who is bright and at.
tractive in spite Of the powder lind
paint on her face and lips, came close
to me, asked my age, and leaned on
my lap as though she had known me
all my life, told me her feet didn't
hurt, that she had three pairs of ear
rings, two pairs of bracelets and such
pretty new waist ribbon with all silk
tassels. that when she came to see me
she was to have another pair of new
shoes all red and embroidered etc,
etc, on and on prattling as sweetly as
little child at home. Pretty soon
Mrs. Chalfant and her baby arrived
and attracted much attention, and
then dinner was announced. we
were invited into Mrs. Chins bed
room until the table was laid and ther
out TO the feast. They insisted upor
me having the upper seat which after
properly holding back and declaring
myself unworthy for, had to accept
Mrs. Chin making three bows to me
which | returned, and stood in my
place until she had done the same
to Mrs. Bergen at the second place
Mrs. Chalfant in the third and he
mother in the fourth. The elder o
the two married daughters sat in th'
fifth and sixth places, and orr hostes
in the lowest where she could help th'
guests. The table was set with sweet
meats which were the first course, ant
at each place was a saucer to act a
plate and a native spoon, made o
china to match the saucer which was
plate in use really, and a pair OF rec
chop-sticks, Mrs. Chin helped me to