Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-08-31
A STRANGERS STORY.
A TERRIBLE DRAGON THAT CAME ALL
THE WAY FROM CHINA.

The Startling Experience of an American
who Spent Twenty Years In the Celestial
Kingdom A National Holiday That
Brought Myth.
Frequenters of the pretty knoll near
Eighty-sxth street remember statue of
Washington that stands there, bearing a
Latin inscription that declares the original
parsonage to have been 1.-The Father of His
Country"
Near this statue on bench one fine even
ing during the past week sat an elderly
and highly respectable old man. His was
the only settee 81 which a seat remained,
and perforce took place by his side. Be
fore long my neighbor manifested a dispo-
sition to be companionable, and we soon
struck up a conversation.
We exchanged compliments upon the
weather. and he commented upon the naval
parade that Ne said he had witnessed from
the same point. This led the conversation
into foreign channels, and my companion
iold the following strange story:
II went out to China as supercargo on
pne of a. \. Lows ships and remained 20
years in the middle kingdom. | made
rareful study of the people and grew to adj
mire their thrift and energy, but | never
could overcome the feeling of distrust born
of experience They were always sly and
secretive
"NindiCtive to the utmost degree, they
would stop at nothing calculated to injure
an enemy or to avenge n real or fancied
wrong. ] became a convert to the Buddhist
faith through the ministration of fine old
bonze who joined me at tea garden nearly
every night and poured the doctrines of
that pure and beautiful faith into my ears
with Il persiAtcncy that ultimately won my
heart.
: He spoke exquisite pigeon English, but
the fcrvency of his celebrations would have
done him credit at any quarterly meeting
| was educated in the fear of Tao and Of
his representatives in the Flowery King
dom. was especially warned against the
ambitions of this life, and the nobility Of
charity was constantly impressed upon
me. SO firm did this sly old bonze implant
: the philanthropy he preached in my bosom
that | regularly supported him and gave
him every piece of cash that remained
after dschargng my monthly score with
. my almond eyed landlady. lncver dreamed
!, that | was being worked
l Il bought experience as | bought re-
ligion, with my hard earned money. When
. it gave out, the sleek old bonze, who had
. not enjoyed u square meal for months be-
fore he met me, but was not as fat and
hearty as one of Rabeais gullygut frars,
told me with tears in his eyes that he had
been ordered on mission to faraway
Thibet.
This is only predatory to the curious in
!. cident that occurred to me in my own yard
on the night Of the 4th of July. | am now
about to tell you exactly what happened,
- l.. ~ |,
The old mars face was now turned fully
toward me He had twisted round in his
, seat, and one of his feet had tucked itself
away under him. He was very pale and
e cast suspicious, timid glances down the
hillside behind him. Judged by the look
in his eyes he Enthusiastically saw somebody
. approaching, but | could not see single
moving object.
y ION July 3, being DESTROYS to celebrate
j the national holiday in a patriotic manner,
y ! visited a large fireworks depot down
{ town. 1t WAS late to make purchases, for
Il most of the best goods had been sold.
/ bought lot of red lights, box of fire
u crackers and a few yards of punk. like
= the smell Of punk. 1t carries me back to
" Canton.
in rummaging about among the odd
Il corners of the shop | found a very oddly
e decorated porcelain cup, much like mar
II maade Jar in shape and size. 1T bore an
p inscription that | at once recognized as
= sacred to the worship of Buddha. 1t bore
every semblance to Il sacred light, burned
y only in the temples. | sought to be in
I formed why it lad found its way hither
II but all | could learn was that it had come
, in a case Of goods-dOubtless inserted by
u mistake.
u mo value was placed upon it, and
. readily secured the precious trophy for q
~ quarter of a dollar. | carried the valued
~ piece home, sending the crackers to Any
y grandchildren. | confided the secret Of my
" great find to nobody. Oh, that | had not
!, been so SELFISH Beware of secretiveness
u my friend. acquired it in China. 1t is d
Il relic of barbarism.
/, YES, was determined to be alone, and
- when midnight had struck in ST. Agnes
10 church,
j. ! knew that the clock in st. Agnes didn't
strike the hours, but did not interrupt him
10 He also drew his other foot up on the bench
!" II went into my yard behind my
>, house, and placing the porcelain jar in tn,
,. center of the grass plot lighted it.
- :, The flame was of a dull grayish hue
" and as stood gazing in wonderment anC
II reverence huge monster began to rise ou
10 of the box like pharoah serpent. 1t slow
10 ly stretched itself along the grass. ! was
filled with terror. 1t was dragonl TIT
~ :, emblem of the middle kiugdom Don't b,
startled at what | tell you, but it has beer
~ my companion ever since. 1t Is right be
IL hind you now, coming across the grass.
~ You see, know the ways of the Chi
- nese-even of Chinese dragons-and the,
- have to be conciliated; but, bless you
IL heart, don't trust them. Why, | haven
=, slept moment since this dragon became
- part of my life. have no faith in him be
81 : cause he is II Chinese dragon.
u II was even deceived about the characte
. of the porcelain jar. Between us, it wa
~. one of the horrible dragon pots, made to b
! sent to traitors by the prime minister, 1t
" receipt means death. The submissive &c
- lestal arranges his affairs, lights the fire
~ y, lays down, shuts his eyes, and-well, til
u. dragon devours him."
~ "Now, may | ask question" said l.
!" "Oh, yes! You do not doubt mey"