The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-03
4 STRANGERS STORY.
ATERRleLE DRAGON THAT CAME ALL
THE WAY FROM CHINA.

, tEhHiblE DRAGON THAT CAME ALL
THE WAY FROM CHINA.
rhs Startling Experiencs Of an American
Who Spent Twenty Years In the Celestial
Kingdom A National Holiday THAT
BROUGHT Myth.
Frequenters Of the pretty knoll near
street remember q statue of
Washington that stands there, bearing a
Latin inscription that declares the original
parsonage to have been "rhe Father Of His
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 on which a seat remained.
and perforce took place by his side. Be-
fore long my neighbor manifested q dispo-
sition to be companionable, and we soon
struck up conversation.
We exchanged compliments upon the
weather, and he commented upon the naval
parade that he said he had witnessed from
the same point This led the conversation
into foreign channels, and my companion
told the following strange story:
II went out to China as supercargo on
one Of A. A. LOWS ships and remained 20
years in the middle kingdom. made a
careful study OF the people and grew to ad-
mire their thrift and energy, but l never
could overcome the feeling of distrust born
Of experience. They were always sly and
secretive.
"Vindictive to the utmost degree, they
would stop ut nothing calculated to injure
an enemy or to avenge a real or fancied
wrong. became 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 persistency that ultimately won my
heart.
He spoke exquisite pigeon English, but
the fervency of his exhortations would have
done him credit at any quarterly meeting.
was educated in the fear Of Tao and of
his representatives in the F,owery 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 discharging my monthly score with
my almond eyed landlady. Inever dreamed
that was being worked
II bought experience as I bought re-
ligion, with my hard earned money. When
1t gave out, the sleek old bonze, who had
not enjoyed n square meal for months be-
fore he met me, but was not as fat and
hearty as one of Rabelais' gullygut friars,
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,
and l assure you it fills me with terror"
The old mans 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
cast suspicious, timid glances down the
hillside behind him. Judged by the look
in his eyes he Enthusiastically saw somebody
approaching, but 1 could not see single
moving object.
ION July 3, being DESTROYS to celebrate
the national holiday in patriotic manner,
j visited large fireworks depot down
town. 1t was late to make purchases, for
most of the best goods had been sold. l
bought lot of red lights, box of fire.
crackers and few yards of punk. like
the smell of punk. 1t carries me back to
Canton.
In rummaging about among the odd
corners of the shop found very oddly
decorated porcelain cup, much like mar
malade jar in shape and size. 1t bore an
inscription that l at once recognized as
sacred to the worship of Buddha 1t bore
every semblaDce to sacred light, burned
only in the temples. l sought to be in
formed why it had found its way hither.
but all could learn was that it had come
in a case of goods-doubtless inserted by
mistake.
mo value was placed upon It, and
readily secured the precious trophy for a
quarter of a dollar. l carried the valued
piece home, sending the crackers to my
grandchildren. confided the secret of my
great find TO nobody Oh, that ! had not
been so SELFISH Beware of secretiveness,
my friend. acquired it in China. 1t is a
relic of barbarism.
"Yes, was determined to be alone, and
when midnight had struck In St. Agnes
church,
knew that the clock in st. Agnes didn't
strike the hours, but did<not interrupt him.
He also drew his other foot up on the bench.
~ went into my yard behind my
house, and placing the porcelain jar in the
center of the grass plot lighted it.
The flame was of dull grayish hue,
and as / stood gazing in wonderment and
reverence huge monster began to rise out
of the box like "a pharoah serpent 1t slow
ly stretched itself along the grass. was
filled with terror. 1t was dragon The
emblem of the middle kingdoml Don't be
startled at what tell you, but it has been
my companion ever since. 1t is right be-
hind you now; coming across the grass.
You see, know the ways OF the Chi
nese-eyen of Chinese dragons-and they
have to be conciliated; but, bless your
heart, don't trust them. Why, haven't
slept moment since this dragon became a
part of my life. have no faith in him be
cause he is n Chinese dragon.
~ was even deceived about the character
of the porcelain jar. Between us, it was
one of the horrible dragon pots, made to be
sent to traitors by the prime minister. Its
receipt means death. The submissive Ce.
lestial arranges his affairs, lights the fire
lays down, shuts his eyes, and-well, the
I dragon derours him"
"Now, may ask question: said |.
! "Oh, yes! You do not doubt me!u
Certainly not, but why do you bring
your dragon over here among childrenP II
I isn't safe. There might be an accident
+ You are quite right" was the rejoinder
and he completed the sentence with all the
cunning of his kind. But he must hav,
his swim in the river"
/ A large, muscular man, whom had mol
before observed, made his appearance al
this moment, and addressing my compan
ion familiarly said.
Come, baron. Call the dragon, and W,
will go home"
!. Taking the newcomer aside, | asked:
j He has told you the story alsofn
"Oh, yes He tells it TO me once day.
And you live'--
"At the Bloomingdale Insane asylum"
In this life man can console himself fol
!, great sorrow by confiding it to others
and am glad to have lightened the bur
den Of the "baron's" blighted life by hear
! ing his tale and stroking the neck of hi
mythical dragon.-Julius Chambers il
!, New York Rccorder.