Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-05-16
T. N,,StiYc Chinese.

was bitter cold rainy night when
we set out from the hotel in search OF
the flower boats of Canton, writes the
London TcleWaph's correspondent.
This was a new experience. ! have be-
fore now been half frozen in gondola
at Venice in the winter, but never ex-
pected TO be frostbitten within few
degrees Of the equator. Up streets and
down streets of boats we padded, un-
til at last we were landed i'll dark
corner and hauled up upon ice-covered,
slippery planks, which nearly collapsed
under one of the party, who was with,
in an inch of the dark and dreadful
river.
A more unlikely place for a festival
could not be imagined. No Thames
site below Bridge inhabited by any
amount of Quilps could have look
ed more forlorn; but Susan and All
Cum guided US to a distant boat
house. from which came sounds OF
mirth and revelry.
could scarcely believe my eyes. y
door was opened, and beheld the
most luxuriously furnished palace con-
ceivable, bright with electric light, GOV.
cred with mirrors and tapestry, and
presenting scene such as the
stage has never offered. Man
darins, young and old: in their
costlirst robes Of blue silk and plain
colorcd satin, lolled idly on the rich
chairs and coZy divans. Some were
drowSy with opium fumes, some enjoy
ed Whit or so from scented tobacco
pipe handed at intervals by painted
girl or an obsequious attendant.
At the end Of the room splendid
feast was spread, as yet untasted. A
company of singing damsels, all with
chalked aud painted faces, droned in a
corner drowsy chant to the twang OF
guitar Hearing that party of Eng
lishmcn had arrived who were deslrous
of seeing the interior ola Chinese flow
erboat, the wealthy mandarin who WAS
giving the feast courteously invited us
inside, and we were ut once treated as
guests.
Our host talked excellent English,
and be described the eastern delights
of these floating palaces. Tea was Of
ftred 10 us out ofthe most costly porcc-
lain cups. Fruits and sweets were
handed round, and then over rose-wa-
ter pipes and scented tobacco we were
tJid how rich Chinamcn enjoy
themselves in the watches of the
night. Very rarely they have flower
boats Of their own. They are hired for
the night or the week from some Com
prador" or agent, who provides the
boat, the feast and the fittings, down to
the singing girls and their companions
with the eternal grin, the black rolled
and grease encountered hair, and the
chalkcd face.
Tastes differ in the matter of beauty
nut, after the everlasting black hair
stuck all over with pins and flowers,
massed with pomatum an inch thick,
the sight of chestnut or blonde Eng
lish female head would be positive re-
lief to the eye.
Pecping into hairdresser,s shop the
other day, j found that theChinese or Ja-
panese black hair is built up on cushions
in the most elaborate fashion, so elab-
crate, indeed, that imagine the edificc
is seldom taken down, certainly not for
many days. But the custom is not dis
tasteful to the mandarins of old Can
ton, who can afford party on flower
boat anchored in creek in winter, and
in summer sailing away with its feasts
and guests to the upper reaches OF the
mighty river.