, 1893-08-12

TO the Worlds Columbian Exposition.
1t is not every one who visits the Midway
Plaisance who realizes, at the moment, the
valuable opportunity thus afforded for the
study Of the habits and customs Of natiOnall-
ties which do not come within the reach of
the ordinary tourist. We take a trip to Lon
don Paris or Copenhagen. We spend u lew
days going up the classic Rhine-or a week
or two in Switzerland and may be II We live
in America we take a run to Bermuda, or ii
properly posted as to the beautiful scenery of
the West Indian Islands we gu to st. Thomas or
that garden of the West Indies" St. CrOix.
But as a rule we do not "gird up our lolns"
for a voyage to China, Dahomey, Java, Ha-
wall or even Egypt, though 8 trip to the last,
thanks to Msssrs. Thomas Cook q Sons,
has been made almost as easy as q journey to
Chicago, and one may now do the Nile with
its monuments at Luxor and the Sphinx and
the pyramids, without the slightest fear of a
solitary Bedouin, except to trade with him for
some thousands of year old %'curlos." Yet,
as have said before no one thinks of packing
bis trunk fer China, Dahomey or Java unless
"on business bent Therefore every right
minded person feels grateful for the chance now
given for a look at these o untries at the
Worlds Columbian Exposition.
u o u o
For an Englishman and an adopted Dane,
as my friend Frederick A. ODER Esquire,
the well known author and naturalist, has
termed me, in his new book "In the wake
Of Columbus" | think l have az muc' rever-
ence for American institutions as any of my
countlymen. There il much to admire IN
them, above all 1.-THE generous and hearty wei
come which they give to the stranger, who
whether he be unfortunate Russian-Jew,
o,o-oGicE ~ DcJo GuHa O homo and q shelter
beneath the Star spangled Banner; becoming
trpst in the due course of time, as good a citizen
as most Of the foreign hOtsam and jrtsam, which
iuds it's way to the shores of this truly favor
ell country. But why Uncle Sam should dis
criminal 9 against the Chinese, who certainly
are celestial" in more senses than one, as
compared to some of the people have quoted,
is very difficult to say. Like his unreasonable
prejudice against other races who have been
useful to him, and who, whether IN character,
behavior, advancement and desire TO adaPt
themselves to their surroundings, or IN educa'
ton, are simply a wonder to the phllanthro-
pist, it is one of the dark spots on our Amerl-
can cousins escutcheon, which for the love
bear TO him, | would gladly see effAced. But
this is not telling you of the Chinese The1tre
in the Midway Plaisance at the Worlds Co
lumbar Exposition.
Let us first take a look at the village. Here
is Il Joss house, bazaar. restaurant and tea
garden. The joss house will be recognized
ut once, by those who have visited China, as
an exact representation of one of its temples
Of worship. In every point Of architectural
detail there is no difference, and when, upon
entering, you find the same ceremonies, taPers
burning and incense ascending to the roof
and the same idols, you might imagine your.
self transported to the ''Flowery Land
amidst the disciples of Kung-fn-tse, not Con-
fuoius. as we have it. Passing out into the
open air, we GROSS over to the restaurant and
if still further inclined to perpetuats the illu-
sion we will call for sharks fins, or birds nest
soup, and stumbling sadly over the use of a
pair IF ohopstioks, will endeavour to throw
rice into our mouths, with the dizziness of a
Chinaman, to be, alas. only as clumsy as
everyone else IL, when he frat attempts to do
something he has never done before.
Monaghan cooking is not altogether the
order of the day-one may sit down to a good
square meal a la Americatn, and with broiled
chicken, ham sandwiches aud Lager Beer may
forg.t, for the nonce, that he is in Chinaiand.
This | do not think advisable for the pleasure
of a trip to a foreign country, is in the study
of it's customs and the inner life Of it's people,
.od ohoua all its cookarv and T think thorough