The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-29

he has finished every drop. This pretty
custom had a very unpoetic origin.
{ Ages ago there were a large number of
! Chinese Borgias, and poisoning was a
/ very common crime. The drinking to-
gether and the draining Of the cup IS
mute evidence of amity between the
parties and of the enormities that were
practiced in bygone years.
When you finish your call, you go
through the same performance, but only
backward. You also assure your host
that whenever you are in trouble and
need information or advice you will call
upon him again and draw upon his deep
wisdom. He, OF course, returns the com
pliment with so per cent interest.
at the table, if you run across 2 bone
in your food, do not give yourself the
slightest uEeasiness. Throw it on the
floor. If anything burns you or tastes
unpleasant, never eject 1t from the
mouth on the right hand side. Turn your
head to the left and spit to your hearts
content. II there are too many dregs IN
your tea. or IF your piece Of FISH has
fallen into your wine cup, pour them
out on the floor.
Do not expect a napkin When Your
lips or your hands require cleaning
raise your eyebrows at a servant with
out saying d word. He VIII promptly
bring glass basin full of boiling water
and two soft and heecy towels. Putting
these upon d small table, he dips towel
No. ! into the water. wrlngs It out and
hands it to you smoking hot You i'm
laeGiately take it and cover your face
and neck with it. Let it stay there a
half q minute, rub your hands and wrists
on its corner, and then hand it back
The sensation is much pleasanter than
might be supposed 1t cleans far better
than the napkin, and the reaction from
the heat makes the face and body quite
cool and checks perspiration better than
any fan or iced drink.
Always Sit In Your shirt Sleeves
If you see any nice moraeI IN a dish,
seize it with yOur chopsticks and hand
it to your host or next door neighbor. L
he doesn't like 1t. put it IN your mouth.
This is regarded as being YER friendly.
In warm weather rise up after Ave min
utes' calling, give your coat to a servant
and sit IN your shirt sleeves our host
and the other guests viii Immediately
do the same.
When you are IN the drawing room
with 4 Chinese gentleman and three or
four people enter, fall down on all tours
and rub their foreheads IN the dirt and
dust. do not be surprised They are poor
relatives, children or servants, and arc
merely kowtowing.
Keep your hat on indoors. It would
be far better to take off coat and trousers
than to interfere with your headwear
and fOOtgear-
Be careful about white, which is the
color of mourning. When worn at all,
it is combined with a bright colored
border or other contrasting shades and
even then is only used by girls and chill
dren-
Black is another suspicious color 1t
is the uniform of q large number Of dew
lis and 2 large proportion Of the popu-
lation of hell and purgatOry- 1t is seen
less il the far east than any other shade.
Do not be astonished at old men fly
ing kites, spinning tops or INDUCING IN
other childish games. Tt is not only a
custom Of the land, but it is recon-
mended by tine sages and doctors of the
country as an aid to health and a pre-
servative of youth
If you lose your temper, never take
hold Of a Chinaman $ oae- Tt is not
that it pains him, because it does not.
But it is the bitterest insult which can
be offered him. Besides that. 1t may
come of. The cue is braided IN with
heavy. strong black SILK and frequently
weighs = or two pounds. The con
slant strain Of the weight upon the roots
more or less badness and at the same
time destroys the tenacity which short
hair displays.
A Word of Warning
When Chinese lady goes past in .
chair, do not stare at her, no matter how
much encouragement. she may give you,
and never indulge in that noble Amer
can pastine which is known by the vul-
gar term Of MASKING. You will not
be arrested, because the Chinese police /
man has great horror of Official work Z
But you are liable TO have about as live
II time as you ever experienced in /
your life. 1t IS a grave offense for a /
Chinaman and to their minds much /
graver one by European or American. /
You may be beaten, deluged with mud /
and nameless filth or You may be half /
killed with stones, bricks and tiles.
The Mongolian is very handy with q
missile, and when he does use one he I
uses it for all it IS worth.
Never carry a bundle when you can /
help it. It IS considered undigniied and /
an attempt to rob the poor There are /
thousands of coolies IN every city who /
are only too glad to earn 1 or , cents IL /
packages They stand around (
stores and public thoroughfares waiting. /
like Wilkins Aicawber, for something +
to turn up
Do not walk when you can use q
chair. The streets Of q Chinese city are /
SO filthy that. no matter how carefully /
you pick your footsteps or how old your /
clothes, they are very apt to be ruined /
by five minutes jaunt- Besides that, /
the lowest classes have ! religious fond
ness for vermin of all sorts, SO that to /