The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-11-15
A BELGIAN MANDARIN.
The Romantic Career Of = Chinese Custom
Official.

While the young American bicyclists,
MeSSrs. Allen aud Sachtleben, were
crossing the Desert of Cobb, they heard
much OF Il mysterious and powerful
official called the Ling DARN. No one
could tell who or what he was. Finally,
as they emerged from the desert. starved
Ill, and ragged. they were met by a
richly dressed mandarin. according to
the story they tell in the Ctntuyy. He
greeted them cordially in clear but
broken English and, mounted on wait
ing horses, they were attended into the
city OF Su-chou. at was some time be-
fore the idea flashed across our minds
that this might indeed be the mysterious
Ling DARN about whom we had heard
SO much. Yes, said he, that is what
am called here, but my real name is
Sphngard.' He then went on to tell us
that he was a Belgian by birth: that he
had travelled eXtentensiyely through
CHINA, as the companion of Baron
Richthofen, and had thus become so
thoroughly acquainted with the country
and its people that on his return to the
coast, he had been offered by the Chi
liese government the position of custom
mandarin at Su-chOu, a position Just
then established for the levying of duty
on the Russian goods passing in Through
the northwest provinces; that he had
adopted the Chinese dress and mode of
living, and had even married. many
years ago, Chinese Girl educated at
the Catholic schools in Tientsin.
eve were SO absorbed in this roman
tic history that we scarcely noticed the
crowds that lined the streets leading to
the Ling Darin's palace, until the boom
OF a cannon recalled us to our situation.
From the smile on the jolly face beside
lis we knew at once whom we could hold
responsible for this reception The
palace gates were now thrown open by
host OF servants, and in our rags and
tatters we rolled at once from the hard
ships of the inhospitable desert into the
lap of luxury.
"A surplus is not always so easily dis
posed of as a defcit-at least we were
inclined to think so in the case of our
Su-chOu diet. The Ling Darin's table.
which, for the exceptional occasion.
was set in the foreign fashion with
knives and forks, fairly teemed with
abundance and variety. There was
even butter, made from the milk of the
Tibetan yak, and condensed milk for
our coffee, the first we had tasted since
leaving Turkey, more than a year be-
fore. The Ling DARN informed us that
a can of this milk, which he once pre-
scented to Chinese friends. had been mis-
taken for face cosmetic, and was so
used by the ladies of the family. The
Ling Darin's wife we found an excellent
and even artistic cook, while his buxom
twin daughters could read and write
their own language rare accomplish
ment for Chinese woman.
las guests of our highly respected
and even yenerated host, we were visit
ed by nearly all the magistrates of the
city. The Ling DARN was never before
compelled to answer so many questions
In self-defence he was at last forced to
get up stePeotyped speech TO de-
liver on each social occasion. The
people, too, besieged the palace gates.
and clamOred for an exhibition. Al
though our own clothes had been sent
away to be boiled, we could not plead
this as an excuse. The flowing Chinese
garments which had been provided
from the private wardrobe of the Ling
DARN tluttered wildly in the breeze. as
we rode out through the city at the ap-
pointed hour. Our Chinese shoes, also,
were constantly slipping off, and as we
raised the foot to readjust them, a shout
went up from the crowd for what they
thought was some fancy touch in the way
of riding"