Asheville daily citizen., 1894-10-29
A MYSTERIOUS OFFICIAL.
The Romantic Career Of O BEL
gian Mandarin.
His story - Related by Himself to .
Couple of American Tourists
Whom He Entertains in
Royal Fashion.

While the young American bicyclists,
Messrs. Allen and Sachtleben, were
crossing the desert Of Cobb, they heard
much Of q mysterious and powerful
official called the Ling DARN. No one
could tell who or what he was. Final
ly, as they emerged from the desert,
starved, i'll and ragged, they were met
by richly-dressed mandarin, accord
ing to the story they tell in the Cen
tury. He greeted them cordially in
clear but broken English, and, mount
ed on waiting horses, they were at
tended into the city Of Su-chou. ut
was some time before 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 Splingard." lie
then went on to tell us that he was a
Belgian by birth; that he had travelled
extensively through China, as the COM
panion Of Baron Richthofen, and had
thus become so thoroughly acquainted
with the country and it's people that
on his return to the coast he had been
offered by the Chinese 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 north
west provinces; that he had adopted
the Chinese dress and mode of living,
and had even married, many years ago,
a Chinese girl educated at the Catholic
schools in Tientsin.
'Wo were so absorbed In this roman
tic history that we scarcely noticed
the crowds that lined the streets lead
ing to the Ling Darin's palace, until
the boom of cannon recalled us to
our situation. From the smile on the
jolly face beside us 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 hardships Of the in
hospitable desert into the lap Of
luxury.
"A surplus is not always SO easily
disposed OF as a defcit-at least we
were inclined to think so in the case Of
our Su-chou diet. Tho Ling Darin's
table, which, for the exceptional oc-
casion, 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, tho first we had
tasted since leaving Turkey, more
than year before. The Ling DARN
informed us that can Of this milk,
which he once presented to Chinese
friends, had been mistaken for face
cosmetic, ard was so used by the
ladies Of the family. The Ling Darin's
wife we found an excellent and even
artistic cook, while his buyom twin
daughters could read and write their
own language-a rare accomplishment
for Chinese woman.
"As guests Of our highly respected
and even venerated host, we were
visited by nearly all the magistrates Of
the city. The Ling DARN was never
before compelled to answer so many
questions. In self-defcnse he was at
last forced to get up n stereotyped
speech to deliver on each social oc-
casion. The people, too, besieged the
palace gates, and clamored for an ex-
hibition. Although 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 ward
robe OF the Ling DARN fluttered wildly
in the breeze, as we rode out through
the city at the appointed hour. Our
Chinese shoes, also, were constantly
slipping off, and as we raised the foot
to readjust them, shout went up from
the crowd for what they thought was
a fancy touch in the way OF riding"