The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-10-25
A BELGIAN MANDARIN.

. J. { & i
a BELGIAN MANDARIN.
The Romantic Career Of Powerful Chi
nose Custom Ofacial.
While the young American bicy-
clists, Messrs. Allen and Sachtleben,
were crossing the desert of Cobb they
heard much of mysterious and
powerful official called the Ling Da-
rim. No one could tell who or what he
was. Finally, as they emerged from
the desert, starved, i'll and ragged,
they were met by a richly dressed
mandarian, according to the story
they tell in Century. He greeted them
cordially in clear but broken English,
and mounted on waiting horses they
were attended into the cityof Su-
chou.
1T 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. He then went on to tell
us that he was a Belgian by birth;
that he had travelled extensively
through China as the companion of
Baron Richthofen, and had thus be-
come SO thoroughly acquainted with
the country and it's people that on his
return to the coast he had been offer
ed by the Chinese government the
position Of custom mandarin at Su-
chou, a position just then established
for the levying of duty on the Rus
sian 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, a Chinese girl educated at
the Catholic schools in Tien. tsin.
i, eve were SO absorbed in this TO
mantle history that we scarcely no.
ticed the crowds that lined the streets
leading to Ling Darin's palace until
the boom of a cannon recalled us to
our situation. From the smile on
the jolly face beside us we knew at
once whom we could hold RESPONSE
bic for this reception. The palace
gates were now thrown open by a host
of servants, and in our rags and tat
ters we rolled at once from the hard
ships Of the inhospitable 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. The 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, the 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 and was so used by the Ia
dies 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-a rare accomplish
ment for a Chinese woman.
GAS 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 defense he
was at last forced to get up a stereo-
typed speech to deliver on each So
cial occasion. The people, too, be-
sieged the palace gates and clamored
for an exhibition. Although our own
clothes had been sent away to be
boiled, we could not plead this as an
excuse. The flowing Chinese gar
ment, which had been provided from
the private wardrobe of the Ling
DARN, futtered 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 read
just them shout went up from the
crowd for what they thought was
some fancy touch in the way of rid
ing" .......
Thomas to Poe.
In the Poe correspondence pub
ished in The Century, dealing with
the period Of the poets residence in
Philadelphia, is given the following