Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-25

! mighty bad, and 1 got hold of his pigtail
and l allowed I'd stuff it down his throat
if he didn't tell me what he meant Then
he took a piece of punk and lit it, and put
it under my nose, and darn my skin gen.
tlemen, you mightn't believe me, but in a
minute 1 felt better, and after Whit or
two l was all right"
Was 1t pow'ful strong, Cy?" asked the
inexperienced one.
NO said Parker, land that's just what's
got me! 1t was sort O. dreamy. spicy
smell, like hot night. But l couldn't
go round 'mong you boys with lighted
piece O. punk in my hand. if 1 was set
tin off Fourth of July firecrackers, asked
him IL he couldn't fix me up suthin' in an
when l was took bad, and I'd reckon to pay
him for it like ez I'd pay for any other
patent medicine. So he fixed me up this!'
He put his hand In his pocket and drew
out small red paper, which, when opened.
| disclosed a pink powder. 1t was gravely
passed around the group.
why. 1t smells and tastes like ginger"
said one.
1T is only ginger said another, scorn-
fully.
"Mebbe it is, and mebbe it isn't" returned
Cy Parker. stoutly. "Mebbe it's only my
fancy. But if it's the sort O stuff to bring on
that fancy, and that fancy cures me, it's
all the same! I've got about 81 worth of
that fancy. or that ginger. and I'm going
to stick to it. You hear me-" And he care
fully put it back in his pocket
At which criticisms and gibes broke forth.
If he ICY Parker, white man, was going
to "demean himself by consulting a Chi
nese quack, he'd better buy up lot O.
idols and stand 'em up around his cabin!
If he had that sort O. condolences with See
iup, he ought TO go to work with him on
his cheap tailings and be fumgated all
at the same time. If he'd been smoking an
opium pipe instead of smelling punk, he
| ought tn be man enough to confess it! Yet
1t was noticeable that they were all very
anxious to examine the packet again, but
CIV Parker alike Indifferent n nd
or entrtaty.
A few days later saw Abe Wynford, one
of the party, coming out of See Yup's wash
house. He muttered something in passing
about the infamous delay in sending home
his washing, but did not linger long N
conversation. The next day l met another
miner at the wash house, but he fingered SO
long on some trifling details that finally
left him there alone with See Yup. When
called on Poker Jack of Shasta there was
singular smell of incense in his cabin,
which he attributed to the very resinors
quality of the fire logs he was burning 1
did not attempt to probe these mysteries by
any direct appeal to See Yup himself I
respected his reticence; indeed, if had not
was quite satisfied that he would have
lied to me. Enough that his wash house
was well patronized, and he was decidedly
getting on"
1t might have been a month afterward
that DR.. Duchesne was setting a broken
bone in the settlement, and after the opera
ton was over. had strolled into the Palmet-
to saloon He was an old army surgeon,
much respected ard loved in the district.
although perhaps little feared for the
honest roughness and military precision of
his speech. After he had exchanged salu-
tations with the MIXERS in his usual hearty
fashion, and accepted their invitation to
drink. Cy Parker, with a certain affected
carelessness, which did not. however, con-
ceal singular hesitation in his speech,
began:
I've been wantin' to ask We a question,
Doc-a sort O. darned fool question, We
know-nothing in the way Of consultation,
don't you see. tho it's kinder in the way O.
your purfeshun. Sabe?"
Go on, Cy." said the DOCTOR good
humoredly, this is my dispensary hour"
"oh. it amt anything about symptoms,
Doc and there amt anything the matter
with me. It's only just to ask We If We hap
! pened to know anything about the medical
practice of these yer Chinamen?"
Il don't know" said the DOCTOR bluntly
land don't know anybody who does"
There was a sudden silence in the bar,
and the doctor. putting down his glass,
continued with slight professional precision:
You see. the Chinese know nothing of
anatomy from personal observation. Au-
tcpSies and dissections are against their
superstitions. which declare the human
body sacred, and are consequently never
practiced."
There was a slight movement of inoufr-
ing interest among the party, and Cy Par
ker. after a meaning glance at the others
cally:
I'm course. they amt surgeons like YOU.
Doc, but that don't keep them from having
their own little medicines, Just as doas eat
grass. you know! Now. / want to put 1t to
you. as fair-minded man, II you mean
ter say that Jest because these old women
VINO sarve out yarbo and spring medicines