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

gave him that name-or indeed that it
was name at all-but it was currently
believed that-as pronounced See Up
1t meant that lifting OF the outer angle of
the eye. common to the Mongolian. On
the other hand 1 had been told that there
was an old Chinese custom of afIixing
some motto or legend-or even a sentence
from COnfuciuS-as a sign above their
shops, and that two or more words which
might be merely equivalent to Virtue Is
its own reward, or Riches deceitful,"
was believed by the simple Californian
miner to be the name of the occupant him
self Howbeit, See Yup' accepted it with
the smiling patience of his race. and never
went by any other. If one of the tunnel
men always addressed him as "Brigadier
general Judge or Commodore" it was
understood TO be only the American fond
ness for ironic title. and was never used
except in personal conversation. In APP
pearance he looked like any other China
man, wore the ordinary blue cotton blouse
and white drawers of the Sampan cooiie,
and, in spite of the apparent cleanliness
and freshness of these garments. always
exhaied that singular medicated odor-
half opium. half ginger-which we recog-
nized as the common Chinese smell"
our first interview was characteristic of
his patient quality. He had done my wash
seen him. a meeting at last had become
necessary to correct his impressions re-
sarding 'buttons"-which he had seemed
To consider as mere eXcreScences. to be
removed like superfluous dirt from soiled
linen L had expected him to call at my
lodgings, but he had not yet made his APP
pearance- One day, during the noontide
recess of the little frontier school over
which l presided. L returned rather early
Two or three of the smaller boys, who
Were lettering about the school yard dis
appeared with a certain guilty precipita-
ton that L suspected for the moment but
which presently dismissed from my mind.
passed through the empty school room
TO my desk sat down, and began to pre-
pare the coming lessons. Presently 1
heard faint sigh Looking up. TO my
intense concern. L discovered a solitary
Chinaman whom L had overlooked sitting
In rigid attitude on a bench with his back
10 3ne WINDOW; He caught my eye and
sternly.
Me washee shifts; me talkee buttons"
oh. you're See Yup,' are your
ALE same, JOHN
We'll. come here
continued my work, but he did not
Come here hang it Don't Won Under
stand?"
Me shabbee, CONNIE yea But me no
shabbee Mellikan boy, who catchee me-
ale same. You come yea, you shabbee?"
Indignant. but believing that the I'M
fortunate man was still in fear of per-
secutlon from these mischieyous urchns
whom L had evidently just interrupted, |
put down my pen and went over to him.
Here | discovered TO my surprise and NOR
LITIGATION. that his long pigtan was held
hard and fast by the closed window be-
hind him, which the young rascaIs had
shut down upon it, after having first noise
iessiy 1Shed II outside with a hook and
lliie- apoloSlZed, opened the WINDOW
and released him. He did not complain
although he must have been fixed in that
uncomfortable position for some minutes,
but plunged at once into the business that
brought him there.
But why DIDN'T YOU come TO my Iodo-
ingS?' 1 asked.
He smiled sadly, but inteHigently.
Mishtel Bally (Mr. Barry, my landlord
he owce me five dolce Tor washee washee
He no Payee me. He say he knocke heIIee
outee ME allie time L come for payee So
me no come housee me come scnoolee
Shabbee? Mellikan boy good, but not so
man much, Shabbee?"
Alas! knew that this was mainly true
MI James carry was an 1riShman. whose
finer religious feelings revClted against paw
ing money to heather. l could not nnd
II in my heart to say anything to See Yup
ABOUT the buttons; indeed l spoke in COM
plmentary terms about the gloss of my
shlrts, and L think meekly begged him TO
come again for my washing. " hen 1 went
nome l expostulated with Mr.. Barry but
succeeded only in extracting from him the
conviction that L one of Thin black
republican fellys that worshiped naygurs"
mad simply made an enemy of him. But
did not know that. at the same time. L
had made d friend of See Yup.
became aware of this few DAYS later
Dy the appearance on my desk of a small
pot containing specimen of Camellia Jap
onica in flower L knew the school children
were in the habit of making presents 10
me in this furtive fashion-leaving their
OWE nosesays of wild flowers or perhaps a
cluster OF roses from the parents gardens
but / also knew that TINS exotic was TOO
rare to come from them. L remembered
that See Yup had Chinese taste for gar
dening. and a friend another Chinaman
VINO kept large nursery in the adjoining
town But my doubts were Set at rest by
the discovery of small roll of red rice
paper containing my washing bill, fast
ened to the camellia stalk 1t was plain
that this minslins Of business and delicate
gratitude was clearly See Yup's own idea.
As the finest flower was the topHost one
i plucked il for wearing. when | found to
my aStonishment, that il was simply wired
to the stalk This led me to look at the
others. which / found also wired, More
than that. they seemed to be al inferior
flower, ard eXhaied that cold earthly odor
peculiar to the camellia. even. as l Thought,
to an excess. \ closer examination result
ed in :he discovery that, with the excep-
ton of the first flower L had piucked. they
were Ole and all inseniously constructed
of thin slices of potato. marvelouSIy cut to
initiate the vegetable waXness and for
mality of the real flower. The work show
ed an infinite and almost pathetic patience
in detail. yet strangely incommensurate
with the result, admirable as ii was. New
ertheless. this was also like See fup- But
whether he had tried to deceive ME, or
whether he only wished me to admire his
skill. / could not say. And his persecu-
ton by my scholars had left balance of
consideration in his favor. i sent MIN a
warm note Of thanks and said nothing OF
my discovery.
As our acquaintance progressed. 1 be-
cane frequently the recipient of other small
presents from him; pot OF preserves of
a quality 1 could not purchase in shops.
and whose contents in their crafty, gIngery
Discrimination iefied definition, that 1
never knew whether they Were animal.
vegetable mineral; two or three hideous
Chinese idols. for luckec," and diabol-
zeal firework with an irregular spasmodic
activity that would sometimes be pro-
lon2ed until the next morning. In return, 1
gave HIM some apparently hopeless oral
lessons in English. and certain sentences
to be copied. which he did with marvellous
precision. : remember one Instance when
this PECULIAR faculty of imitation was dis
3strous in result. In setting him copy. 1
had blurred a word which / promptly
erased. and then traced the letters more
distinctly ever the scratched surface To