New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-27
IN THE FAR EAST.
THE LIFE or A MANDARIN.
IT IS RATHER SLOW AND MONOTONOUs
TO WESTERN NOTIONS

TO WESTERN NOTIONS.
Most mandarins. says writer in The Corn
hill Magazine" pass the whole Of their ryes
without taking n single yard Of exercise Ths
late Marking Viccroy father Of tho Marqals
Ts6ng) was considered remarkable character
because h. always walked "a thousand steps a
day" in his private garden Under no clrcum-
stances whatever is mandarin ever seen on
foot in his own jurisdiction Occasionally a
popular Judge will try to earn a reputation by
going out ncognito at night; but even then he
takes a strong guard with him, and (as hap
pened when I at Canton) gets his head
broken if he attempts to pry 700 closely into
abuses As the police and the thieves are usual
ly co-partners in one concern. u naturally fol-
lows that caution must be used in attacking
gaming houses which have brbcd themselves
into quas-lcgality.
A mandarin's leisure. which may be said 10
begin at } p. m. and continue until q Is spent
in one or other Of the following ways Either
he reads poetry by himself. he sends Tor his
secretaries to drink wine. crack melon seeds and
compose poetry with him. or he may shoot IN
a few arrows at target In his garden. (and
this Is commonesD he may invite thu rich mer-
chants to a feed in his yamons or accept IN
yitaticns from them. But this Is rather danger
Gus work. for there is a sort ~ urHl item law
against mandarins leaving their own yamfns
except on official business bent. on The other
hand merchants Of high standing steer clear =
the local mandarin unless Cas happened when I
was at Kewkiang) he happens 20 o." C,m-
patriot Il theirs.
ON his erandmother's. mother. ana w'a's
birthday the mandarin receives congratulations
and prescnts-of course on his nNn. toY on
these festive occasions be- may give Iay In
China. theatrical entertainments arn .lmwony
hired privat. ~. though as often a. not 'le man
in the street is admitted gratis. Bu. evcn here
caution is required. for many days 100 Ihr y.ar
are refasti On account II enper,'s having died
N those anniversaries. and it c1's very hard
with a mandarin if h. is caught having music"
on dis non.
Chinese-always supposng they are rot opium
smokers, invalids or debauchccs rct.r. o. 'est
as carly as they rise. In most Chinese towns
every thing is quiet after sunset. AMI ~ ~
O'Clock every one is either IN bed OF is simply
grooming away the time until sl.cp comes n.
Notwithstanding the recent n,r .du-u'u Z kero-
sonc lamps forbidden IN many large town .. the
usual light is the common dip or Tho rush. Eyea
supposing the mandarin were stui.ou.y IN
c!incd. ana not worn out with the fatirucs u
Inc Gay. MS ~ -lpti NNuiN 9''i Nlff a. ~
he attempted to read regularly by such wretehed
u.uminanis as these
Dinners and foasts cannot take place every
day SO what happens on nine evenings out Il
ten Is this: When the correspondence - tho lAy
has been lcad. drafted. achieved. sealed o, is.
PATCHED. when the secretaries have struck the.r
balances and exhibited the profits " NE lay.
when :hc business Of the judsmcnt-scat is ~ an
nd .hc mandarin gets out ot his robes hat.
collar. boots. chlpct and feather. in'p an
easy costume in which ~ looks just nH~ tne
ordinary lrowsy. greasy tradesman. isr's his
pipe and rctircs 70 the harcm AftCr perform
ing the proper obesanccs 10 his granimoth,r
or mother he may take a platonic cup q tea
or Cruel with his wife. after which 3d. selects
the apartment OF one Of his corcubiue. H. ~.I
even take his evening meal in her room smoke
a few pipes with her Cfor all women smoke n
Chna). ard perhaps play game or TWO at
cards. The etiquette Of these apartments is VERY
strict. and there is no chance IF rIta. wife 4
mother or a grandmother bursting 10 Al III
sccmly hours.
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