The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-14
TALKED WITH CHING.
Mildred Irving, interviewed the Chinese
Interpreter.
Had Assistance Of an Interpreter Inter.
esting Story Of The Chat

\ ing "dopey' about these bright high
| caste Cinnamon, but ii seemed a con-
centration In odor OF all dhe poetic SEN
timent of the Orient. That's the only
way / can describe IL.
| His Chinks, Ching Ling Foo. Is
wonder at surprising us unsophisticated
| palefaces; but i fancy / startled him
| quite as much when, as soon as Twas
presented, said: How lah mah."
Well, you ought TO have seen the ex-
preston that came over his face, sue
ceeded by the funniest kind Of a hearty
laugh, as he heard me say How do you
do" i'm his own tongue. You see had
made myself solid with the very inter-
esting young man who revels in that
| striking Mongolian- American combina-
tion cognomen, Moy Frederic Sang, and
| who by the way, was educated in
| France, and speaks so many languages
that he Is kind of walking higher -edu-
| cation.
| Although Ching is n veritable giant
| in stature, he has the grace and ease
ard polish OF Chesterfield, which per-
| haps is not surprising when 'one learns
that ne Il a very wealthy man, owning
| half dozen silk and boot and shoe
factories and a number OF large stores
! In Shanghai. Pekin and Tein Using, and
a very heavy interest In large con-
Germ in San Francisco. being descended
| from the bluest blood in the Celestial
empire and moving In the inner circle
| OF it's 400"
Being told that his time was some
| what limited, j let loose my battery or
questions without delay: and the celeri-
| ty with which they were repeated by
the interpreter and the answers came
back to me was really surprising. while
| found the sound OF their linge much
| more musical and agreeable TO the ear
than l had supposed from my expert
| ence in endeavoring to convince laun-
dryman that / ought to have my bundle
after losing my hierogliphical check.
| In little lull OF the conversation,
| Ching waved his hand toward me most
( gracefully and said: "Leun niue yam"
| The interpreter smiled. but did not
translate. at which Ching looked dis
| pleased and repeated the remark, with
| n quick movement of his hand in my
direction and a few more words In most
| imperative tone.
'He SAYS YOU are a very pretty young
lady" said the interpreter. in a rather
| embarrassed manner; "and you must
| excuse him, for IL Is very rare thing
| for him to pay compliments like that,
and he evidently likes you and wishes
you TO understand that he Is very much
| pleased TO have you honor him with a
| visit"
! "Ought I to return the compliment?" ?"
| I asked realizing that II was up to
me-" and being disposed 10 do the right
! thing. whatever IL might be, according
/ TO chinese Hoyle.
1T wouldn't do any HARM" replied
| Moy.
| "Weu. tell him | thank him for the
compliment; and think he is not only
a fine appeariro gentleman, but the
! most refined and cultured and remark
able Chinaman in all my wide circle Of
acquaintanees.
I remarked that IL seemed quite in
| consistent for a man of his financlal
and social standing TO be performing In
| public as n magician, and Moy replied
that in China things were different,
that Ching performed before the en-
| peror and other notabilities only as
| Patti would sing before the queen by
| command that il is not unusual Tor
wealthy Cinnamon to be very adept in
| magic and Juggling. and that ching en-
! joys the work so much that, desiring 10
| make a tour Of this country, he decided
| TO combine business with pleasure-an
| indication OF rather thrifty nature
! that -te-seme extent-explaln MS
| wealth.
He says" translated Moy. that he
is sorry he has had so many or MS
utensils broken since he arrived in this
| country because he can do a great
many other most wonderful tricks; but
he is going back in September and will
| return again in the following spring
| with an entire new outfit and do things
| beside which his present marvels are
! indeed simple and ordinary, though
| they are undoubtedly, as you say, the
| most mystifying and wonderful feats
ever performed i'm this country by a
! magician Of any race"
Pitter patter through the passageway
came a peculiar sound, and the door
opened and I'm came Shee Tah Foo, wife
| of the great conjuror, who is regarded
| as very beautiful in her own country
and is zone Of the first ladies OF the
| land" Those familiar with the GUS
! toms of their country could not doubt
this after looking at her tiny little
"tootsies," bound in shoes that would
cover hardly more than the palm OF
my hand in length.
When | was presented. 1he greeted
me with most gracious slnile. and In
ineligible English said: Hew-de'
| Pleased see you"
And then entered Hop Quee. Changs
boy Of IL. who does such wonderful
feats OF contortion and juggling; Chez
Tai the sweet little girl of 3, looking
for all the world like a doll baby and
singing and talking i'm English with a
cuteness and cunningness nothing less
than fascinating. and HON Foo Quee
the jolly comedianjuggler of the
troupe
Ching presented his children to me
with a look OF pride that one couldsnot
misunderstand; and / believe / would
have travelled to China and back foi
the delight OF hearing little Chez Ia
sing Just one Girl" The jolly come
dian wore the broadest kind of a smile
all the time / was there, and volunteer
ed several decidedly bright remarks
that proved not only his progress In the
mastery Of English but his cleyerness
i'm picking up the slang OF the day and
applying IL in n very humorous way.
AS I arose to go. His Chinks said
"Cheing choy 10y kin ngo," which
was told was an exceedingly polite
form OF invitation to call again. and
then. with an appearance OF great EN-
barrassment, he checked my movement
| and pointed to the chair.
| I suppose my eyes must have bulget
out OF their sockets. for he laughed
heartily at my evident surprise am
! chattered few words. which the inter
| prefer said meant help yourself"
I had looked behind me I'm the direc'
ton In which he pointed, and on thu
seat Of that chair. nearly covering II
was a large shallow dish filled with de