The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-10

| the peculiar lantern custom Of the Chi
nese was brought to my notice. I was to
be the guest of the American Consul
there and had Just landed with him at the
foreign merchants wharf on the Yangtse,
some distance from the foreign settlement.
1t was about p m Two Chinese coolies
of my hosts household were on the banks
awaiting US. They carried each lantern
the size Of a flour barrel Copyrighted
about the landing were several thousand
Cinnamon OF all grades and conditions.
Every third man among them carried a
] lantern, none of which, however, was
quite as large as those Of my hosts coolies
| Those are my official lanterns said
the consul. In this country size repre-
sents rank. Big man, big lantern: little
| man, little lantern. None bit the higher
ofncials can have large sized lanterns
And who are those grave-looking
gentlemen in white nghtgowns, each at
tended by lamp coolie?'
They, said my host, are merchants,
clerks, "compradores'' and traders. You
see their lamps arc a little under the
medium size. The common coolies not at
tending as servants carry the very small
est sized lamps. All are required to carry
them: it is the local municipal regulation
ut seemed to me an absurd custom for
the American Consul to have to spend his
evenings out with a couple Of lanterns the
size Of barrels in constant attendance. and
| announced my intention Of having one
only. large enough for practical purposes.
:" In that case said my host. you will
be set down as small and insignificant
person, whose wishes may be safely dis
regarded
THE first questions which the viceroy of
Canton asked me on my first Official and
social call on him." writes the American
Consul in his notebook were in regard
to my age and the number of my wive..
When / answered that we Americans were
allowed but one wife each he seemed sur
prised
'' DO not some of your wealthy men and
high officials have more than one wife
each? he asked.
But one each Your Exceliency.' I re-
piled. 1t is a felony to have more than
one at a time
IAN this had to go through an interpre-
ter. OF course. and I doubt IL my host did
not secretly suspect me of lying 1 tried
TO explain that the Mormons. OF whom he
had evidently heard were living in viola
tion of our laws. / then. not to be out
done in politeness, enquired his age.
Sixty seven was the reply.
land may I venture to enquire how
many wives my honored and venerable host
may have?' I asked
Your mean and unworthy friend has
six he answered. holding up six fingers
in order that there might be no mistake
as to the number. But my brother. the
Viceroy OF Marking has sixteen He is a
very ffich man
The conversation then turned on more
general topics. l ventured to enquire what
he thought of the proposition thea being
discussed at Pekin to begin the modern
railway system in certain portions OF the
Empire.
a. The railway would not suit our peo-
Pile he said. 1t would make them dis
satisfied aud riotous. II might. indeed.
benefit the rich. but it would be deiri-
mental to the -oor. 1t would involve a
change in our political system such as our
people DO not desire. Railroads are adapt
ed to the Western civilization, but not to
the Oriental. In China they would be ruin
nus. The masses of our people are gen
orally Door but Industrious frugal and
contented Build railroads. increase corn-
petition. make life harder by reason OF
corporate uionopoIies. and these now happy
md contented people would become revolu-
ionists. No. no: We want no railroads
n China. New York Tribune.