Evening star., 1901-02-18
CHRISTMAS IN CHINA
How Two Cavalrymen Managed to
Have a Good Time.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MISHAP
An American Soldiers Nerve Saved
Him.
@ U EN- CHING A TIL IRST
QU UENCHING A THIRST
Copyright, 1901
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

PEklN, December 70, 19OO.
1t all came about through the great amity
between England and the United States
that is evident In Pekin ever since the
troops of the two nations of the Anglo
Saxon race fought side by side from Tien
Tsin up to this capital.
When an American soldier wants a "good
time he is almost certain to wander over
to the British encampment and pick up a
new chun, provided he does not already
possess an old chum there.
Barling has served under the British col
ors for twenty years. Despite this fact he
does not appear much above thirty. He is
splendid-looking chap, with the best kind
of set-up that goes with the best kind Of
British soldier. He is more than six feet
in height, a giant in a fistic encounter. He
is also chronically thirsty.
Morse is an American cavalryman, and
while not more than twenty-three, he is one
of the best troopers who sit in saddle. He,
too, is in the siX-foot class, or very close
to it. He is lean and sinewy. not very fond
of fsticuffs, but with the best kept and
kecnest-sighted rifle in the troop. He will
ride like a tiend, and regards dangerous
reconnaissance work as the normal course
of life He is not by any means as well
set up as Barling, having even slight
stoop in the shoulders, for which his cap
tain forsives him on account of his being
such an uncOmmonly fine trooper in every
way.
erywhere in the world. Morse listens to
the yarns with rapt attention, for before
reaching China it had never been his lot TO
fall in with any very severe ightlng. Bar
ling is pugnacous to the very limit. Morse
is argumentative III a lazy sort of way
and will stand almost anything except
disparaging remark about his morse Bar
ling admits that Morse has his faults, from
1t,,t l,,1t - he n
contends that the young Yankee trooper
is rather n fine beggar.' Perhaps some OF
Barlings good opinion IS due to the uncon-
cealed admiration with which the Amerl-
can listens to the older warriors tales.
In one thing Morse resembles Barring;
he has a thirst a good deal like the En-
glishmans though TO lesser degree. In
cidentally. Morse can carry less OF thirst-
quenching fluids than his older ana more
experienced friend.
Blue on Christmas.
Yesterday afternoon Trooper Morse got
blue II was Christmas at home, and Morse
fell TO thinking about it. OF course there
were some kinds of exercises to be held In
town, but these were mainly religious in
their nature, and not especially intended
for soldiers.
To be sure, Morse had a very fair Christ
mas dinner with the troop. Instead of
cheering him, however, this fact made him
feel the more depressed
III go over and see Barling," he de-
cided, and carried out his resolve, to the
pathetic undoing of his friend.
BarlinG, too, proved to have a bit of in
digo tint in his mental atmosphere yester-
day afternoon. He has an old mother at
home, and-well, Christmas isn't the day to
get thinking about your old mother when
she's on the other side of the world.
What a jolly pair of ours we are OBJ
served Darling, after the couple had smoked
diSDiritedly for some minutes.
Cant we do something to liven us up?"
suggested Morse, tentatively.
well, might, you know, admitted
Baring. But how?'
There's loot sale or two left, I reckon
limited Morse
Tommy rot?' calculated Barring, con-
temptuously. I've Il topping sight more
now that L can ever carry to the next sta
ton"
''Too bad there amt an American theater
here in this Internal hole" mused Morse,
aloud
Tommy rot again. I'm kid enough to-
day to wish ! could see the old London
pantomime once more.
But We can't returned the American.
dolefully, as he scraped out his pipe. Il
don't know what to do
He did know, nevertheless. but he was
simply waiting to put the onus of suggest
ing it on the Englisbman. Ten days before
they had found night of amusement. In
the penitent hours of the day after they had
agreed to refrain in the future from going
in so steeply as they had done on that &C.
casion.
TN tell you what we might do went on
Barring slowly as he struck match and
passed it to his friend; 1--WE might go out
and take a glass or two to our countries.
IL cheers us up, you know, and will not do
anybody any harm"
Morse's face was beginning to brighten.
His mouth felt parched, and only one or
two half-filled glasses We're needed to do
him world of good.
tn mi, tod % hnlo
resumed Barling, smoking hard. cts in
a little hut of three rooms, that's just been
started by Hi Hang-at least that's what his
name sounds like. He doesn't keep drop
of that blooming thieves vinegar that they
call Chinese rice whisky, either He has
some of the most real whisky, lad, you ever
laid your eyes on"
"Rye?' cried Morse. Frightening up.
mo such hard luck. It's Scotch, lad, and
the real Scotch, though I can't think where
the thieving monkey got it,
Aren't we wasting time?" asked Morse,
rising and Strengthening out his loose joints
Barling thought SO, too. They left their
quarters and sauntered forth, strolling
slowly, for they did not care to risk arous-
ing curiosity. There are strict orders in the
English and American sections of the city
against surreptitious gin mills, and there is
a need Of the regulation, for English and
American officers are especially anxious
! that their men shall set the most shining
examples to the troops of other countries
| in all matters of soldieEly good conduct.
No finer pair of troopers could be imag-
| ined than Barling and Morse as they stroll
ed through street after street, strictly
! saluting all officers whom they passed.
| Their walk was long enough to take them
| into the American section.
Celebrating the Day.
'Here we are" said Barling, as they
| stopped before the door of a hut-like little
house. The door yielded quickly to their
| pressure In the outer room they found q
| Chinaman engaged In sorting dried meats
| at short counter. He looked up and
nodded as Barling walked straight to the
| door of the second room.
Him all light?" inquired Hi, glancing
| obviously at Morse.
"of course, you, yellow beggar: he's my
| friend" Barling led the way to the third
| and innermost room. There were chairs
| there, as in the second ROOM Morse
| thought 1t strange that he had never
| found this place before, and stranger still
| that an Englishman should be the one to
| find 1t in the American section. Hi came
| quickly in, bearing two glasses well filled
| with Scotch.
mo one else comes in here, you UNDER
| stand,' ordered Barling. as Hi went out.
Dark overlook the pair. Hi paid them fire.
] Quent visits, always with liquid results.