The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-04-18

haQ collected in circle around him
he struck comical attitude, standing
up with his body twisted sideways
and his hat on one ear. With much
buffoonery and volubility he made the
following remarks:
Ladies and gentlemen, this very
morning | obtained license from the
authorities of this town. And what
for? Why. gentlemen, for the purpose
of exhibiting to you spectacle which
has already won the admiration of the
four quarters of the globe. Inside Of
this booth, ladies, is about to COM
mence the representation of most re-
markable drama, acted for the first
time in Peking and translated by our
most celebrated authors Gentlemen,
you can take your seats. The lamps
are lighted. and the actors are chang
Ing their dress"
Here he stopped speaking and imi-
tated to perfection the feats which
mountebanks play upon horns and ket-
tledrums.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen" he re-
sumed, 'you wish to know what am
doing outside if the piece Is to be per-
formed under the tent. The fact is,
gentlemen, that l wish to give you a
foretaste of the entertainment which
you may enjoy by paying the small
sum of 10 cents. You see this superb
picture? Very well. 1t represents
eight of the most thrilling scenes in
the drama. All, l see you begin to
shudder. And yet this splendid pic
ture gives you no more idea of the
acting than a drop of water gives an
idea of the sea or ray of light of the
sum-"
"DO you know this clown?" asked an
enormous Turk of melancholy Punch.
mo, but he can initiate a trumpet
splendidly."
''Oh, very well indeed! But what is
he driving atT'
The clown was endeavoring to at
tract the attention of Nine. Fauvel,
who since Raoul and Madeleine had
left her had abandoned herself to
mournful reverie. He succeeded. The
showman's shrill voice brought the
bankers wife back to sense of real
ity. She started and looked quickly
about her. as If suddenly awakened
from a troubled dream. Then she no.
ticed the clown.
Nov, ladies, we are In China. The
first picture on my canvas, here to the
left"-he pointed to the top daub-"rep-
resents the celebrated Mandarin Ii Fo
in the bosom of his family. This pref
ty woman leaning over him Is his wife,
and these children playing on the car
pet are the fruits of a happy marriage
Do you not inhale the odor of happi-
ness emanating from this speaking
picture, gentlemen? Nine. Ii Fo is the
most virtuous of women, adoring her
husband and idolizing her children.
Being virtuous, she is happy, for the
wise Confucius says, Virtue is better
than vice."
Nine. Fauvel became interested. She
left her seat and approached nearer to
the clown.
"Do you see anything on the banner
like what he Is describing" asked the
+-SitiiShOiy uiSA vi lCISuUOTs
''No. Do you?"
The fact is that the daubs of paint
on the canvas represented one thing as
well as another, and the clown could
call them whatever he pleased.
"Picture No. g." he cried after a roll
ing of drums. "This old lady seated
before mirror tearing out her hair,
especially the gray ones-do you rec
ognize her? No, you do not. She is
the fair mandarine of the first picture.
l see tears in your eyes. ladies and
gentlemen. All, you have cause to
weep, for she is no longer virtuous,
and her happiness has departed with
her virtue. Alas, it is a sad story!
One fatal day she met on the streets of
Peking young ruffian. fiendish, but
beautiful as an angel, and she loved
him-the unfortunate woman loved
himw
During this TRADE he had turned
about till he faced the bankers wife.
whose countenance he closely watched
while he was speaking.
"You are surprised. gentlemen" he
continued. II am not. The heart nev-
er grows old. and the most vigorous
wallfiowers flourish on old ruins. This
unhappy woman Is nearly fifty years
old-and in love with a youth! Hence
this heartrending scene, which should
serve as warning to us ALL"
'RSally." grumbled a cook dressed
N white satin, who had passed the
evening in carrying around menus
which no one read, 81 thought he was
going to amuse u.s."
But" continued the clown, "you
must go inside of the booth to witness
the effects of the mandarine's folly.
AT times a ray of reason penetrates
her diseased brain, and then the sight
of her anguish would soften the most
IMPLYING. Enter, and for the small
sum of 10 cents you shall hear sobs
such as the Odeon never echoed In its
halcyon days. The unhappy woman
realizes the absurdity and inanity of
her blind passion. She confesses to
herself that she is madly pursuing a
phantom. She knows but too we'll that
he in the vigor and beauty of youth
love faded old woman like her.
self, who yainly makes pitiable efforts
to retain the last remains of her once
beauty. She feels that the
sweet words he once whispered in her
charmed ear were false. She knows
that the day is near when she will be |
left alone, with nothing save his man.
tie in her hand"