The Washington times., 1904-11-20
Characteristic Chinese Stories
Typical of Oriental Hun7or

again. One day an individual whom he
was honoring with 81 long visit got very
tired of his company, bat did not know
how to get rid Of him. as he could not
very well tell him point blank 10 go. So
he got up and looked al the sky.
Clouds are gathering" he said sugges-
lively; 1T viii soon rain"
His visitor replied with alacrity, If IL
is going TO rain / mustn't go; il might
rain before / reach home" So he did
not go
The unhappy host. finding this plan
unavailing, raclIed his brains for an
other. and by and by he rose and looked
out again. The clouds are scattering,
perhaps il won't rain after all"
If IL Is not going TO rain, remarked
the imperturable guest. there is no need
to hurry; I can stay on
A Similar Illness.
A family had just bought a new bed
stead. 1t was very grand and orna-
mental, and they were anxious that a
family with whom they We're connected
by marriage should see and admire Il.
But how could they manage it, II would
seem rather silly to say: Come and look
at our fine new bedstead." A more
I
/ ceeding must be devised. and after a
/ little cogitation a capital plan suggested
itself The materfamilias feigned illness
and lay upon the new bedstead. AS had
/ been ANTICIPATED. the other materfa-
milfas called to inquire after her health
was ushared into the sick room, and took
her seat by the side OF her friend.
Now the visitor, on her part, had really
-
| OF shoes. Accordingly. as she sat by
the bedside, she raise her foot rather
I high so that the prettily embroidered
shoes might not escape notice Ihen
/ she thus addressed the lnVahd' rouse
mother, what illness are you suffering
The lady i'm bed was not too III 20 OBJ
! serve the elevated fOOt and 70 know
what was meant by IT,, so she replied:
/ It am suffering from the same disease
| of the heart as yourself
Ch'ao Chaos Army.
| A Messenger boat full OF people wss
on the point OF pushing on from the
shore when a man came running up IN
/ hot haste and asked 10 be taken on
| board. There is no room; we can't take
YOU" answered the boaman. But he
was not TO be put of so easily.
If you will let me come I will tell
/ you a tale"
/ The passengers began 10 discuss the
! situation. I'VE have nothing 10 do, and
/ it's very tedious. If he We're 70 tell US
"A story il would while away the time.
/ Accordingly. the applicant was allowed
10 come on board. The passengers
/ soueezed closer together, and so man
] aged 10 make room for him.
! After giving the newcomer a little
/ breathing time they asked for the prom
/ ised story Without hesitation. he be-
/ ban. "Ch'ao Ch'ao once led $50. .000 men
/ 10 the south Of the Hangtse. On their
/ way they had TO cross a river by a
bridge which consisted OF a single plank.
/ They crossed over one by one" Here
which We're supposed TO represents the
1 trampling of the steeds, teh-teh-teh.
This went on Till the audience grew
rather tired OF it, and at last someone
said. please go on with the story"
! You must wait for them 10 cross the
] bridge When $4,000 men and horses
/ have TO cross "a One-plank bridge 10
won't do TO hurry them; they must be
careful OF they might fan into the wa
| ter. and he calmly resumed his teA-teh-
/ teh
Again the audience pleaded for g con-
! tinuatiOn OF the story, but again hs de-
elined to be hurriedN
! "rhey can't cross the bridge In a
/ short time" he said, they must go
1 slowly and carefully So he went on
( with his teh-teh-teh. and. however much
! he was urged he would say nothing
/ else. AT last the boat reached its desti-
InatiOn, and the story was never finish
/ cd, because Ch'a0 Chaos army had not
Yet had time 10 cross the one-plank
bridge.-Chambers' Journal.