Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-10-09
(By Ernest Brindle.)


Between all countries Of the world.
however far apart, there are many
similarities. and the likeness extends
even 10 the different inhabitants. An
English tradesman displays his goods
In the same way as u Japanese or
Chinese vendor. and uses similar
methods OF attracting custom to those
employed wherever people live by
exchange or barter. The habits
and customs OF one country are close
~ related 10 those OF another ten
thousand miles away. and the con
trasts are not so remarkable as are
the a~nalogies.
The hour Is three o'clock on a sunny
afteroon In early spring,
"Not Of An Ace But For All Time"
The paths leading from the road
Into the garden are thronged with
Chinese old and young. attired In the
national dress. which has existed from
time immemorial without being sub.
jected 10 the changes OF an alien fash
Ion. The round. black hat with the
red or white button on the top, the
long. cosely-nttlng gown reaching to
below the knee, the trousers wrapped
tightly at the ends, and the white
soled. black cloth boots are as essen
tial to the proper equipment OF a
Chinaman as Is the carefully plated
pigtail. The material OF the clothes
may differ In some cases, but Il Is all
cut to the same pattern.
The bright points Of colour in the
throng are supplied by the women,
some OF whom wear magnificent or.
naments OF jewelry In their hair. and
who's faces are rouged a brilliant
red. They walk m and down, sway.
ing like lilies" on their tiny feet. chat.
tering and laughing. and shooting
bright glances from their expressive
dark eyes at the passing crowds.
Some OF them smoke cigarettes, and
small groups are to be seer sitting
under the trees which form the boun-
ty lines OF the garden. smoking silver
pipes, In charge of their "amahs," wo-
men who accompany everywhere
young ladies' Of the wealthy classes In
China.
Carriages drawn by Australian horses
and containing rich Cinnamon and
their families dash by, and native
sportsmen gallOp along on ponies
decked out on gorgeous trappings. At
the far end Of the garden Is a large
square paved with white stone, and
toward It pours a continual stream OF
people. We will 60 and see what the
attraction In there. From the top Of
a broken pillar rear the outskirts OF
the crowd It IL possible. to look over
the heads Of the people.
In the centre of the square, stand
ing on a platform. Is a young China
man, gaunt and haggard. a student BY
the look Of him, who is haranguing
his audience In shrill tones. He waves
his arms In the air above his head and
leans slightly forward. gazing pierre
ingly at those In front OF him. Earnest
attention ID paid to what he says by
the rows Of pigtailed listeners, who
at intervals intimately discuss some
point Of special importance.
Hyde Park IN the East.
That there are opponents to the
speaker IL evidenced by the conduct
Of a number OF men who shout and
jeer and do their utmost to upset the
meeting, but the general behaviour
IL one OF quiet orderliness. The sub
ject under discussion Ia that Of gov.
eminent reform In China. Bitter
are said anent the corruption
In official circles. and drastic. i'm
possible measures are proposed to
effect a change BY the students who
follow each other on the platform.
When the last speaker has fulminat.
ed against the Empress Dowager and
her advisers. q resolution expressive
Of the necessity for immediate reform
is proposed and carried with enthus.
iasm. The meeting breaks up and
disperses into theatres and tea.shops
to talk yer the events Of the after.
noon. The students depart to their
homes with as much stealth as pos.
sible, for II Is not wise OF a reformer
In the Middle Kingdom. eve in a
foreign treaty port, to be out after
dark.
The six different crowds In Hyde
Park, each gathered around a dema-
gogue who points out the shortest