The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-08-05
CHATTER xY


What was not done at the frontier has
to be done at Kachgar Russians and
Chinese are one as bad as the other
when there are vexing formalities, papers
20 verify, passports to sign. etc. Il is
the same sort Of meddling. minute and
overfastidious. and we must put up with
II. We must not forget the. terrible
threat Of the formula the functionary Of
the Celestial Empire afixes to his acts
-''rremble and obey / am disposed
TO obey, aud l am prepared to appear
before the authorities Of the frontier
remember the fears Of Kinko, and il is
with regard to him that the trembling Is
TO be done, if the examination Of the
travellers extends TO their packages and
luggage.
It Is 10 O'Clock when a stroke Of the
gong announces that the police formali-
ties are about to begin. We leave the
table and few minutes afterward are in
the waiting room.
All my numbers are present. with the
exception, Of course. Of Kinko. who
would have done honor to our breakfast
If it had been possible for him to take
part IN II. There was Doctor To King.
his "C0rnarO" under his arm: Fulk Eph-
Tinel and Miss HorOtia Bluett, mingling
their teeah and hair, fguratively, be II
understood; Sir Francis TreTellyan, mo-
tionless and silent, intractable and stiff.
smoking his cigar on the threshold. Faru-
skair. accompanied by Ghangir: Russian,
Turkoman, Chinese travelers-in all
from sixty to eighty persons Every one
had IN bis turn to present himself at the
table, which was occupied by two Celes-
tials IN uniform, functiOnary speaking
Russian huently. an interpreter for Ger
man. French and English.
The Chinese was a man about 50. with
a bald head, a thick mustache, a long
pigtail, and spectAcles on his nose. Wrap |
ped in a fowery robe fat a. IL he be-
longed 10 the most distinguished people
in the country. he had not a prepossess-
Ing face. After all, it was only a verif. /
cation Of our papers. and as ours were
IN order, it did not much matter how re-
puIsive he looked.
What an air he has" murrnured |
Madame Caterua.
The air Of A Chinaman." said her
husband, and. frankly, do not ike IL" |
am one Of the first to present nv
passport. which bears the visas Of the /
consul al TiAIs and the Russian antbgri. t
ties at Uzun Ada. The functionarv looks /
al il attentiYely. When you are dealing .
with a mandarin, you should always BE- /
on the lookout. Nevertheless, the exam /
ination raises no difficulty, and the seal 4
Of the green dragon declares me all In /
order.
The same result with regard to the /
actor and actress. Nevertheless. il was 4
worth while looking at Caterna while /
his papers were being examined Hs /
assumed the attitude Of a criminal on. /
deaYoring 10 mollify a magistrate. no /
made the sheepiest Of eyes, and smiles |
absolutely the most deprecnting smiles
and seemed TO lmplors a grace or rather
a favor, and yet the most obdurats Of
the Cinnamon had not a word to say TO
him.
Correct" said the interpreter.
Thank you, my prince" replied Ca
tPrna, with the accent Of a Paris stree,
boy.
As to Ephrinel and Miss Bluett. tb.v
went through like a posted letter. Ifsn
American commercial and an EngIisb
ditto were not in order. who would be7
Uucle Sam and John Bull are one az far
as that goes.
The other travellers, Russian and Tur.
koman, underwent examination without
any difficulty arising. Whether they were
first class or second class, they had fyt-
hlled the conditions required by the Chi.
Eese administration, which levies a rathar
heavy fee for each visa, payable in ron.
bles. taels or sapeks.