Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-18
DUEL IN THE ORIENT.
Remarkable Story Told by A New
York Tourist
Really Enjoyed Seeing Opern Company
Treasurer Try to Kill the Baritone,
In the Orient Fight Called OFT
When Youth Made Foul


Saigon. Cochin-China Feb. 1o-A table
acquaintance introduced me to the
baritone of the opera company who got
mixed up in a duel the other day. was
present and shall never forget IT To
say that the one enjoyed two fellows try
ing 10 Kill themselves may sound blood
thirsty but when You somehow fei moi
Their would get hurt you could not help
laughing
Now, that would bc strictly the truth.
but you would miss a great many of the
details which, rs the mail steamer does
not get here for Ave days, you might just
well enjoy. Let me begin at the
commencement:
It would be rather hard to describe the
hotel dining room. Its splendid dimen
sions with palm garden entrance on
two sides. impress the stranger at once;
quite as large as tho main room at
Sherrys. with white and gold FREEDOM
mating luxuriance OF palms and
plants. through which dart the Chinese
waters soundlessly.
1t has an oriental effect, without the
slightest resemblance to the tawdrv
Egyptian effects we have at home.
There are two lines Of small tables run
ming down the lcngth of the room be-
hind these, smaller round tables for fam
lilies and parties, and IN the very center
a massive one, upon which are exposed
tho fruits in season. the cold meats md
the ever present plat du Jour"
BY the side of this table the most digni-
fed Chinanan presdes He is the No. |.
Dressed like a mandarin. he secs to it
that his underlngs serve properly. 1t
is said that many bets have beeen made
as to his ability to smile. Annamite
mobiles have given him handsome tips.
but he has never been Soen to do aught
but bow.
DOGS ALWAYS ON HAND.
1t has always seemed to me a miracle
how he avoided tripping over some one s
dog for. as every one has one or more
dogs, and as the climate does not permit
of doors, It is impossible 10 keep them
out once their owners are in That they
| never fight speaks marvels for their
training, especially so on outlet days.
tiny Peknese, who belongs to A
| French professor, has been my particular
| friend since my arrival. AS soon as she
| finishes her masters bone over she trots
to me. and with a little bow, wowi ouf.
she Invariably, with much tailwaRging,
succeeds In convincing me Of her right to
| mine.
| whether or not the proverh, love me,
love my dog" has any French equivalent.
| is not material. II at any rate forms a
| large part OF every dog owners nature,
and from Its nonacceptance yesterday q
duel arose beyond any shadow OF doubt.
From my arrival had occupied a seat
near the terrace entrance Of the dining
roon at one OF the two long rows OF
| tables. To my right I was fortunate
enough to have a French colonel, who Is
an authority on Cochin and Indo Oh ma.
and who has told me many most useful
things TO know. To my left | have not
been so fortunate--transient neighbors
principally, until few days ago, when
the baritone and friend OF his took
| their places there.
| They both knew the colonel so we an
| talked and after a meal or so were on
very good terms, With the baritone came
a French poodle. one of the clipped
| variety. His manners are excellent away
from the table, but greed Ia his god, and
II soon became evident that the tiny
Chinese lady must stand aside for the
Frenchman.
A GREAT CONNECTION.
1t so happened that the son of the