Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-17
The Beetle of the Mandarin

BY Vera L. Connolly.

the last tae1" He rose as he spoke
and walked to the door. His coolies
were summoned. and soon his chair
was in readiness.
He drew the consul back into the
hall and embraced him.
MY good friend" he said, from to-
morrow morning the Chang Road is
open to American merchants. Good
bye"
Thank you, Luang. Goodbye"
The consul stood watching the chair
until it disappeared behind the trees.
Then his care-worn face lighted up.
Il am very glad. No more driving
through the old cemetery. The fever
will be greatly lessened this summer"
He closed the door and went back to
his study to arrange his affairs for the
morning start.
Four days later, in the early morn
ing, little steamer nosed her way up
the Pearl River toward the city of
Canton.
The river was alive with boats and
noisy with gable of rival merchants
as they poled their cumbersome junks
through the throngs of Households, for
which Canton is famous. These con-
sisted of sampans rooted over in one
place by mating. and indesoribably
dirty. They were usually propelled by
women and children, while their lords
and masters smoked luxuriously In the
stern.
John Hartman stood on the steam
er's deck, watching them shove from
under the boats prov barely in time
to escape being swamped. They
closed the steamer In on either side as
huge ice pack might. Scarce
square foot of water could be seen be-
| tween them.
Occasional splotches of color marked
the progress of a flower-boat, for
these heathenish relics Of former days
are still to be seen on the Pearl River.
The whole scene was full of life. Even
the boats themselves. with their care
fully painted eyes, their graceful
prows and Tapping sails, resembled
huge brown birds.
Soon the endless string of house
boats gave place to long wharf, from
which narrow, irregular streets ran
back. lined on either side by shops, on
through the old city of the dead to the
great Tartar Wall-this was Canton
AS the steamer made fast to the pier
amid a great changing of bells and
cries of chairmen. the coolies poured
from the lower deck, and soon the con-
sul's chair was in readiness for him.
He gave few directions and the cool
les trotted up the principal street.
which was so narrow that the hang
ings of the chairs almost brushed the
shops on either side.
Overhead the roofs jutted out to with
In few inches Of each other. making
the street look like narrow hallway.
The shops were open to the street,
and their owners could be seen; within
arranging their display, or seated be-
side their counters, smoking. In the
meat shops. rats, ducks and chou-dogs,
dried and cured, were strung from the
ceiling.
Everywhere the Americans chair
was followed by sulky, scowling
glances. Once, meeting another chair,
the consups coolies were forced to
back into neighboring shop in order
that the others could pass.
After twenty minutes of such travel,
the chair halted before a shop more
pretentious than most of them, and
presided over by large Chinaman,
who hurried to the door as the consul
entered.
Il am honored. How can serve
your" He bowed deeply before the
American.
Hartman glanced at the bare little
shop in Surprise.
Il must have made a mistake. I am
searching for Song Wen. the auc-
tioneer."
81 am he"
Il wish to see the articles to be sold
at Wednesdays auction"
Certainly. Follow me-" Song
drew aside hanging at the back of
the shop and they passed into long
room, dimly lighted by two brass
lamps suspended from above. It was
crowded with furniture, brasses, cloi-
some jars. ivories, fans, embroidered
hangings and trays of jade and uncut
stones.
The American paused. in the midst
OF all this splendor, while the mer-
chant lighted several lamps, which
flared up brightly.
you have heard Of the worries? No?
They are very beautiful" He led the
way to large black cabinet, on which
the cleaning pieces were strikingly
arranged
He picked up the carving of tiny.
half-open peach. in which a child
nestled. Every feature of the infants
face was perfectly represented; the
peach itself was without flaw. and
all Of 1t was no larger than a marble.
Beautiful" Hartman stepped to
the light and examined 1t.
Song Wen quietly named the auc-
ton price.
"Sell ii to me now?"
mo. Nothing is to be sold until the
auction next Wednesday"
Il will come then"
The auctioneer smiled and led him
from one fascinating heap to another.
Finally he stopped at black cabinet
and. with quick push, a secret
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