The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-11

Magazine for October.
 N TIER her meal the Chinese ladv
 V1 fingers for a few minutes over
 her cup of tea and her pipe. In the meantime her cart or sedan chair is prepared. Her outriders are ready with their horses; the eunuchs. women and slave girls who are to attend her don their proper clothing and prepare the changes of raiment needed for the various functions of the day. One takes basin and towels, another powder and rouge boxes, another the pipe and embroid- cred tobacco pouch, not even forgetting the silver cuspidor, all of which will be needed. When she eats. a servant gives her a napkin to spread over her gown
 after she has finished, another brings a basin of hot water, from which a towel is wrung with which she gently wipes her mouth and hands. Another brings her glass of water, or she washes out her mouth with tea, and finally with the little mirror and rouge box she puts the paint upon her lip if it has disappeared
 When ready to start, her cart or chair is drawn up as close as possible to the gate of the women's apartments. screen of blue silk IS or 20 feet long and six feet high, fastened to two wooden standards, is held by eunuchs to screen her while she enters the cart. The chair can be used only by princesses or wives of vice. roys or members of the grand council But whether chair or cart it is lined and cushioned with scarlet satin in summer.
 4- plishment to enter a cart gracefully but years of practice enable her to do so, and as soon as she is seated in Buddhist fashion, the curtain is dropped; her at tendant seats herself cross legged in front; several male servants rush up, seize the shafts of the cart, place the mule be- tween them, fasten the buckles Git re- minds one of the fire department, the driver takes his place at the lines, two other male servants take hold Of the sides of mules bridle and all is in readi- ness to start. Female servants and slave girls crowd into other carts, outrlders mount their mules, and the cavalcade starts with miladys cart ahead.
 As they pass along the streets they are
 remarked upon by all foot passengers and as they near their destination
 courier on horseback spurs up his steed,
 makes a wild dash forward, leaps from
 his horse and announces to the gate
 keeper that the princess will soon ar
 rive. The news is at once taken to the
 servants of the women's apartments
 where the name is given to a eunuch,
 who bears it to his mistress.
 In the meantime the party has arrived. The mule is unhitched, cart drawn tp ; the gate, screen spread, servant descends
 from front and the princess, With the
 help of A couple of eunuchs, is escorted through a long covered walk into the court where the ladies of the household are waiting on the veranda to receive her. As she enters the gateway the hostess begins slowly to descend the steps. The others follow, and they meet In tho center of the court. Low courtesies are made hv each and formal inquiries as to each others health. There Is short stop and certain formalities before the guest will ascend the steps ahead Of the hostess. The same occurs again on en- ter;ng the reception hall, and taking the sea+ of honor The luckless foreigner sometimes makes the mistake -of conced- ing to her guests modesty and allows her to take a lower seat, which is a | prievous offense and she is only par | doned by the plea that she is an outside
 barbarian and does not understand the
 rules of polite society.
 | After she is seated tea is served ana | servants bring in trays of sweetmeats' | fruit. nuts, dried melon seeds canaied fruits and small cakes. One Of these | nuts is unique It is an "English walnut | in which, after outer hull is removed, | the shell is self-cracked. and folds back | in places so that the kernel appears. | While partaking of the delicacies of dried | watermelon seeds the object of the visit l is announced which is that her son Is to | be married on certain date. Of course l official announcements will be sent later. 1 but she wishes to ask if her hostess l will act as one of her representatives to | carry the ju vi to the young lady's | home.
 After the ladies have chatted for a ! time about the latest official appoint