Norwich bulletin., 1909-05-29
THE LONG AGO
 AND THE LATER ON
lcontinued frem Paee six.l


 who, according to the legend, was a very obdurate woman, insisted that sEe, herself, should save her huSband life, and the dutiful daughter released her hold and saw both parents dro-rn, though she succeeded in saving both brothers The dream so affected her that she told 1t to her neighbors and they all remembered it when the news came that the junk had been lost and the two sons were the only survivors of the wreck. And so she was made a goddess for dreaming a dream which happened to come to pass-at least in part-an of which goes to show that the Chinese require but small provocation in setting up something to worship.
 We had made all our arrangements early. and our party of six started soon after noon, to make our way to the appointed place in the city from N hich to view the procession, but even at that early hour the streets were so crowded that we were obliged to con- fine ourselves to back street which followed the wall for nearly a mlie, and then to make our entrance through a rear door. After traversing many rooms and marrow passages we finally found ourselves seated On platform which had been erected where we could overlook one of the principal streets. This street was about twelve feet wide, and the stores on each side, ranging from six to twelve feet deep from which all goods had been pre- viously removed, were now occupied by privileged spectators. Of all the wonderful exhibitions I have seen. none could begin to compare with that. I have never seen such solid masses of human beings as I saw during the seven hours that I remained seated or that platform. As to the goddess her self, we did not see her at all, for she did not reach our point of vantage on Ter triumphal way until two o'clock in the morning. and that was entirely too long to wait even for her exalted ladyship.
 I shall never forget my first sight os camels in Tien-tsin. It was on a New Years morn about five o'clock. and I was returning home from the resi- dence of a merchant where a congen- ial party had dined and seen the New Year in with all the honors. The din- ner had lasted from eight to eleven thirty of the clock, and then the. host whp was a Scotchman, prepared O hot Scotch whfskey punch in which the company were to drink a farewell to the' Old Year and a welcome to the New. It was the most delicious hot whiskey punch I had ever tasted. A few minutes before twelve we all stood in a circle and with glasses filled we sang "Auld Lang Syne" At the mo- ment of midnight the glasses were drained as a farewell bumper to the Old Year, when they were again fillel and with ar appropriate song and an- other bumper we gave a right royal welcome to the New Year and from that time until early morn, song and dance and jollity reigned. On my homeward walk, as I approached the consulate, I heard the tinkling of bells. The unusually musical tone ot the bells attracted my attention. saw large, dark body coming around the corner towards me. As 1t was a bright moonlight night, or morning the whole thing had mysterious look and in fact was rather startling. But as the strange sight came nearer I found 1t was a drove of camels. I didn't know at that time there was camel within thousand miles of Tien- tsin, and I wondered If { yhose hot whiskey punches could cat me to see camels when there wereA camels But while I was wondering friend came along and I asked
 What are those?"
 Why" said he, those are camels."
 Thank you" said I. land now I can retire conscious that the dignity of the greatest government on earth has not suffered by the indiscretion of one of its representatives"
 There were over three hundred of the camels They had como all the way from Mongolia with a cargo of wool which had just been discharged and were then on their way to rest after their tiresome tourney. Every