The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-09-24

ing the piano is quite outdone by the
Chinese 'Eboy' whose master took un-
to him a wife. His indignity at be-
ing presided over by his new mistress
could not be long suppressed, and with
in week he presented himself be-
fore his master with the complaint:
Suppose this missussy stop this side,
me no can stop. More better you send
off this missussy.' One can somewhat
imagine the vagaries of this mongrel
talk, or wonderful gibberish, by the
translation of Hamlet's solilouuv.
which would begin: ''Can do. no can
do, how fashion,
Than the Chinese certainly no SER
want is more polite. The abruptness
of simple "yes'' or "no" is never
employed. els your master at home g,
is answered by "Hab got' or "No
hab GOT When asked if he under
stands the answer is: ''Me sabe" or
Ne no sabe" Often his replies are
put down to intellectual turbidity
when they are merely given it accord
ance with his code of politeness. 1t
is rude 20 answer question direct.
Asked where he has been he looks at
you stolidly for moment, and, as
though to be absolutely sure you were
not referring to any other one of the
earth s fifteen hundred and ninety
nine million nine hundred and ninety
nine thousand and nine hundred and
ninety nine inhabitants. he asks.
Me?' You smile and answer, eyes,
you. Still to soften the abruptness
of direct answer he says, "Where
beens ~ Eyes, where been?'' Then
with further exaggerated and exasper-
atlng softness he gazes into vacancy
as if in doubt as to whether he has
caught your exact meaning, and try
ing seemingly with all the intentness
of his nature to "break it gently he
asks: Me, where been?" Yes, you;
where have you BEEN And then, the
code of etiquette fully satisfied. he
replies: "Me been talkee mafoo, -
which means that he has been holding
conversation with the coachman.
Such answers are greatly in contrast
with that of the old Southern ssmam-
my cook, who, when asked if she had
polished the stove, blurted out, ono,
/ haint; and | haint agwine ter shine
it, neither -
When serving at table ''John China
man. will always pass everything, be
1T the smallness of cup of tea, with
both hands, because the use of one
would not only evince his carelessness.
but betray an unwillingness to take
the little trouble necessary, thus max
ing breach of etiquette When wish
ing to leave your service he does not
come to tell you so. He sends a friend,
a ego between. This friend will in
form you that FtLohan, he gotehee
one piece aunt-she vellee sick-Lo-
han wanchee go see-come back two,
three day Now, both the ego be-
tween and Lohan may know there is
no aunt sick, but it is needless to try
circumvention-Loha is going, ana
you agree. Then the friend still looks
at you expectantly, and if you remain
quiet he will, after slowly shifting
from one foot to the other, finally ap-
proach you softly and cautiously
whisper, as though it fairly tore his
soul apart and gave him the fortunes
of the damned to say it, "Lohan wan
chez money All of this simply means
that for SOME reason which you will
never learn Lohan has quit and wants
his pay.
Alongside of this all the "pardon-
nez mois' of a French maid appears
rude, and as for Bridget, she would
simply throw down her broom violent
/ ly in the midst of her securing, loosen
her tucked-up skirts with a Jerk. kick
over a bucket of water and blurt out
savagely. eff there S emmy more scour-
ing an shure it II not be Bridget as
will be at the doin' of it! Pay me
and I'll be for the having of yel''
One of the disagreeable character
isties of the Chinese servant is his
complete disregard of time FETomor-
row to him does not necessarily mean
the next day, but some indefinite time
/ which often, like st. Patrick s ''to-
morrow never comes. The Chinese
day is divided into twelve periods. the
names of which do not indicate a
point of time, as with us, but cover
all the space between the preceding
and following names. Thus, two of our
hours equailing one of his, twelve. half
past twelve, or a quarter to two,
would all to him be simply twelve
o o'clock. The disagreeable result of
/ such reckoning can be understood in
the case where YOU have guests for
dinner and order if ready at clock.
To the cook it would mean any time
before 10. The butcher who on Tues
day or Wednesday delivers meat order
ed for Monday has no idea he is be-
hndhand. and in case of remOnstrance
puts on an expressionless smile that
leaves You wondering if after all it
is not wholly your own fault Our i'm
patience doubtless is often looked up
on by them with as great degree