University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-04-12
Bits of China.

A man with greasy rag in his hand
was wiping few grains of rice OF the
table. The chops.icks he held in his
hand passed through the same rag,
then into bamboo holder on the ia
BILE. The table was ready for more
customers. They came in soon and
ordered rice, cabbage and meatballs,
which were soon placed steaming hot
before them with chopsticks in hand
and bowl: UP TO their mouths they be-
gan TO eat the food
GIancing up, we see that tine place is
a Chinese eating house. Thirty more
tables are thus filled. At ,the front
door are the utensils and the fire that
cooks the food. Iron pots fit into a
brick oven and there the food is cooked
by a chef, who continually stirs the
rice to keep it from burning, OCCASION
ally filling bowls for customers.
Looking around. we see the dirt of
ages clinging to the ceiling and raft
ers. 1t Nigh; bring bad luck to clean
it away. and besides there is a swal-
lows nest in the ceiling. Under foot
there is uneven mud, perhaps planed
boards. Stray dogs sniff among the
tables for the remnants of food, for in
China they throw all bones on to the
floor or bare table. Our guests have
now finished their meal, the price of
which is three cents. Tea 10 drink and
basin of hot water and rag are
brought them to bathe their faces.
which they do at the table. The meal
ends by slipping tea. The same greasy
rag is used 20 wipe off table and chop
sticks and all is again ready.
With bundle securely fixed under
his arm. the young apprentice left the
pawnshop and turned hOmewards.
When his room was reached he
opeEed his package and spread out
before him blue stained gown with
fur-tipped collar. On the morrow
he would PIT this On and call on his
emuloyer, for it was New Years day.
The rent OF the gown had cost him
s1.12; but New Year was such grand
occasion that the cost was insignifi-
cant He tried it on again, it was a
perfect fit.
Tie longcd-for day came and the
young apprentice went to call. Others
in the same department as himself
were there, all decked out in finery.
He bowed AMI was received graciously
by his master. He was ushered into
the parlor where tea and sweetmeats
were served the guests. All shop talk
was forgotten, the employees enter
tanning each other as if they had been
society acquaintances. Tie master
came in to receive the greetings and
the visiting cards of his callers. They
returned home. perhaps to more feast
ing of their own. The apprentice or
reaching his room took off his gown
wrapped il carefully for the pawn
Ibroker to whom he would deliver il
on the morrow Ali occasion for dis
play for the year was over. Plair
Iclothes and work were to be his lot
flor New Year had come and gone.
| A widow and her little boy were go
ling up the busy road toward the TEN
lple. The little fellow had put his hant
lin his mothers and she led him along
lwhile he turned to look at passing per
sons and vehicles and other thing:
tha, attracted him. Soon the temple
was reached and the two turned from
the busy thoroughfare to enter a shor
lalie--way leading to the building. From
1.-The outside, high bank walls distin
guished the temple from other build
Iings. Once within the building, the
lmother purchased from a priest, who
stood near the main gateway, three
Icandles and a bundle of incense. Car
Trying this, size and the little boy walk
ed across the courtyard into the place
where the great idol stood.
Spikes in front of the kneehng bench
Isupported a few sputtering candles left
by former ~crshippers, and from one
of these the widow lighted hers and
stuck them on spikes. The incense toe
THAT she carried in her hand was light
ed and put it in receptacle provided
for the purpose. Fragrant smoke from
1.-THE sticks ascended to the ceiling. The
gaze of the little fellow VINO kneeled
linnocently by his mothers side fol
lowed it, Smoke from thousands OF
candles. and SCOT from the incense that
had been burned there for years had
blackened the ceiling beyond all recog
milton; in fact the head of the great
idol was hardly discernable from the
|rafters and roof of the temple.
Into this dusty area the boy gazed
first at the idol where his mother was