The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-19
A Chinese
Umbrella
BY REGINALD D. HAVEN

bright is the daughter of missionary
whose field was in China, and she had
spent most of her girlhood there. Her
husband had been to China on bust
ness, met her there and brought her
home with him as his wife.
Mrs. Bonbright, girl at this time
was with her father at his mis-
Bionary station in the province OF
Shantung After dinner l was taken
to a room where collection of souve-
Mrs of the Flowery Kingdom was
kept. Among them was an umbrella
made of bamboo wood and paper, Gov
cred with the customary pictures of
men and women, birds and flowers.
Across 1t when expanded were Chinese
characters which, of course, could
not read. Bonbright directed my at
tention TO the umbrella, and Mrs. Bon
bright said, IF you're going to tell
that story I'll go elsewhere" She went
out with look indicating that / was
about to hear something unpleasant.
"You know" said Bonbright. that
China is full of persons who live by
highway robbery. They cut off their
heads whenever they capture them,
but this doesn't seem TO deter others,
for life is cheap there and only the bet
ter classes care much about their own
or Others terrestrial existence, Well,
one day / was travelling on horseback
through the province OF Shantung. I
had no mind to be set upon by the
highwaymen and had armed myself.
There is not much fight in even the
robbers in China unless they have ev-
cry advantage. and didn't feel in
much danger so long as I could defend
myself.
Il was not attacked myself; but, hear
ing shouting ahead of me, pressed
forward and found a Chinaman in
the dress of mandarin being set upon
by gang of robbers. / fired shots at
them, and they left their prey In
sorry plight and took to their heels.
] picked him up and set him to rights.
i had come up just in time to save
his pocketbook, and he offered me
portion of its contents as a reward.
This, of course, / declined, whereupon
he talked his thanks-so ! supposed,
for l did not understand a word he
said Just before / left him he took
a writing stick and wrote those char
acters you see there on the umbrella
and gave 1t to me. There was nothing
to do but accept 1t, and as the day was
hot used it.
Every Chinaman / met looked at
the umbrella, then at me, and their
was at once turned to
reverence Some of them stopped and
as / passed. / wondered Ii
they mistook me for the governor of
a province or an executioner Singular.
ly enough, didn't catch on TO the fact
that 1t was the umbrella that was
forth such respect.
II stopped that night at the mis-
station presided over by my
wife's father and found them In great
trouble. They had got wind through
some Of the Christian natives, servants
and others attached to the mission of
the Boxer movement that was about
to break forth. Ny wife was then
girl of nineteen and the Oldest of
family of seven. The converts were In
a terrible state of fear, which natural
ly communicated itself to the white
family.
Drowning persons will cling to
straw, and this family chung to me.
True, was only one man, but l was
well armed, and even one man might |
be Of some protection. suppose
would have remained anyway, but
could not leave the girl who struck my |
fancy. When she looked appealingly |
1T me with those blue eyes of hers
could not resist and said would re-
main with them till the trouble was |
over.
Remembering how easily had put |
10 fight the robbers. 1 really thought |
hat with my two revolvers and some
fifty cartridges would be a protec-
ion, but when / heard the shrieks Of |
he Christian converts as the crowd ap-
the mission house 1 didn't
ike the prospect. The yells of the |
,rutes who were numbering them were
equally appalling. What could l do
against an Infatuated mob?
However, stationed myself at an
upper window, laying my ammunition
md extra pistols beside me. l called
lpon Ethel to stay beside me and load
hem for me as fast as | fired. and she
lerved herself to do so. put my head
tut and. seeing the mob coming reek-
ng with blood. my heart sank. Wish
ng something to conceal me from
hem, l took up the umbrella the man.
larin had given me, opened it, fixed 1t
,efore me at the window and poked
loles through it so that / could see
where to fire.
THE mob had broken into the next /
louse and killed every one there, then
vas ready to storm the mission. AL
eady an ak had fallen on the door be-
ow me when | saw man look at my
and become much excited
lie ran forward, then back with the
nan who welded the ak. A knot of
ioters gathered. all looking at the UNI
rella. Not another blow was struck.
did not need to fire single shot.
The mob seemed disappointed. but pass
d on.
AS soon as 1t had gone I withdrew
he umbrella. Ethel. who could read
'hinese as well as English. clasped her
\ I