The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1913-10-24
A Chinese
Umbrella
BY REGINALD D. HAVEN

|Drlgnt Is the daughter or 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-
sionary station In the province Of
Shantung. After dinner l was taken
to room where a 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 it when expanded were Chinese
Icharacters which, of course. l could
not read. Bonbright directed my at
tention to the umbrella. and Mrs. Bon.
bright said. IF you're going to tell
that story Ill go elsewhere" She went
out with a 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 l 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 I didn't feel in
much danger SO long as l could defend
myself.
Il was not alta cked myself; but, hear
Ing a shouting ahead Of me, l pressed
forward and found a Chinaman in
the dress of mandarin being set upon
BY gang of robbers. l fred shots at
them. and they left their prey in a
sorry plight and took to their heels.
picked him up and set him to rights.
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
ne talked his thanks-so I supposed,
for l did not understand a word he
said. Just before l 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 it. and as the day was
hot used 1t.
Every Chinnman l met looked at
the umbrella, then at me, and their
Indifference was at once turned to
reverence. Some of them stopped and
aalaamed as passed l wondered IL
they mistook me for the governor of
province or an executioner. Singular
~ enough. ] didn't catch on TO the fact
that 1t was the umbrella that was
drawing forth such respect.
Il stopped that night at the mis-
sionary 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. My wife was then a
girl OF nineteen and the oldest of a
family of seven. The converts were in
terrible state of fear, which natural
~ communicated itself to the white
family.
browning persons will Cling to a
straw. and this family chung to me.
True. ! was only one man, but was
we'll armed. and even one man might
be OF some protection. / suppose I
would have remained anyway, but l
Gould not leave the girl who struck my
'ancy. When she looked appealingly
It me with those blue eyes of hers l.
,ould not resist and said / would re-
main with them till the trouble was
,ver.
Remembering how easily had put
o flight the robbers. l really thought
nat with my two revolvers and some
lfty cartridges l would be a protec-
lon. but when l heard the shrieks or
ne Christian converts as the crowd ap.
'roached the mission house ] didn't
Ike the prospect. The yells Of the
'rutes who were numbering them were
qually appalling. What could ] do
gainst an Infatuated mob?
p AO"CSCls StdlbOucO myself at an
PIPER window. laying my ammuni ton
nd extra pistols beside me. I called
pom Ethel to stay beside me and load
hem for me as fast as fred, and ,,he
erved herself to do so. put my head
ut and. seeing the mob coming re.sk-
lg with blood. my heart sank. Wish
q something to conceal me from
lem. took up the umbrella the man
arm had given me. opened it, Fixed it
efore me at the window and poked
0les through it so that could see
hes,e to FIRE.
Il he mob had broken into the next
'us e and killed every one there, then
as ready to storm the mission. Al
acy an ak had fallen on the door be-
W me when | saw a man look at my
nbrella and become much excited.
e ran forward. then back with the
an who welded the az. A knot Of
oters gathered. all looking at the UNI.
ella. Not another blow was struck.
did not need to fire a single shot.
0e mob SGomod dfco~o1,xxs