The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-08
The
Sable
I.orcha
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6sruoe Easelano


both hands. and my head bent intently
forward. raced through the frivo-
iously-vrittsn article which followed: |:
and from . superabundance OF cheap
wit and East side slang managed to
extract the somewhat meager facts.
"A truck. driven by q Chinaman, Il
seemed. had that morning taken from
the pier Of the Fall River Line q
square box. measuring about ave feet
each way. and perforated with q num-
Der OF auger holes. The brilliant
spaoewriter had given his imagina-
ton free rein as to the contents, spec
uiating 90 20 the possibilities, from ed
fole Chinese dogs TO smuggled opium,
but he had omitted TO furnish the
name and addresf Of either the con-
signor or consignee. The truck.
drawn by the slant-eyed white horse.
and driven by the phlegmatic Chink.
elattered away In the direction Of
Mott street." the account concluded.
.fter all. II was q very common
plsee. everyday occurrence. Probably
the auger holes were only knot holes.
transformed by the reporters imagi-
naoon- Nevertheless. I thrust the pa
Der into my pocket. Now Chez might
threw some light on the matter. He
would know. In oil likelihood, what
sort OF goods were shipped by way Of
the Fsn River Line to his countrymen
IN New York.
We secored q corner table In the
inner room at the Savarin. It was
not 90 crowded there and Il waa less
bustling and noisy. My companion at.
tracted some little attention. Of course.
but not sufficient to prove annoying.
New York. as a rue. pays small heed
simply to the unusual. and Cinnamon
are common -.4Jush not to be abso-
lutte curiositiee even In tho big down.
town restaurants.
very dapper little fellow was Mr..
Nov; neatly and inconspicuously clad.
ann well brushed and combed. He
was for recalling old college days.
when he was coxswain OF the class
crew and i pulled the stroke oar, but
my time was too precious for such
reminiscence. and as speedily as DOS.
sible l broached the subject had at
heart.
now" began. perhaps less deli
cately than should, there's a saying.
you know. that the only good Indian is
dead Indian. That wouldn't apply
TO the Chinese. would Il? And yet.
while -there are some very excellent
Cinnamon. there are some pretty bad
ones. aren't there7"
He grinned. exposing his fine teeth.
oh, yes." he answered, there are
good and bad, but the percentage OF
bad is' less In my country than In
some others" caught the signifl-
cance OF his remark, and realized that
i deserved the rebuke.
And amongst the educated Chinese.
here In New York;" I went on. with.
out stopping for comment There
ATE q few bad?
He was still smiling.
"Badf" he queried. What do YOU
mean by bad? There are some who
have vices. yes. Some gamble, some
smoke opium; some get the best of
q bargain"
Are there some who would kill7" I
asked. bluntly.
oh. no. mol" he protested, without
rnising his voice. II certainly should
hope there are none such among the
educated"
And then l told him about the three
letters, and what had happened, omit
ting only Camerons name and place
or residence. Imperturbable little
chap that he was, he listened without
emotion. When | concluded he said:
You are sure they were Cinnamon
who did thls?"
Would men OF any other nationality
quote Confucius and Mencius?" I
asked.
No. think not" was his reply.
"and yet II might DO done by crafty
persons 10 mislead."
But ] could not agree with him.
We are not revengeful as a nation" ;"
he said. I'VE are rather long g-su ffering.
III Cinnamon did what you tell me, II
was In return for some very great in
jury; some crime. should say.
against their parents or near kins.
men"
But my friend was never in China. {"
declared. and he was the last man
In the world to harm anyone"
For a little while Now Chez ate In
thoughtful silence. Presently he
looked up.
Clyde. my friend. know so little
OF my own people hore I'm NeyV York
Hut one man know, a merchant. who
is very prominent and very upright.
He is big man I'm the Six Companies.
i VIII give you a card to him; you
can speak to him In confidence, and II
he can help you. he will. not only be-
cause i sent you. but because he
stands for all that Is best. and de-
sires that my countrymen ia tho
United States shah have tho respect