The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-25

ecu yES, my dear, 1t Is perfect,
genuine. The Captain took il
to the Consulate yesterday anf
had the Vice Consul examine it thor
oughly-you know he is great au-
thority on all this sort of thing-and
he looked the matter all up in his books
with his Chinese Secretary and he says
there is no doubt whatver that it is
the genuine official robe of the Prime
Minister and must have been worn al
tn Imperial audiences. How they ever
came to get hold of it Is a mystery to
me. I suppose it must have been over
looked in the hurried departure from
Picking and. OF course. the very first
soldiers that came along just helped
themselves to 1t with all the other loot.
They had no idea of the value of 1t and
naturally sold it to the first Chinaman
that made them an offer"
What a superb opera cloak 1t will
make, won't 1t?"
Yes, that's really what I wanted 1t
for. The last thing Louise said to me
when we started on the cruise was:
Now, mother. remember! The one
thing above all that I want you to
bring me is a real Mandarin coat. I
don't want any cheap embroidered
thing that can be bought in the London
shops; I want something especially
NICE with the richest old gold embroid-
cry and all that, and-she was most
emphatic about this-something with
a history, you know, the robe Of the
Prime Minister or some Oriental
grandee with a magnificent title that
will dazzle the other boxes at the opera
when I walk in with it."
And what did you say to that?"
81 said: My child. if money can buy
it, But, to tell you the truth. I never
dreamed of such good luck. Why, we've
only been in Shanghai three weeks
and here ttis prize falls right into my
hands with hardly an effort"
You certainly are a fortunate wom-
an, and I know that when Louise ap-
pears In it-and she will wear it more
gracefully than any other girl in the
world-she will be the very centre OF
attraction and even the glasses in the
royal box will be levelled at her."
The foregoing conversation tool
place in one of the rooms of the Aston
ro"ee and the parties concerned were
Mrs. WA-,ct~h, rife of Captain Thomas
Wadleigh, Of H. NJ S. "1>:-@2ctrnss." OF
. the China station. and her friend, Mrs
Cornelia Seymour, a wealthy widow
from Adelaide. The garment which
was the subject of their admiration
was a long and exceedingly handsome
official lobe, with all the curious in
sigma of the highest rank and evident
ly intended to be worn at the court
ceremonials. Others OF a similar pat
tern and style were on view and sale
at the handsome Cantonese stores II
the Marking road. but even a cursory
examination would show that they wer,
of far inferior quality. 1t certainly
was treasure and the good lady wa:
justly proud Of 1t.
She obtained it in a rather curious
way-almost accidentally, we nigh
say. 1t happened that one day Jim, thu
tailor proprietor of one of the oes
known Quitting establishments in thu
Hongkew ROAD. was measuring thu
Captain for a smoking jacket, and Mrs
Wadleigh asked him If he ever had ;
chance to secure a genuine Mandarin
coat.
you wantchee buy Mandalii
coatee?" he inquired "Spose yol
wantchee. my can thy catchee on
piece. But"-he added with curiou
expression of mingled doubt and sus
picion-"you savvee blongee velly dea
just now Two tfllee bundled taele
must pay. Bye m bye I come loo
see"
We'll, whenever you get a really fin
one. bring it in and snow it to me. an
we will talk about the price. But
mind No trash of the kind they SCI
to tourists in the shops"
"All light, can do" was the Celes
tails laconic reply. as he finished hi
measuring and his cue disappeare
through the doorway.
Scarcely three days after this. a gen
tie knock at Mrs. Wadleigh's door an
nounced the presence of Jim, who en-
tered and bowed as he deposited
bundle and a mysterious little pig ski
trunk upon the floor. The bundle con
| tanned the smoking Jacket for her hus
band and the pig-skin trunk. after it
brass locks had been carefully opened
revealed another bundle within, wrap
ped in long folds of faded yellow sill
Jim, the tailor's. eyes fairly danced i
their sockets as he proceeded to lift tn
contents out on the table and to unro
the mummy like bandages.
See! Missee." he exclaimed. sthi
blongee number one Mandalin coate,
My have see plenty piece fore-tim-
this b1onge more beauty, more beaut.
No have got Shanghai side
He unfo-ded the garment and hel
up for her admiring gaze the very thin
that her daughter longed for, and tina
she had almost given up hope of find
ing in the Settlement.
And you guarantee this to be
genuine coat of a noble Of rank" sh
inquired. as she adjusted her glasse
and began to examine the embroider
and ornamentation more critically
Yes. Missee. me can secure tn