The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-30

- RACKLEg- -Crackle! Crackle'
Bang BangH Bang! went the
- hrecraekers which the coolies
we're carrying in front OF the wedding
sedan-chair proceeding along Queens
Raad in Hong Kong It was such
sommon every day occurrence that
outside Of the usual pleasant sensation
associated with the noise and the fire
and the smoke, It did not attract any
very special attention from the native
passers-by, but two European gentle
men. evidently out for an afternoon
stroll, stopped to comment upon IT.
sounds mighty like the old-fash-
toned Fourth Of July at home, doesn't
IT." remarked Colonel Harold West
inghouse, the newly arrived Consul
for the United States. to Captain John
r. Marshall. late OF New Bedford.
Mass, and now acting agent for the
American river steamers to Canton.
1T surely does" replied the latter.
"and you notice that the Chinese small
boy takes Just about as much delight
- 81 as the American one used to do
that s.. before a lot OF pious old fogies
rot scared and took his powder ana
crackers away from him"
They don't seem to scrimp them
selves at all; why. that fellow must
have a half dozen packs tied on to
the end of that fish-pole there, and
he Is setting them ali on-one right
after the other"
Yes. and besides the little fellows
YOU see he's got lot OF those big
cannon-erackers tied in with the
bunch. They're the ones that make
the lin rik-sha pullers jump when they
20 off in the middle OF the street"
Il wonder what the real idea OF the
thing is, anyhow? It can't be Just
simply to make a noise. The Chinese
are too thrifty and prudent and saw
ing TO waste any Of their hard-earneo
money just on an empty noise You
mark my words, there's philosophy II
their madness. I believe these hard
headed people have some theory about
It that you and I don't understand a.
all"
"Oh, I suppose les on the same
principle as the joss-money they buy
and throw overheard every time the
ship starts. II helps TO give good luck
for the voyage and to keep the devi
away. 1 asked our ships compradort
about It a trip or two 2go. Says 1 L
him: All Sam. what for Chifiaman h
throw all that joss-paper in the set
every time ship sails. EN-? 'Blonge'
velly good Joss says he; 'Chineema1
talkee plenty piecee deboil have go
in air all samee velly hungly. H
wantchee chow-chow lice but no go
cash, sposee he no pay him plentl
paper money, debbil velly angly sende'
plenty wind and lain and makee tina
sea velly Tough. Ship no can g
ploper. saver"
oh, I see," said the Consul, with ;
smile, its JUST kind Of a fai
weather insurance. as we would say.
Yes, that's about the size OF it, re
piled the skipper. These hobgoblin
or whatever they are that they be
lisve in-say to these poor dupes
Here now. you pay up SO much cas-
before you start, or we'll make
mighty unpleasant for you when thi
ship gets out to sea-"
a., S'But OF course It ISN'T real none
they throw overboard?'
Not on your life. It's Just TIL
cheap counterfeit stun you see ther
selling IN the shops. You can &c
about five hundred dollars worth Of
for ten cents, my boy tells me-
And do they think the devils in III
air don't know the difference betwee
this and real money!"
That's what It looks like. BI
that's only one of the many ways the
have Of fooling them. However. It
too big a subject for you and me to al
tempt to unravel. II We should try
get at the inside OF any OF these supel
stitious, we'd be over our heads b
fore we knew It. Just leave thei
alone and simply say. Joss Pidgir
and that covers 1t all"
Yes. even in the short time +
lived here. I've discovered that 10
Pidgin' covers almost everything Il
European doesn't understand abo'
the strange religious ways Of tn
people. But, seei Here comes Just Il
man that can tel. us all about it,
extending his hand IN q cordial we
come to Mr.. Wang Foo. the famo'
Chinese detective-"we'l refer q
whole matter to him for explanatio
Mr.. Wang. the Captain and we
Just talkfhS about hrecrackers Al
wondering what tho real secret
their constant use and POPULAR
among the Chinese is. There's no su
sect connected with your people tn
you cannot enlighten us poor Wes
erners upon and we will feel grltef
for any light you can throw On thii
Delighted to serve you in any "
that 1 can, gentlemen replied tn
Chinese guest in his usual cordial a
very courteous manner. but don't st
here right in the road. Across the "
Is the tea-hong Of my old friends 10
Tuck & Co.: they have a broad a
spacious veranda there at our d
posal; let us sit down and be confoi
able"
When they had found three comic
able rattan chairs on the cool bri
verandah and had slipped the tea viii
Long Tuck & Co.'S compradore plac
before them, Wang Foo opened his c
nDH II Z