The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-23

Two II snail De, then, ana one little
extra one on the saucer in case you
find It isn't quite sweet enough for
your taste"
by the way, Mr.. Wang" began the
surgeon. I'VE have an interesting case
in the hospital just now which the
Consul and think you can throw
little light upon. 1t is nothing less
than a patient who was actually beaten
into a condition Of insensibiiity by his
family and his neighbors because he is
said to have offered his grandfather a
cup Of lukewarm tea instead of one
that was boiling hot. At least, that Is
the testimony that is given to me by
the police and by the hospital stan.
Now know how particular the Chinese
are about all their table etiquette and
I appreciate their preference for the
scalding hot beverage. Nbut this IS the
nrat time I have ever known IL to go
so far as to cause actual physical in
jury. Don't you suppose that there
is something else behind it aI7 Don't
you suppose they have some other
reason for attacking and beating this
man and that the story Of the Offering
Of the lukewarm tea TO the grandfather
is only a blind7 You are a person Of
very wide experience in these matters
Now just give us your judgment in
the case. As a matter OF fact, have
you ever personally known anything as
bad as this to happen?"
"Oh, yes, the cases occur all the time.
but they do not. as a rule, end quite
/ so seriously. The Chinese are great ad-
mires of-and practisers of-the doc
trine of Blessed are the Peacemakers'
ants in a quarrel before they come to
actual blows"
But just what constitutes the seri-
BUSINESS Of the offense in the matter
of the hot and cold tea, Mr.. Wang7"
asked DR.. Cortelyou. ct know how care
full the Chinese are about civilities and
courtesies, but why should a mere
breach OF etiquette or a matter Of care
lessness in so small a thing as a table
beverage be regarded almost as a
crime?"
IF Mrs. Evanstone will permit US to
light our cheroots," addressing his
hostess, who waved her fan in assent,
II think can make that clear TO you"
''Oh, don't mind the odor Of tobacco
at all-in fact, I rather enjoy it." she
replied. please go right on and II
there Is no objection, 1 should like to
stay and listen. too, for I've become
quite interested in the case Of this poor
man myself"
We'll" began the Man Of Mystery,
my people are Asiatics and you know
that all over this great continent the
laws OF hospitality are much strieter in
every way than they are in the Western
world and to violate or disregard them
constitutes a most serious offense. You
have heard OF tho Arab and his tent
and how his deAdliest enemy is per-
fectly secure II once he can get inside
much the same idea pervades all the
r-Eastern world. IF the Rites and
Ceremonies are observed'-as the Chi
nese quote-'then all is harmonious:
If they are disregarded, then all is dis
cord. Eternal friendship or eternal
hatred may hang upon the condition
Of the food and drink Of which the
host and the guest partake. The uni
versai token OF hospitality in China is
the bowl Of fresh made tea. It is every
where placed before the guest, be he
prince or beggar and be the place a
palac or a howell. To omit 1t. or to
serve 1t in any other condition than
boiling hot. is more than a breach Of
politeness; 1t IL an insult which gives
the deepest offenSe. What is a serious
matter between friend and friend be-
comes infinitely more 20 when Il is a
case OF an inferior to a superior as of
a pupil to q teacher, but 1t reaches the
extreme in the case OF q child to a
. grandparent. From what I have
learned OF this man IN the hospital
they would probably say OF him. 'Kwai
ten shang, kwai ii hia, kwal yin kwei,
? 1. e.. He has insulted Heaven above
and earth below and the spirits in the
: realm Of shades.
Good graciousi What an arraiRn.
ment!" exclaimed the Consul. why
how could he possibly have been guilty
Of all this? How, by any human pos.
h sibility could q cup Of cold tea be ar
D insult to heaven and earth and every
; thing under the earth7"
EFT is Just this way" continued tn,
Chinese scholar: Tea is one Of tn,
best gifts Of heaven to man. There Il
Q Just one proper way OF preparing and
Q serving>i and every Chinese child Il
y trained in Il from infancy. To offei
n to any visitor a bowl OF heavens gif
Q prepared in any but heavens own way
= is simply a reflection on the gods above
e Then, again. to violate the laws Of hos
T pitality by Offering cool tea to a CUES
Is to cast serious reflection upon tn
I gods OF the porches and the doorvays
n under whose protection he has crosse,
=" the threshold-so, you see, tho god
:, below are affected as well as thos
g above"
But the. Spirits in the realm Of tn