The New York herald., 1922-06-18

AAidLi6 WdS plcdScO anu amused 10 see
that not only used chopsticks with
case but had q real taste for Chinese
food. We used to treat ourselves to
all sorts Of epicurean dishes-spiced
chicken and duck, sharks fins. bird's
nest soup with pigeon eggs (my IA
vorite delicacy), seaweed and bam-
boo shoots, candied persimmons.
lotus seeds and millet pudding with
almond tea.
Once in a roof garden cafe, where
I was wearing American clothes, my
use Of chopsticks aroused consider
able interest among neighboring
groups of diners, and stray COM
ments reached US, for the Chinese
are always pleased to see foreigners
familiar with their customs. mo
doubt she Is missionary lady," a
young woman remarked in my hus-
bands native dialect. Hearing and
understanding. mother Immediately
said in clear, gracious tones, my
son. perhaps your wife would like to
have some American food now."
Chan-King translated for me both
comment and suggestion, and I felt
pleased to learn that. at any rate, my
Chinese mother was not ashamed, in
a public place, to acknowledge her
American daughter.
Mother was fond of the drama
and. since Shanghai had some excel
lent theaters, we made up several
parties during her stay.
The great semi-circular stage on
which a famous old historical play
that we saw was acted was hung
with gorgeous embroideries, laid
with a thick Pekin rug of immense
size and brilliantly lighted by elec-
tricity-as was the entire theater.
The actors wore the magnificent of
ficial and military robes of an early
dynasty. AS on the Elizabethan
stage, women's parts were taken by
men, who achieved by cleverly con-
structed shoes the effect Of bound
feet. I found the deafening drums
and gongs little trying at moments.
and the crude property makeshifts
somewhat incongruous with the won
derfully elaborate hangings and Co.'S
tunes. But, being familiar with the
story. 1 understood the action and
so evidently enjoyed it that Mother
was surprised anew, as Chan-King
afterward told me. We sat in our
balcony box, above the vague tiers
of lower seats packed with a restless
audience of men, women and many
children in the arms of their amahs.
On the wide front rail of our box
was the inevitable pot of tea, with
room also for such fruits, sugar cane,
melon seeds or meat and rice dishes
as we wished to purchase from the
endless variety offered by eager boys
in round caps and blue cotton gowns.
Now and then an attendant came
with huge tea kettle to refill our
teapot, and once he offered US the
usual steaming hot towels for sticky
fingers. Chan-King waved these
away enersetically. awful custom. -
he said to me. "Unhygienic. How
can they do it," And he added some
thing Of the kind to his mother in
Chinese. She regarded him with
comprehension, tiny gleam of su-
perior wisdom In her eyes. But she
made no reply.
She had taken a fancy to Wilfred
who by this time had a fair yocabu-
larry of Chinese. which he always used
In talking to his amah. He was a
handsome child, typically Chinese.
very charming in his manner. very
fond of his amah and his indulgent
grandmother. Nine. Liang would
take his chin in her hands and study
his features intently. nodding her
head with approval. Then she would
stroke his roud black poll and give
him melon seeds or almonds from her
pocket. Wilfred used a weird mix
ture OF dialects-a confusion of Man
DARN and the Shanghai vernacular.
with a dash of Cantonese from his
amah. Nine. Liang set out patiently
TO teach him her own dialect as we'll.
When her visit was ended our