Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-01
billiard B, LaSseter, Former
Consul at HankoW, Here
on Way to New Post at
Washington

~ 0OlIll 5lOlt
American and European customs
are rapidly taking hold of the Oldest
country in the world--China - ac-
cording to billiard B. Lasseter, for
merly of Cordele, Ca, more recently
consul at Hankow, China, and now
in Atlanta on his way to Washing
ton, where he will be attached to the
far eastern department of the state
department.
MANY Of the older Chinese Gus
toms are being done away with" Mr..
Lasseter said. The Chinese also
are making rapid strides in the mas
terry of English, making it possible
for Americans to find and inquire
their way in China with little diff
Guilty."
And, strange as it may seem, Mr..
Lasseter says, Atlanta, Ga, is one
of the best known cities in the world.
Even in China" he said. Atlanta,
Ga, is known, and the better edu-
Gated Chinese know it as one OF the
thriving cities of the United States"
Mr.. Lasseter, still a young man in
point of years, has had as adventure
some and varied a life as Richard
Harding Davis could have conjured
into one of his stories.
With kaleidoscope rapidly, his
life has been lived from Cordele, Ga,
to Oxford, Ga, to New York, to
European battlefields, back to China,
Washington, d. c.
Too son ~ REr
Mrs. E. S. Lasseter, of Cordele, Ca,
received his collegiate education at
Emory college, Oxford, Ga. After
being graduated, he studied at New
York City college, and then took an
advanced course in international law
at Columbia university.
WEEDS Atlanta Girl
After completing his work at CO.
lumbia he entered the consular
service as a student consul at Pekin,
China. He was engaged in that
service until the outbreak of the
war, and, in 1917, joined the Brit
ish army. He was wounded in &C
tion on the Arras front, and after
staying in a hospital more than a
year he was retired with the rank
Of captain. He was with the Royal
Engineers, one of the Britains prize
outfits.
In December, 1919, he returned to
China as vice consul at Tien Tsin,
and later was made consul at An
dung, a Korean border town, located
in Manchuria. After serving for
some time at Andung he was trans
ferred to the consulate at Hankow,
which post he held until called in
to Washington.
At AndungN a big event in Mr..
Lasseter's life happened. Miss
Helen Smith, of College Park, pre-
viously affianced to the young con
sui, crossed America and the Pa
cific, in company with her mother,
Mrs. Ira A. Smith, to take a lead
ing part in a marriage, ceremony in
which Mr.. Lasseter was the leading
man.
The young Georgia couple soon be-
came acclimated to the Orient and
were among the most popular Amer
leans in consular and diplomatic cir
cles in addition to enjoying the wide
friendship of the natives.
Mr. Lasseter, always interested in
matters theatrical, talks interesting
ly of the Chinese stage.
''There is one unique feature" he
says, which have never seen in
America. In the Chinese theater it
is customary, in fact, compulsory, to
wash your face and hands either
before or during the performance.
To this end, Chinese with huge tubs
of hot towels are engaged as regu-
lar theatrical attendants. If you
are in the theater' and desire
towel the attendant. an expert
III t,.Ies n do "
accuracy into your waiting hand.
They never miss"
Bravery Required
In the Chinese theater, Mr.. Las
setter says, the spectators sit on the
floor and MUNICH watermelon seed, a
rare delicacy. In the legitimate
theaters, the orchestra accompanies
the actors all through the presenta-
ton. playing louder and louder as
the action becomes more tense and
the actors talk higher and faster.
at takes considerable nerve for
an American to brave a perform
ance," Mr.. Lasseter said, with
fiuardipg movement as if reminis-
cent of a hurting towel or slip
perry watermelon seed.
Mrs. Lasseter, who had Travelled
but little before going to China, says
she is charmed with the Oriental
life, particularly with the servants.
"The yare faithful and most po-
lite," she says. '|rhey have an al
most supernatural sense OF knowing
your business although they ask
thoughts almost and know what you
few questions. They divine your
want them to do before you ask it,"
John, an Oriental, was particular
ly competent, Mrs. Lasseter says,
and when wrapping up the Lasseter
effects to be shipped to the states,
wrapped all the valued articles in
paper on which was written his
name and address, signifying that
he wished to keep in touch with the
family through correspondence.
Mr.. Lasseter is something OF
cosmopolite. Speaking English, three
Chinese dialects, French and Span
ish and having Travelled over most
of the globe.
They are now staying with Mrs:
Smith, Mrs. Lasseter's mother, in
College Park and will leave during
the week for Washington.