The Cordova daily times., 1923-02-02
CHINA'S MONEY
 TOO INVOLVED :. FOR TOURISTS

SHANGHAI, Feb. 2. - Big" and little" money in China causes many tourist and griffin Ga Chinese ten derfoot) to have brain flag and tenn porary insanity, to be arrested on charge of battery and assault, and to yearn for the good old United States silver dollar.
 In China a dollar is as elastic as rubber band and has a swing like the pendulum of the town clock. Much de- bends upon whether you are on the big or little end of said swing.
 Complex System
 A "big" dollar is equal to approXi- mately 150 coppers, or eleven dimes and five coppers. But dime is not equivalent to ten pennies-nothing so simple. A dime may be changed for twelve. thirteen or fourteen coppers, according to the exchange.
 A little" dollar is equal to ten dimes. The difference between "big" dollar and a little dollar is approximately one dime and a flock of coppers. The tourist begins to show signs of a brainstorm when he spies grln- ming Buddha in @ shop which he knows the minute he sees it he must buy for Minnie, who instructed nm to bring her lone of them heathen idols' from China.
 "This is a very interesting Chinese curio. and I want to purchase it going to take it to America. What IS the price on the tag?" he asks the ln- different Chinese salesman.
 The Chinese looks blank He knows that the American is a stranger He is too polite in his English to be an old China hand.
 After much talking the Chinese sees light.
 "Oh, me savey-you wanche buy? You talkee me how muchee? l talkee you plopped price ten dollar fifty Plenty cheap"
 The tourist, who does not realize the cheap porcelain or brass god is worth about three dollars, gives the shave grafter ten dollars and five dimes.
 Want "Big" Money
 Oh, mo- no, no, no, master!" eXplodes the shopkeeper. q talkee you big money. Wanche you pay me five dolla six dimes and five coppa. This be- long plopper."
 In department stores signs are often seen: Small money accepted m to fifty cents-above, big money If you wish to buy magazine marked thirty cents you pay three dimes, but if marked ninety cents it costs you ten dimes and several coppers.
 In order to avoid this constant struggle between big and little money the chit system is used.
 If you buy a house and lot you sign chit. If you take big party to the local jazz palace for dinner you sign chit. If you order new gown from a French shop or hire @ taxi, or buy an ice cream soda, instead of pay ing cash you sign your name to an I. O. U.
 The system is wonderful so far as the signing goes. But many young man finds he has let the chit system go to his head when it comes to pay ing his bills. Every month the Chinese shrOffs make the rounds of the Of fices and business houses to collect. How those carelessly signed chits do add up! Otter it is difficult for a man to leave Shanghai without set ting his accounts, for the faithful lit tie shroff will be down at the dock to see him off-presenting his bill and making a scene before the mans friends.
 The chits are nearly always paid by check. This means "big" money far be it from the banks to deal in little" money-but it saves the end less fighting over a few coppers that