Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
we're borne into the narrow

sedan chairs and were borne INTO the narrow
Lanes of HangchoW.-
ace the rising moon cleaning against the
Uilded facades of shop fronts; hitterlng cooily
anon the piled wares of roadside brass
vendor: dancing, even across the fetio waters
of an open canal sewer-uncontamfna0eo.
The chairs stopped before long, high wall
rerced by a closed gate OF green-iacquerco
wood The heavy door handles were OF pronNe.
the two guardian dogs before the gate were oi
polished marble. realized that the boy hao
told the truth when he said his cousin was
ricl man.
waung thumped the knocker. AS 1t Changed,
a sound of feminine laughter Within stopped
abruptly Shutting footsteps approached. Ihere
was the protesting creak of cross bars OF Wooo
being lifted The door opened a crack and
beady eye peered out.
The boy spoke in rapid Chinese, the only
word Of which I was able to catch was the
repeated phrase "Bey-nu-ta, Bey-nu-ta" since
Bey-nu-ta was the accepted sinohcation OF
nv name judged that was being employed
as an open sesame. After long wait the
two huge gate-doors were parted. A servant
motioned for us to enter.
Followed by Maung was nshered through
tiny rooted foyer, then behind a magnificent
spirit screen of teakwood carved with writh-
ing dragons (the screen to ward off evil de-
mons taking advantage of the open gate 10
enter the house,, and into an open court.
4 iERE I discovered the entire family, some
! ! twoscore persons, assembled. The head OF
the household an old Chinese CARRIED in mag
Hff1cent pcachblow silk, approached me. He
said slowly:
'aThe honorable foreigner from across the
litter waters is welcome to this miserable howell
VIII he join us In our festivities ON this
sublime occasion?"
s.But will he forgive U.S." the old went
ON q shade anxiously for allowing the Mean
Ones of the Inner Courtyard to be present.
He then motioned courteously for me to join
the family circle.
They were grouped around a long altar table
NEaVely decked with red satin banners. On
the altar stood foot-high replica OF rabbit
in papier mache daubed with silver paint. Be-
fore the rabbit q squat bronze incense urn
smoked fitfully, sending its gray whirls laziiy
into the court. Two red candles dickered and
Futtered in q thin wind Piled along the edge
Of the table were mounds Of round cake-sin-
liar to the moon cakes that my cook IN Shang-
hal had been baking so assiduously
In the furry of my arrival chubby little
: boy of very dexterously stole one Of the cakes
without being observed-only to advertise his
theft by examining the sweetmeat down his
throat and promptly choking. After he had
been thumped on his fat little back and the
cake dislodged, was introduced to:
Six sons Of the old man; ID grandsons, in
cluding the chubby one; 3 wives (the great
wife of my host and his two small wives); 9
SONS wives, and-I lost track OF the grand
daughters, the number approximately TO- just
q normal Chinese household!
All were IN their finest regalia, men and
women The tiny bound feet of the women were
tncased in 2-inch slippers of cloth Of silver
Their short jackets were of silver brocade OF
heavy cTeaktng satin; their trousers-worn
high that year on their atrophied, pipe-stem
legs-were widely banded with silver. The
men were even more magnificently caparisoned
"A small fortune lay in the jade buttons Of
their short, sleeveless overjackets This was
an occasion to wear ones finest robes, the last
OF Chinas three great festivals of the year
equaled only by New Year and by Ching Minl
day in the Spring.
Since curiosity is always welcomed in China
pointed to the papier mache rabbit and asked
It's significance.
"That," said my host with smile, hal