The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1883-01-06 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

SKCILET SOCIRTII4.—A Chinaman who does not belong to a secret society hos very little chance of prospering. There are few who are unattached—mostly men from isolated villages in f Min which there are not immigrants enough to forui a lioey. Such a man may possibly be tolerated, but he caunot grow rich. If he keeps a store, no guildsman will buy of him • if he plies a sampan, he may find it scuttled some day, without the slightest chance of redress. If a society num fastens a quarrel on him he is ruined, and had better leave before he is murdered. The worst feature of the society, if possible, is the protection it affords to all its members, it matters not what crime they may have committed. Not many years ago a wealthy Chinese merchant was murdered in the middle of the day on Beach Street, the busiest thoroughfare in Penang. The murderer was a hired eselogin belonging to the " Ghee Hin Hong. see." He called his victim to the door, plunged a dagger twice into his side, and darted through the crowded streets into the dark lanes of the /dace° quarter close at hand. A thorough and immetli te search was made by the police and the friends of the murdered man. A large reward was then offered for the apprehension of the assassin. Yet, though he was known to be within a space of only a few hundred square yards in area, he could not be found. And yet this man was simply paid to do the murder. He had no grudge against the victim, and hie employer was vehemently suspected of being a man who did not belong to the society at all. The assassin was no doubt quietly shipped off I. China in a junk some time afterward. Many similar rases might be cited to prove the unwavering fidelity of the inembere to the bond of union subsisting between them. Tiaey will risk their liberty, and even their lives for one another without hesitation. Indeed, if one brother betiayed another in a case of this kind, his life would not be worth an hour's purchase; and outsiders are in little less danger. If they aid in the arrest of a guildsman they are almost certain to experience the vengeance of the society sooner or later; and the mere of the guild usually means ruin. When a member has committed a grave crime and requires the protection of his brethren, all he does is to cut off a lock of hair and tie it to his arm. Ile simply has to show this to obtain a place of concealment or means of escape. Hence, when members of a secret society commit crimes, it is al. most impoutible to find even a clue to the perpetrators. Detectives are useleu, and rewards are offered to no purpose.  Success makes us lIQOU (argot the fight we made to attain it.  Poverty wants some, luxury many, and avarice sll things.  A writer who attempts to live oaths manufacture of his imagination is continuant coquetting with starvation.  Beware what you my of others, ',weenie you only reveal yourself thereby. A man doesn't think to look behind the door unless he has sometimes stow' there himetl/.  A RICH man woo naa began nte as a boot-mimic happened to remark that he had taken a box at tile opera, and someone meanly asked him if a brusl. went with it.  "You can never wear these boots out," said a shoemaker.—Then I don't want them," replied the customer; "Do you suppose I want boots to wear in the bourn.?"