CHINESE HUMOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 305, 21 December 1912, Page 18

CHINESE HUMOUR.

To some persons Chinamen and American Indians stand as representatives of hnmorour peoples. As a matter of fact, each race amuses itself in its own way, but that happens to be different from the way to which most of the world is accustomed. One of the British Consuls residing In China told a writer for "Harper's Weekly" a story which shows the grim character of the Chinese humour. The Consul bad arrested nine delinquents, intending to turn them over to the mercies of the native magistnite the next morning. Meanwhile, he gave them into the custody of a Chinese policeman, and told him to lock them up, although there was no gaol at the Consulate. The policeman was eqnal to the emergency. He solemnly sainted, saying "I obey," and marched his men off. Soon he returned, and announced that they were safely caged. The Consul was enrions to see how and where. He followed his policeman to -..he yard. There lie saw the nine prisoners dancing round the Consulate flagstaff, lugubriously chanting the Chinese equivalent of •'Ring-a-rine-a-roses! ,, Whenever the nance shows signs of flagging the policeman stirred them up with a long pole. They seemed at first sigbt to be holding each other's bands, but, looking more closely, the Consul saw that they were handcuffed together. ••Well," said the Consul, "if they are rliiiined in a ring roniid the flagstaff they certainly can Dot get away. Why do they inuke them tianceV" "Ah." answered the Chinese policeman, with infinite cunning, "so that they cannot climb up the pole und get away!"

The Consul broke into a loud British laucli, anil tried to explain that the nine prisoners enuld not all <]itub up the pole at (.hh-p: lint the Chinaman had his idea, and hold to it. So the dane* went on..