THE POLITE CHINESE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3121, 6 April 1915, Page 7

THE POLITE CHINESE.

One of tho hayings of Confucius i«. "It you do not learn the rules of propriety, your character cannot be established." Unfortunately for the foreigner, a* the author of "Thirty Years in Moukden." points out. the "rules of propriety." according to Chinese usage. arc o fton diametrically opposed to the customs of th» West. The European gtntleman. even if he ha.s a university education and polished manners, seems a mere boor to Ibe Chinaman, and offends at every turn against the strict eiqiietto that, in its main points, is observed by the lowest coolie. Wherever he goes, the foreigner helps to confirm this opinion of him, He is travelling in the interior, it may he on horseback, and he rides through the quiet country hamlets as ho would at home, at a rapid paw. As he passes a group of nun, he calls out. "Whicli is the way to X-?'" He probably gets "no reply, and rid?s on. thinking what unmannerly louts these Chinese yokels are. A rough, uneducated countryman is the next traveller. He pulls in his horse to a -slow amble as he enters the village ; this is one of the " rules of propriety.'' On reaching the group of villager's, ho dismounts—rule number two. "May I borrow your light r l "' he asks. This is an apology for troubling them—rule number three. Then he. too, inquires the way to X.. and receives ready help if need be, a man will even accompany him to po:nt out the way. Therealter these same yokels not unnaturally remark to each other what unmannerly louts foreigners are, ognorant of the most elementary rules of propriety. KEEPING A SECRET. A young man was visiting a beautiful girl."when her little brother slipped in- I to the room. "Mr. Jones, can you stand on your head?"' the hoy asked. "No. said the visitor. "I don't bclievo I can." "Well, I can. Look here and ho stood on bis head in the corner. "Ha! ha!"' laughed Mr. Tone*. "\\ho showed you to do that?*' "Sister told me I must never tell, said ho.