Not ony did the wives and daugh
ters peep out at us from behind cur
tained windows, but they came out in
plain sight and bowed timidly. They
were painted clear to their foreheads,
and had their lips crimsoned with
Vermillion. Their feet were invariably
small—or rather mangled—and their
attire was exceedingly immaculate.
We were not invited to shake hands
with ih*-m of course, and they remained
in the background. The members of
the family were much interested in
the Franco-Chinese difficulties, owing
to the important possessions in Hon
am; and this young man in question
inquired anxiously whether it was
true that Sontay had been retaken by
the Black Flags by means of a terrific
explosion destroying the entire French
army. We assured him that there
was no ground for such a rumor.
This illustrates the deception which
is systematically practised by those in
authority in China. Here was the
wealthiest and most aristocratic fam
ily in all Kwang tung province labor
ing under the misapprehension pur
posely put in circulation.
Prayers in fifth Avenue.
