People often wonder if the Chinese enjoy European music, Two Englishmen were invited lately to a military mandarin's house to hear one of his sons—a great, musician—play. He could only perform if perfect silence was observed by the audience, and with a vase of flowers, and lighted incense before him to help his inspiration. Unfortunately after all these preparations it appeared his instrament was a stringed one laid upon the table and played with the nails—the most difficult instrument to play upon that the Chinese fess—and the melody, if it were a melody, {ras so low the Englishmen came away quite unable to judge of its beauty. "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard however some other young military mandarins played a duet on flutes, and another performed on a flageolet, both very agree-and who of us in China. are not '—in the bly. It may interest those interested—
fea of 16 went away from the dinner table eat opium question to hear that a young to smoke opium. "How dreadful," said one of the Europeans. "A lad of 16 to smoke opium! We will never live." " Why look at my five sons all born since smoked," said the host. "I began when I was 20," But indeed his family are rather glad he smokes. You see my guest is a Very rich young fellow from up river, who has no father.- And if he did not smoke opium he would be sure to be getting, into mischief with women or gambling. Now smoking opium they think will Kee him at home." Is not this rather a novel view of the question?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.