L. WHAT THE CHINESE THINK OF US.

1. The Europeans and Americans who go to China are disposed to think the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire odd and ridiculous. On the other hand, the Chinese who come to Canton and Macao, and there for the first time see the Caucasian visitors, return the compliment.

2. In fact, they exhaust their caustic and mocking vein upon the appearance of the Englishmen, and express unutterable astonishment at the sight of their scanty garments, their close-fitting pantaloons, their prodigious round chimney hats, and their high shirt-collars, which appear devised to saw the ears and yet so gracefully surround their grotesque faces. The lack of beard or moustache, and the wearing of frizzled side whiskers on either cheek, seem particularly amusing to the Chinamen.

3. They are puzzled above all by the shape of the dress coat. They endeavor, without success, to account for that strange habiliment, which they call a half-garment because it is impossible to make it meet on the chest, and because the tails that hang down behind are entirely wanting in front. And they admire the exquisite and refined taste of wearing at the back large black buttons like coins, without having anything to button them on.

4. How much more beautiful do they think themselves, with their oblique, narrow, black eyes,

high cheek bones, nose the shape of a chestnut, and shaven head adorned with a magnificent tail which reaches to the heels!

5. Add to this graceful and elegant type a conical hat covered with red fringe, an ample tunic with large sleeves, black satin boots with white soles of an enormous thickness, and it is beyond dispute that a European can never rival a Chinese in the matter of costume.

6. But it is chiefly in their habits that they assume to be so much our superiors. When they see Europeans spending several hours in the gymnastic promenades, they ask if it is not a more civilized mode of passing leisure time to sit quietly drinking tea and smoking a pipe, or else to go at once to bed.

7. The notion of spending the larger portion of the night at balls and parties has never occurred to them. All the Chinese, even among the upper ranks, begin to sleep in time to be able to rise with the sun.

8. At the hours in which there is the greatest stir and tumult in the principal cities of Europe, the people of China enjoy the most profound repose. Every one has gone home to his family; all the shops are shut; the boatmen, the mountebanks, the public readers, have finished their labors; and there are no signs of activity except among the theaters for the working-classes, who have no leisure but at night to enjoy the sight of a play.

1. Celestial, ridiculous, caustic, unutterable, prodigious, devised, grotesque, compensation, habiliment, exquisite, oblique, gymnastic, promenades, mountebanks.

2. How can "unutterable astonishment" be expressed? Why does each nation think its habits, customs, dress, and appearance superior? Why does fashion in civilized nations change so often? Is the Chinese dress as convenient as ours? What is the most civilized way of passing our time when not at work?

LI. THE IMAGINARY BANQUET.

1. An Eastern beggar named Shacabac one day gained admission to a magnificent building, in which, luxuriously reclining on a sofa in a richly furnished room, he found the master, a Barmecide, who, in the most obliging manner, thus addressed him :

2. Barmecide. Welcome to my house! What dost thou wish, my friend?

3. Shacabac. I am in great want. I suffer from hunger, and I have nothing to eat.

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4. Barm. (much astonished this answer). What! what! nothing to eat! Am I in the city, and thou in it hungry? It is a thing I cannot endure. Thou shalt be happy as heart can wish. Thou must stay and partake of my salt. Whatever I have is thine.

5. Shac. O my master! I have not patience to

wait, for I am in a state of extreme hunger. I have eaten nothing this day.

6. Barm. What! is it true that even at this late

hour thou hast not broken thy fast? Alas! Alas! poor man, he will die with hunger. Halloo there, boy! bring us instantly a basin of water, that we may wash our hands.

7. Although no boy appeared, and Shacabac observed neither basin nor water, the Barmecide began to rub his hands, as if some one held the water to him; and while he was doing this he urged Shacabac to do the same. Shacabac from this supposed that the Barmecide was fond of fun; and as he liked a jest himself, he approached and pretended to wash his hands, and afterward to wipe them with a napkin held by an attendant.

8. Barm. Now bring us something to eat, and take care not to keep us waiting. Set the table here. Now lay the dishes on it. Come, friend, sit down at the table here. Eat, and be not ashamed; for thou art hungry, and I know how thou art suffering from the violence of thy hunger.

9. Saying these words, although nothing had been brought to eat, he began as if he had taken something on his plate, and pretended to put it into his mouth and chew it, adding, "Eat, I beg of thee; for a hungry man thou seemest to have but a poor appetite. What thinkest thou of this bread ?"

10. Shac. (to himself). Verily this is a man that loveth to jest with others. (To the Barmecide) O my master! never in my life have I seen bread more beautifully white than this, or of a sweeter taste. Where didst thou procure it?

11. Barm. This was made by a slave of mine whom I purchased for five hundred pieces of gold. (Calling aloud) Boy, bring us the dish the like of which is not found among the viands of kings! Eat, O my guest! for thou art hungry-violently so, and in absolute want of food.

12. Shac. (twisting his mouth about as if eating heartily). Verily, this is a dish worthy the table of the great Solomon.

13. Barm. Eat on, my friend! Boy, place before us the lamb fattened with almonds! Now, this is a dish never found except at my table, and I wish thee to eat thy fill of it.

14. As he said this, the Barmecide pretended to take a piece in his hand and put it to Shacabac's mouth. Shacabac held his head forward, opened his mouth, pretended to take the piece, and appeared to chew and swallow it with the greatest delight.

15. Shac. O my master! verily this dish hath not its equal in sweetness of flavor.

16. Barm. Do justice to it, I pray, and eat more of it. This goose, too, is very fat. Try a leg and a wing. Ho there, boy! bring a fresh supply.