Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1871. "THAT HEATHEN CHINEE."

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1044, 16 June 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1871. "THAT HEATHEN CHINEE."

Under this title, Mr Bret Harte, an American humorist (author of "The Luck of Roaring Camp ' ! ) has published a ballad which, for keen humor and rabdtted satire, is superior to anything of the kind since the " Biglow Papers." It is a political piece, and its object is to expose the real character of the class who are loudest in the ciy against Chinese immigration a question which, the London Spectator believes, this poem will go far to settle. As a contrast, too, to recent American ballads which, though disfigured by profanity and vulgarity, have been puffed ad nauseam by a portion of the press, this poem is pleasing —there being nothing in its quiet irony and studied mildness of expression vhich could offend the most fastidious. Without further preface, yye quote it entire : THAT HEATHEN CHINEE. Table Mountain, 1870. Which I wish to remark— And my language is plain—? That for ways that are dark Aud for tricks that are vain, The heathen Chinee is peculiar, "Which the same I would rise to explain, Ah Sin was his uame; And I shall not deny In regard to the same What that name might imply, But his smile it was pensive and childlike, As I frequent remarked to Bill Nye. It was August the third; And quite soft was the skies ; Which it mitfht be inferred That All Sin was likewise; Yet he played it that day upon William And me in a way I despise. Which we had a small game, And Ah Sin took a hand; It was Euchre. The same He did not understand ; But he smiled" as he sat by the table, With the smile that was childlike and bland. Yet the cards they were stocked In a way that I grieve, And my feelings were shocked At the state of Nye's sleeve ; Which was stuffed full of aces aud bowers, And the same with intent to deceive. But the hands that were played By that heathen Chinee, And the points that he made Were quite frightful to see— Till at last he put down a right bower, Which the same Nye had dealt unto me. Then I looked up at Nye, And he gazed upon me ; And he rose with a sigh, And said, " Can this be? We are ruined by Chinese cheap labor " And he went for that heathen Chinee, In the scene that ensued I did not take a hand, But the floor it ws strewed Like the leaves ou the strand With the cards that Ah Sin had been hiding, In the game " he did not understand." In his sleeves, which were long, He had twenty-four packs— Which was coming it strong, Yet I state but the facts ; And we found on his nails, which were taper, What is frequent in tapers—that's wax. "Which is why I remark, And my language is plain, That for ways that are dark, And for tricks that are vain, The heathen Chinee is peculiar— Which the same I am free to maintain.