CHINESE IN AUSTRALIA. Some Social Amenities.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 284, 25 July 1888, Page 5

CHINESE IN AUSTRALIA. Some Social Amenities.

A correspondent of the Sydney ' Telegraph ' writes : —In Queensland, John Chinaman has nob, in many cases, got a wife. Yet there are instances, though nob on Croydon, where he has one at least. Sometimes she isu Euiopean ; sometimes — but moro rarely — a Chinawoman ; in one or two cases, ab least, a Chinese lady. Etiquette, in this colony ab least, keeps the Chinese lady strictly at home ; the only one known in the north has nob for years ciossed her threshold in the eye of white man, but resides in an upper story of her husband's place of business day after day, week after weuk and year after year. Sometimes, but very larely, her husband, who is a highly honourable man in all his dealings, introduces as a great compliment, some European of position and character for whom he feels a respect. In such cases, after much formality, the hostess is found seated on a sort of dais, gorgeously dressed, decorated with valuable jewels, and very dignified. You remaik on the state of the weather and extend your hand. She gives it a feeble pat, murmurs " Blandee welly good," pointing to the bottle, " Good day,' and the inter\iew is ovei. An erratic triend once tried to animate this piece of femininity into a flirtation, squeezing her hand and looking into her lack-lustre eyes with well simulated fervour, 3?or a second she lived, and spoke some few woids to her husband, who, with a suave and bland -like smile, said to the friend aforesaid: "I gob another wife in China ; you like this one I sell her. How muchee? You buy, plenty squeeze hand." No sale took place. • By-the bye, this lady had a Chinese domestic, who, coming to marriageable age, found a Celestial husband. Some wicked men residing in the place persuaded the happy man to celebrate his marriage in due form by a dinner to the leading officials of the place and other membei'S of the elite. At the same time, but in another place, a dinner was given to the Chinese democracy, the European aristocracy and the Chinese bridegroom dining together. Everything that money could buy or liberality and ingenuity could command was supplied. The local band was engaged. The leading local official was in the chair, the bridegroom, stolid bub hospitable, on his right. A humorous croupier and a numerous circle of guests filled the table. Dinner commenced at 7 p m., bub ifc was nob for a good couple of hours that the vast variety of courses, native and alien, weregobthiough. Then began the toasting, a pre-arranged plot. First the Emperor of China, in compliment to the nationality of the host. Then her Majesty the Queen. Then the Prince of Wales. These purely official toasts lasted till 11 o'clock, and would have lasted till now but for one gentleman, who was warmly contending that the 200 odd morganatic wires of his Celestial majesty should be toasted separately, tailing beneath the table prematurely drunk. This expedited matters a bit, but it was 2 a.m. before the health of the lovely bride had been honoured, and well-nigh 4 before the bridegroom (who was told it was de rigucur for him personally to respond to every toast and tried his best to do so, though sitting or standing fast asleep) was permitted to rejoin his spouse. '

Mdme. Patti has beaton her record by her latest success at Buenos Ayres. On the first night of her engagement the receipbs at the doors amounted to ,C 4,800, and a back seat in the stalls was &old for £13. The history which Sir Morrell Mackenzie has been requested to write on the illness of the late Emperor is for the purpose of correcting inaccurate statements which have been published. England is ready to buy all the honey and beeswax New Zealand can send her. She imports 1,500 to 2,000 tons of wax, and from America alone £50,000 worth of honey, yearly. He (joking) : You must not believe what I say. She(conacious of her beauty) : Tell me you don't love me. The Pope's expenses, according to the " Paris Figaro," are £280,000 a year, and his income from Peter's pence, £285,000. If one cigar makes a man ill, will two make a Manilla?

mean ?'