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Show WHY CHINKS DON'T WHISTLE "Mellican" Snako Charmer Hoodooed Entire Celestial Nation. Did you ever hear a Chinaman whistle? If not, did you over pauso and wonder why not? Of nil tho peoplo that Inhabit 'this terrestlal sphere, the sons of Confucius Con-fucius aro the only ones who do not occasionally oc-casionally express their feelings by whistling. The negro' has become quite proficient In this line and many of tho bouthorn plantation darkles are expert warblers. The Indian has also learned how to mnko "smoke noise," as he calls it, and oven tho Filipino has mnstercd the art. But tho Chinese never Indulges. Many of them know how. but, strange as It may seem, tho prnctico has nover gained footing among tho Celestials, in fact, tho Chinaman would as soon part with his queue as to whistle. , Recently a Commercial street Chinaman, China-man, who hns long since dispensed with his qucuo and learned to worship tho Christians' God, wns asked to explain tho reason for this national peculiarity. Ho told tho following story: "Long time ago Mellican man canio to China with many snakes; snake-charmer you call him. He give big show and make snakes go sleep by whistle. Pretty China woman seo him, fall In Iovo pretty scon. Chinamen think whlstlo did 1L "Ono night Mellican man kill China woman. Catch him purty quick and put him Jail. All tlmo he whlstlo and seem happy. One day ho mako Jailor go to sleep and run away. Chlnnmcn say ho ia iii-uuii-UJ.MI. 1 Wlicn lie WUISCIO ho talk to hell. "Catch snake-charmer again. Take him out to cut his head off but ho whlstlo nit time. Chinamen no sabey and get scared. Purty soon big black boat come up river and whistle, too. Chlnamon no understand. under-stand. Something whlstlo through tho air drop In Chinese temple. In a mlnuto much noiso and bullet explodes. Joss-house Joss-house blow up nnd big Chinese doctor dlo. All Chlnnmcn think devil como sure and run. Snake-charmer ho still whlstlo and run for boat. Chinamen no try stop him. , "Purty soon mako law Chinamen whistle whis-tle have to die. Think ho talk to holl and kill more doctor. Chinamen no whls-tle whls-tle any more. "Mellican Chlneo know whistle, an right. No like 'em, though, think bling bad luck. Sabee?" The story, strange as It may scorn, doubtless Is partly responsible for tho ban on whistling among the Chinese. Being Be-ing superstitious, the Ignorant Celestials believed thnt the snake-charmer's whlstlo was responsible for tho death of tho woman, tho overpowering of tho guard, and finally tho destruction of tho Joss-house. Joss-house. Consequently a law was passed forbidding tho practice, as anyone who whistled wns believed to be In connivance with the devil. Chinamen In this country coun-try know bettor, but won't whlstlo be-causo be-causo they think it will bring thorn bad luck. |
