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talking in whispers to the otherswords of command and telling them
to keep back half…a…mo； and so on。 See？〃
〃Doubtless introducing a spoken charm and repeating the words of an
incantation against omens； treachery； and other matters。〃
〃Next a flap of the tent down on the floor is raised； and you
reconnoitre； looking your very worst and holding a knife between your
teeth and another in each hand。 Wave a hand to your followers to keep
backor come on： it makes no difference。 Then you crawl in on your
stomach； give a terrific howl； and stab me in the back。 That rolls me
under the curtain； and so lets me out。 The missus ups with the
wood…chopper and stands before the cradle； while you yell and dance
round with the knives。 That ought to be made 'the moment' of the whole
piece。 The great thing is to make enough noise。 If you can yell louder
than the talking…machine outfit on the next pitch we ought to turn
money away。 While you are at it I start a fresh row outsideshouts；
cheers； groans； words of command and a paper bag or two。 Seeing that
the game is up you make a rush at the old woman； she downs you with
the chopper； turns the lamp up full； shakes out a Union Jack over the
sleeping infant； and finally stands in her finest attitude with one
hand pointing impressively upwards and the other contemptuously
downwards just as Rule Britannia is played on the cornet outside and I
appear at the door in a general's full uniform and let down the
curtain。〃
For acting in the manner designatedas touching the noises both
inside and out； the set dance with upraised knives； the casting to
earth of himself； and being myself in turn vanquished by the aged
female； with an added compact that from time to time I should be led
by a chain and shown to the people from a raised platformwe agreed
upon a daily reward of two pieces of silver； an adequacy of food； and
a certain ambiguously…referred…to share of the gain。 It need not be
denied that with so favourable an opportunity of introducing passages
from the Classics a much less sum would have been accepted； but having
obtained this without a struggle； the one now recounting the facts
raised the opportune suggestion of an inscribed placard； in order to
fulfil the portent foreshadowed by William Greyson。
〃Oh； we'll star you； never fear；〃 assented the accommodating
personage； and having by this time reached that spot upon the Heath
where his Domestic Altar had been raised； we entered。
〃All the most distinguished actors in this country take another name；〃
he said reflectively； when he had drawn forth a parchment of
praiseworthy dimensions and ink of three colours； 〃and though I have
nothing to say against Kong Ho Tsin Cheng Quank Paik T'chun Li Yuen
Nung for quiet unostentatious dignity； it doesn't have just the grip
and shudder that we want。 Now how does 'Fang' strike you？〃 and upon my
courteous acquiescence that this indeed united within it those
qualities which he required； he traced its characters in red ink upon
a lavish scale。
〃'Fang Hung Sin' about fits the idea of snap and bloodthirstiness； I
should say；〃 he continued； and using the brush and all the colours
with an expert proficiency which would infallibly gain him an early
recognition at any of our competitive examinations； he presently laid
before me the following gracefully…composed notice； which was
suspended from a conspicuous pole about the door of the tent on the
following day。
FANG HUNG SIN
The Captured Boxer Chieftain。
Under a strong guard； and by arrangement with the British and
Chinese authorities concerned；
Fang Hung Sin
Will positively re…enact the GORY SCENES of CARNAGE in which
he took a LEADING and SANGUINARY PART during the LATE RISING。
ALONE IN PEKIN
Or； What a Woman can do。
PANEL I。 PEACE： The Missionary's Tent by NightAll's Well
The Dread Warning〃I am by your side； Beloved。〃
PANEL II。 ALARM： The SignalThe SpyThe Mob Outside
Treachery〃Save Yourself； my Darling〃〃And Leave
You？ Never！〃
PANEL III。 REVENGE： The AttackThe Blow FallsWho Can Save
Her Now？〃Back； Renegade Viper！〃The English Guns
〃Rule Britannia！〃
FANG HUNG SIN； The Desperado。
There is only one FANG； and he must be seen。
FANG！ FANG！！ FANG！！！
I will not upon this occasion； esteemed one； delay myself with an
account of this barbarian Festival of Lanterns； or； as their language
would convey it； Feast of Cocoa…nuts； beyond admitting that with the
possible exception of an important provincial capital during the
triennial examinations I doubt whether our own unapproachable Empire
could show a more impressively…extended gathering； either in the
diverse and ornamental efflorescence of head garb； in the affectionate
display openly lavished by persons of one sex towards those of the
other； or even one more successful in our own pre…eminent art of
producing the multitudinous harmony of conflicting sounds。
At the appointed hour this person submitted himself to be heavily
shackled； and being led out before the assembled crowd； endeavoured by
a smiling benignity of manner and by reassuring signs of welcome； to
produce a favourable impression upon their sympathies and to allure
them within。 This pacific face was undoubtedly successful； however
offensively the ill…conditioned one who stood by was inspired to
express himself behind his teeth； for the space of the tent was very
quickly occupied and the actions of simulation were to begin。
Without doubt it might have been better if this person had first made
himself more fully acquainted with the barbarian manner of acting。 The
fact that this imagined play； which even in one of our inferior
theatres would have filled the time pleasantly for two or three
months； was to be compressed into the narrow limits of seven minutes
and a half； should reasonably have warned him that amid the ensuing
rapidity of word and action； most of the leisurely courtesies and all
the subtle range of concealed emotion which embellish our own wood
pavement must be ignored。 But it is well and suggestively written；
〃The person who deliberates sufficiently before taking every step will
spend his life standing upon one leg。〃 In the past thi