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Story
January 1, 1910
The Idaho Springs Siftings News
Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County, Colorado
What is this article about?
A young missionary jokes with his father about the Chinese tradition of gifting coffins to elderly people, who appreciate them, but the father disapproves violently and storms out.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
DIDN'T SEE IT THE SAME WAY
Father of Young Missionary Disagreed Violently with Popular Chinese Custom.
The young missionary relighted his cigar.
"In China, father," he said, "I'd have no trouble in selecting a present for you."
"No?" queried the old man.
"No," said the missionary, with a hearty laugh. "The most desirable present to give old folks is a coffin, in China. Ha, ha, ha! And old folks like yourself don't mind it at all. They welcome a coffin as heartily as you'd welcome a box of Havana regalias."
"Humph!" said the father, grimly.
"And if an old Chinaman is ailing," said the young missionary—"if he has your rheumatic complaint, for instance—then he regards a coffin as an especially thoughtful gift. In fact—"
But the missionary's father had suddenly left the room, slamming the door behind him with a certain violence.
Father of Young Missionary Disagreed Violently with Popular Chinese Custom.
The young missionary relighted his cigar.
"In China, father," he said, "I'd have no trouble in selecting a present for you."
"No?" queried the old man.
"No," said the missionary, with a hearty laugh. "The most desirable present to give old folks is a coffin, in China. Ha, ha, ha! And old folks like yourself don't mind it at all. They welcome a coffin as heartily as you'd welcome a box of Havana regalias."
"Humph!" said the father, grimly.
"And if an old Chinaman is ailing," said the young missionary—"if he has your rheumatic complaint, for instance—then he regards a coffin as an especially thoughtful gift. In fact—"
But the missionary's father had suddenly left the room, slamming the door behind him with a certain violence.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Family Drama
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Family
What keywords are associated?
Chinese Custom
Coffin Gift
Father Disagreement
Cultural Difference
What entities or persons were involved?
Young Missionary
Father
Where did it happen?
China (Custom Discussed); Unspecified Home (Conversation)
Story Details
Key Persons
Young Missionary
Father
Location
China (Custom Discussed); Unspecified Home (Conversation)
Story Details
A young missionary tells his father about the Chinese custom of gifting coffins to the elderly, which they welcome, but his father reacts angrily and leaves the room.