The time-keeping railway is,
however, working a revolution, especially in places
where there is only one train a day, and a man who misses that
has to wait for the morrow before he can resume his journey.
Some years ago a luncheon -- "tiffin" we call it in China --
was given in my honor at a Peking restaurant by a couple of friends;
the hour was fixed at noon sharp. I arrived on the stroke of twelve,
but found that not only were none of the guests there,
but that even the hosts themselves were absent. As I had several engagements
I did not wait, but I ordered a few dishes and ate what I required.
None of the hosts had made their appearance by the time I had finished,
so I left with a request to the waiter that he would convey my thanks.
Knowing the unpunctuality of our people, the conveners of a public meeting
will often tell the Chinese that it will begin an hour or two before
the set time, whereas foreigners are notified of the exact hour.
Not being aware of this device I once attended a conference
at the appointed time, only to find that I had to wait for over an hour.
I protested that in future I should be treated as a foreigner in this regard.
As civilized people have always found it necessary to wear clothes
I ought not to omit a reference to them here, but in view of what has already
been said in the previous chapter I shall at this juncture content myself
with quoting Mrs. M. S. G. Nichols, an English lady who has written
on this subject.
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