A Chinese Drug-shop

In the February St . ïsicholas there is an article by Theodore Wores, tlie artist, entitled "AhGau'sNew Year's Celebration." Mr. Wores gives the ollowing description of a Chinese drugstore in San Francisco : The interior of this shop presented a strange and Oriental aspect. One corner was occupied by the household shrine, the chief feature of which wasahighly coloredpicti re of sorae favorite god. The smoke of burningiiiceüse, issuing from a brightly polished brazen vessel, rose from the altar before this deity and filled the air with its mysterious fragance. Beside the shrine, on a table, was an abundant supply of refreshinent, consisting of cakes, both red and yellow ; of lichi nuts, oranges, candied ginger, a nuinber of boxes of cigars ; and last, but not least, of bottles containing samsheu, the favorite beverage of the Chinese. Ali Gau's uncle, dressed in a long yellow silk blouse, was standing near this table, busily engaged in doing the honors to his numerous callers. He greeted his nephew and his friend with great cordiality, and invited them to partake of refreshnients ; but Ah Gau modestly contented himself witli a hand, ful of dried water-melou seeds, which he droppedinto hiscapacious inside pocket. One side of the shop was taken tip by a long counter; and shelves and drawers extended all around the room. These were covered and filled with a great and miscellaneous collection of strange and rare herbs and roots. Deer-horns, in their velvet stage, were suspended from the ceiling. These after being sliced as thin as wafers, are boiled and produce what is supposed to be a valuable medicine. Dried lizards, neatly spread on thin bamboo sticks, occupied a basket at one end of the counter. Dried toads, sharks' tails, and many other curious objects used in the preparation of Chinese medicines, littered the shop Erom end to end ; and a richly carved and gilded opeu-work screen, with two dragons in the center, extended across ;he middle of the ceiling. The Chinese are very much behindïand in their knowledge of medicine. Their methods, which are based on gnorance and superstitiou, are quite as absurd and primitive as were those of ;he Europeans of the Middle Ages. In hiring rooms to carry on his business a Topeka undertaker stipulated ,hat he should have the right to drive a ïearse through the building.