CHINESE PUFFING.
THE following is quoted in the newspaper; of the week, as a literal tral slation of a Chinese inkmaker's shop-bill.
" At the shop Shun-wang—very goi,! ink—fine, fine, ancient shop—grand- father, father, and self make this ink—fine and hard, very hard,—pieked out, raav fine and black, before now,—sell very good ink, mime cost very high. This ink is ye, y heavy,—so is gold. No one makes like it. Others who mike ink, make it for money and to cheat IIndy make it for a name. Plenty of gin- '...men know am. ink. My family never cheats. always hears a good make ink for the Son of Heaven, and all the Mandar:ns round. All A-k wan- ts te's (geatlemen) must come to my shop, and know my name! "
There is a frankness and sincerity in the style of this puff, 1% hid' recommend it to one's belief. If it is a lie, it is a plain, sttaightforuard lie, honestly told. It reads like ConnErr's raise of himself, which the writer at any rate puts faith in. There is a touch of poetry in it, too ; and genuine professional gusto. "This ink is heavy—so is gold" reminds one of the grandiloquence of STERNE'S Barber in praise of the buckle of his wig,—" dip it in the ocean, it will stand ; " and of the bootmaker, who being praised for the exquisite workmanship of a curious boot, rtjoined, " Sir, I made it in a moment of enthusiasm." The tradesman peeps out, however, in the depreciation of his fellow ink-makers ; who doubtless decry all others with equal confidence. In sub- stance, indeed, the puff pretty much resembles an English shopkeeper's of the present day : the " fine, fine, ancient shop —ennellather, father, and self— I make ink for the Son of Heaven, and all the Mandarins --reminds one of the "extensive premises --established in I 7s9—Mantaticturers to the King and Royal Family, &c. Let us see how one of AvalstsoN's adver- tisements of his " Old Brown Windsor Soap" would look in a Chinese dress.
" At the shop Old Bond Street—very good soap. Fine, large, spa- cious shop—gramt, very grand—bright with many mirrors—dazzling to behold. Selland brother make this soap—tine and hard, very hard—very oil and brown. This soap is hard and sm anh—so is ivory. It is fragrant with balsamic herbs—sweet as a nosegay—detergent and emollient— soothing, very soothing, like curd of almonds. It makes the com- plexion beautiful, white and pure as alabaster. It is delicious to use— soft, very soft to the tender infant's skin, and the cheek of beauty. No other is like it. Many, not all, who make soap, are ignorant and mer- cenary: they make it for money and to cheat : they use foul matters— lime, and kelp, and hot, drying oils, rabic and strong—they make it brown with umber, at a cheap rate—bad, very bad—it makes the young to look old and wrinkled—the fair skin becomes yellow. Their soap is not old, but new—new and not, sweet. I make pure soap, good and well made—pi itne cost very dear. I and my brother ncver cheat—we are well known and responsible. Many ladies know my soap—mothers and maidens use it, and speak in its praise—infants love it. All Ex- quisites (fashionable dandies) must come to my shop, and use my soap."
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