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National Geographic : 1936 Dec
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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE Photograph by George Kin Leung 'PAY NOW OR WE WON'T FINISH THE TRICK!" With this threat, acrobats at temple fairs often extract spectators' money. Sometimes they refuse to complete a stunt unless a stipulated amount is given. The two child performers are billed as the leading man's daughters. and those who admire hand-wrought objects is the annual bazaar held in the Temple of the God of Fire, near Liu Li Chang. It attracts large crowds from the 6th to the 15th of the First Moon. A NOVEL PREMIUM DEVICE The inconspicuous entrance off the nar row street is a dramatic arrangement. One hardly has stepped inside when his eyes are dazzled by displays of ivory, jades, crystal, coral, and other rarities. The courtyards within are crowded with hundreds of booths laden with curios and carvings. The expert and veteran shopper alone may be cer tain of a good bargain. The ex perienced know that, just as there is silk and silk, there is jade and jade. Fine jade may bring thou sands of dollars for a small piece, but a large chunk of low quality may fetch only a few dollars. It is said that a few Mongol customers are never satisfied that they have a real bargain un less they succeed in pilfering a small object. Knowing this, the wily dealers place small inex pensive objects where the pro spective buyer can easily slip them into his sleeve, with the result that the latter, highly de lighted, may overpay for the article he wants. Dealers in paintings are housed in the many rooms of the temple, and a few have open-air booths at the rear. White cloth banners bearing the follow ing Chinese characters in black ink were hung at the temple entrance: "All mer chants in this bazaar sell their wares at one price"; "Strictly one price; restore good business ethics" (page 771). A FAIR FOR BOOKS AND PAINTINGS It read very well, but in the course of pur chasing two small jade figures, I had stood scarcely a moment before the dealers began the ancient national game of talking price. 790
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