Fun_People Archive
27 Jun
Souvenir of Shanghai

Date: Tue, 27 Jun 95 17:44:44 PDT
From: Peter Langston <psl>
To: Fun_People
Subject: Souvenir of Shanghai

Forwarded-by: <cate3@netcom.com>

    A woman was visiting Mainland China on vacation and her eye was caught
by a peculiar medallion with some Chinese characters on it.  She thought it
looked nice, and so bought it.  For several years se wore it as a good luck
charm, and it was quite a converation piece.  One day, she attended a dinner
with some visitors from China.  One kept glancing at her, and then looking
away discreetly.  Curious, she approached him and asked why.

    "It is the medallion that you wear."  "Oh, yes, it is nice isn't it? I
picked it up on vacation."  Then she realized that the man she was speaking
to was Chinese.  "I've always wondered what it says.  Could you translate
it for me?"  "Oh, I couldn't," he said.  "Please?"  "I do not think you
would be appreciative."  She asked again, and finally he relented.  "It
says: 'Licensed prostitute, city of Shanghai.'"

© 1995 Peter Langston