THE SIGN OF THE PRAYING TIGER

When an enterprising young man from Muleshoe, Kentucky meets a middled-aged Con Man from parts unknown and they decide to take in China during what appears to be an off season of the Cold War, even the Tongs take notice. Oral, fresh from the hills, who was forced to quit school at 14 but who has studiously studied the dictionary and his partner G.B. junket off to Singapore as deckhands where they disembark to seek their fortunes on the small island of Menang. After futile attempts at peddling juke boxes, they hit upon the idea of a ""success and personality school"" with ""Every Man a King"" as top motto. This brand of capitalism hits China with a gong that shakes up the Gods of the Volcano, let alone the local secret societies. Some of the antics include a ""Miss Mixed Menang"" contest, the modernization of a Buddst temple, a simulation of Ted Mack's Amateur Hour and an attempt at throwing a Mardi Gras. Mr. Burman is truly a folk artist. It's lively fun in the tradition of his Catfish Bend series.