The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-24 00:00:00

CONFUCIUS AND THE MUSICAL
GOVERNOR.

In the same year, Ke-kang-tsee, one of the Minis-
ters of the King of Loo, wrote to Confucius to invite
him to return ,into his native country; he sent him
money for the expenses of his journey, and added con-
siderable presents of every description, to induce him
to yield to his request. Confucius did not want any
reward for doing what he was required. He had al-
ready for some time formed the design of leaving the
kingdom of Wei, where he felt himself to be useless ;
he took advantage, therefore, of the good-will of the
Minister of the King of his native country, and set
off on his return.

On the road there was a considerable town, then
named Ou-Ching, the care of which was entrusted to
one of his disciples, named Tsee-yeou. As he ap-
proached the city he was surprised to hear the sound
of the great instruments, and the notes of the music
appropriated to the solemn ceremonies. lie turned
towards his disciples, and said to them, laughing,
" To kill a chicken you do not want the same knife
that is used in slaying an ox."
Tsee-yeou, who had come to meet Confucius, imme-
diately understood what Confucius alluded to, and,
without being disconcerted, immediately replied,
" Master, I have not forgotton the lessons which you
have given me, and I have endeavoured to turn them
to account. You have taught us that there is no man
incapable of acquiring wisdom ; and that one of the
ways of acquiring it is, the study of the grand music
and the grand ceremonies, because it is, in studying
the grand music and the grand ceremonies, that we
learn to regulate our own hearts according to the
dictates of sound reason, and to conduct ourselves to-
wards our fellow-creatures according to the rules of
that universal charity which teaches us to love all
men in general, and every one in particular. The
inhabitants of the little town which is under my go-
vernment are men ; I endeavour to lead them to wis-
dom by the path which you have pointed out to us."
" I am perfectly satisfied with what you say,"
said Confucius, " it was without reflection, and for
the amusement of the moment, that I said that you
should not use the same knife to kill a chicken as an
ox. I approve of your conduct; continue to conduct
yourself in the same manner, and rely upon my
approbation."—Captain Pidding's Chinese Olio.

THE STONE IN THE NEW HOUSES Or PARLIA-
MENT.—The Bolsover quarries, from which the stone
for the new Houses of Parliament is procured, and se-
veral others that have been recently opened in the
neighbourhood, contain about twelve feet of workable
stone, in numerous bands from eight inches to two feet
thick. This stone is of a light yellowish lemon colour.
Its chemical composition consists of 51 per cent. of cll.-
bonate of lime, 40 per cent. of carbonate, ofmagnesp,
and more than 3i per cent. of silica. Its specific gravity
is 2'316, or considerably greater than that of limestone.
This admirable stone is not expensive, being cheaper
than Portland stone, and worked as easily but, it does
not seem to have been much used at a distance from
Bolsover, except in slabs for paving.. Its qualities of
durability are well tested in Southwell Church, Notting-
hamshire, a building of the tenth century, and in ad-
mirable condition. In this church the Norman portions,
built of stone similar to that of Bolsover Moor, are
throughout in a perfect state, and the mouldings and
carved enrichments arc as sharp as when first executed.
—The Builder.