The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-12


DR. Legge, an English divine, after devoting
many years to the Chinese language, has re.
Gently brought out an English TRANSLATION of the
Chinese classics. This volume furnishes the
reader with the means of solving the principal
questions relating TO Confucus, the founder OF
the Chinese religion,
1t appears from this work that he was con-
tnually wandering about in search of employ y
ment, and was often rcbuked by meaner men
for his detection under refusal. On one occa.
sion an irreverent spectator of his canvassing
Tor power compared his troubled appearance to
s7 sIc HisC HisconSoIale l9ok OF STRAY dog" We
customed ITO be overcome of Wine;n aud
perhaps he was led TO that indulgence by a de-
sire to wash away his regret for the loss of
office. He was not over truthful for on one oc-
casion he did not hesitate to violate an oath
excusing himself in the very words which
brought such reproach on Euripides, "My
tongue sWoIe, but my mind was uns worn.n
lie was not brave man, for he turned pale
at clap OF thunder, aud migrated from
any place where he apprehended danger He
was not continent man, if the rule qUt s'eICuSe
Sdccuse be true, for he had to Justify himself
with reference TO visits which gave great offense
10 his disciples. We find him utteTing shrewd
remarks as to the difficulty OF managing concu-
bines, which shows he had experience in that
line. He divorced his wife. He was, however,
amtable in general sincere, aud really earnest
to improve, according to the little light vouch-
saied to bin. The best thing that is said of him
is, that he "would angle but not use a net: ne
shot, but at birds perching" Finally. his
character may be best understood from the
following extract which gives an account of his
death:-
Early one morning we are told, he cot M.
and with his hands behind his back, dragging
bis staff, he moved about by his door, grooming
over:-
"The great mountain must crumble;
The strong beam must break:
And the wise man wither away like plant"
After a little, he entered the house and sat
down opposite the door. Tsze.kung had heard
WI md fh "a oil II . fhn rnaf
mountain Crumble, to what shall / look up? If
the strong beam break, and the wise man Wither
away, on whom shall / lean? The master, l
fear, is going to be Ill., With this he hastened
into the house ConfuCius said TO him, "Tsze,
what makes you so late? According 10 the
statutes of Hea, the corpse was dressed and cOf-
fined at the top of the Eastern steps, treating the
dead as ii he were still the host. Under the
Yin, the ceremony was performed between the
two pillars as ii the dead were both host and
guest. The rule of Chow is to perform it at the
top OF the Western steps, treating the dead as
II he were guest. l am a man of Yin, and
last night l dreamt that ] was sitting
with offerings before me between the two pill
lars. No intelligent monarch arises; there is
not one in the empire that Will make me his
master. My time is come to die.n So it was He
went 10 his couch and after seven days, ex-
pired. Such is the account which we have of
the last hours of this great philosopher of China.
his end was not unmpressive, but 1t was
melancholy. He sank behind cloud. Dlsap-
pointed hopes made his soul bitter The great
ones Of the empire had not received his teach
ings. No wife nor child was by to do the kindly
offices of affection for him. Nor were the eX-
pecations of another life present with him as
he passed through the dark valley. He uttered
no prayer, and he betrayed no apprehensions.
Deep-treasured in his own heart may have been
the thought that he had endeavored to serve
his generation By the win of God but he gave
no sign. THE mountain falling came to naught,
and the rock was removed out of his place"
So death prevailed against him and he passed;
his countenance was changed and he was sent
away.