The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-05-13
CHINESE PROVERBS.

empty headed fop."
CHINESE PROVERBS.
The. excellence of aphorisms has
been said TO consist chiefly in the COM
prchensiens Of some obvious and
useful truth in a few words and if
this be the case, the Chinese language
is peculiarly adapted for the produc-
ton of proverbs, for it possesses, from
it's peculiar structure, beauty and
pointedness of expression, which,
however. no degree of care or pains
can adequately convey into translation
Cautious conduct under circum-
stances of suspicion is indicated some
what oddly by the following: In a
field of melons do not pull up your
shoe /; under plum tree do not adjust
ysur cap.
The strong feeling existing among
the Chinese against a widows marry
ing a second husband is clearly seen
in tine following: "Supposing wild
owed woman to be very poor and des-
titute, might she in such case take a
second husband ?" 1t was answered,
''This question arises merely from the
fear Of cold and hunger; but to be
starved to death is a very small matter
compared with the loss of her respect
ability" They are very much afraid
of what they term '1osing face"
He who at once knows himself and
knows that others will triumph as
often as he contends.
The truth of the following senti-
ment is, we all know, not confined to
China: Though poor man should
live in the midst of noisy market, no
one will ask about him though rich
man should bury himself among the
mountains, his relations will come to
him from afar.
TO be bold enough to stroke the
tigers beard" expresses great courage
and daring, -
Where there is musk there will of
course be perfume it will not be Dec-
essary to stand in the wind, j. e. tall
ent and real worth will make them
selves manifest without the aid Of
trickery.
GA toad in we'll cannot behold the
whole heavens" is used in reference to
contracted ideas.
"Climbing tree TO hunt for fish"
expresses looking for things that cam
not possibly be found.
'To grind down an iron pestle to
make needle" is Chinese way of
expressing indomitable perseverance.
Archbishop Trench has pointed out
that many proverbs are common to all
languages, dressed and colored accord
ing TO the varying climes and customs.
One common proverb, for example.
which speaks of falling between two
stools, in China, where boat-traveling
is the one mode of locomotion for so
many millions of her people, takes
this form:
One foot IN this boat, orc foot in tina,
They both push on and you fall fas.'
The Chinese carry their liking for
proverbs, and sayings akin to proverbs
to such an extent that the most COM
mon ornaments for the walls of their
houses and temples are long strips of
paper hung perpendicularly in pairs
and inscribed in bold characters with
sentences which are alike in meaning
and construction. They have a book
called Ming-hiin pao chteu Gle the
remainding precious mirror). which
is filled with quotations of this nature
from the works of various writers.
In conclusion, we quote from Davis
Chinese paragraph illustrative of a
Chinese pcculiarity, which is in some
i measure connected with our subject !:
'sSone of the ordinary expressions of
the Chinese are pointed aud sarcastic
enough. A clustering, harmless fell
low they call paper tiger. When a
man values himself over much they
compare him to a rat falling into a
scale and weighing himself" Over
doing thing they call "a hunchback
making a bow" A spendthrift they
compare to ga rocket" which goes oil
at once. Those who expend their
charity on remote objects, but neglect
their family, are said ''to hang a lam
tern on a polc," which is seen afar, but
gives no light below."-AU the Yea'
| Round.