The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-08-18
THE CHINESE RIP VAN WINKLE.

In Shan Tung there is mountain in
whose side is a mysterious hole or pit,
from the mouth OF which smoke may
be seen to. issue previous to rain.
But that is not the strangest thing
about it. They say it is 50 deep that it
is impossible to sound it, All people
at present alive in China are content to
let it rest at that. If truth lies at the
bottom of well, there it may lie, for
all them. They would neither care nor
dare to 90 after it.
But once upon q time there was a
man who did not feel so. He lived on
the mountain, and the pit was daily be-
fore his eyes. He was rich man; but
not satisfied. He was reading man;
but his books did not tell him all he
wished to know. So he kept on pom
dering and wondering till he was forty
years old. Then, though the bottom
less we'll was as great mystery to him
as ever, he had taken the first step to
find it OUT he had resolved to investi-
gate. ........... ......
Well, when Ii Ching, for that was
the philosopher name, approached his
fortieth birthday, he made feast, and
invited all his friends. Now, this Ii
Ching being rich, of course all his
friends were in the habit of maxine.
him expensive gifts. But this year he
sent them notice that the only presents
he wished to receive were coils of rope
and little bells. They brought them,
wondering and questioning. But Ii
Ching only looked mysterious, and
said he might find use for them some
time.
And so it happened every birthday
until the eightieth He had been busy
some time before this day in preparing
for it. The feast was unusually fine
and the theahicals were performed in
the best manner; but that was only
preliminary. When this was all over
he led his guests to the mouth of the
pit and showed them how he had been
preparing for the day. There was a
booth of mats at the mouth of the cave
and over it he had erected a windlass.
The building was nearly full of the
ropes he had been collecting all these
years, all joined together, and at each
knot bell. He had also prepared a
car for himself. Then he told them he
meant to 90 down and fathom this
mystery. His friends tried to dissuade
him. But he said that when he was
forty years old he had made VOW that
If he lived to be eighty he would 90
and find out for himself.
50 arming himself with package OF
candles and paper lantern he got into
the car and ordered his sons to let him
down slowly; but if he should encounter
any horrors on the way he would pull
on the rope, and when they heard the
bells ring, they were to draw him up
very fast. (Now you mustn't inter-
rupt to ask, how he could pull rope
when his own weight was hanging
from it several leagues down well; OF
how the sons above, paying out tn
rope with bells attached could hear
above that ringing the tinkling of the
little bells deep in the earth. You for.
get that this was in China, where every.
thing is queer.) The sons, of course
had to obey their father. So bidding
him farewell, they let him down, feel.
ing as if it were into grave.
his lantern was soon all they could
see Of him; first bright star, then a
glimmering speck, like FREELY; then it
was lost altogether And still they
played out the jingling rope.
Well and what of the old philos-
opherP The descent was at first per-
pendicular; but after mile OF two il
took a turn, and he went sliding down
an inclined plane. After long, long
time the car stopped, and he found
himself on even ground; but still in the
darkness. East, West. North and
South were lost in this blackness But
nothing daunted, our philosopher take:
his lantern and sets out to explore the
gloom. BY and by he sees ahead OF
him a glimmering light which he know,
does not come from the reflection of his
lantern So he eagerly follows that
Soon he can snuff out his candle; for 8
wide PLAIN, lies before, him. Very
beautiful, indeed, it seemed to his eyes
so long accustomed to the darkness
fields and rivers, fruit-trees and flowers.
He seemed to be in garden. He fol
lowed one of the paths, and it brought
him to little arbor. Inside he hearC
the rafting of chessmen, and coming
nearer he saw two old men seatec