Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-05-23
TnE MYsTIFIED EMPEROR.


though Tai Tsung possess a more
than ordinary mind, he bad been
trained in the superstitious school
of those days, and considered him.
self the greatest of all men, and
descended from a line of emperors
of divine origin.
So conceiled did he fually become
that he caused il to be announced
throughout the empire that he
would give an important office tc
the subject who could produce any
invention or object that be could
not explain. So great a reward nat
urally attracted the attention OF
bold adventures all over the empire,
and 80 many presented themselves
that certain days were set apart for
an examination of their claims.
But one day a youth, having the
bearing ofa person of rank, and
with two attendants, presented him
self at the palace gates and demand
ed m audience with the emperor.
After some little delay they were led
before Tai Tsung, who sat upon a
throne in the court garden.
"I have three tests which | wish
to submit" said the youth. "Two
had their origin in thy country, o
Tai Tsung, and the other comes
from my people" Taking pack
age from one of his attendants he
placed il upon the ground and dis
played the contents to the emperor.
These were simply coil of rope, an
umbrella of native make and a
small box.
"Your Imperial Majesty observes, "
said the stranger, "that we are three,
surrounded by thy officers and un,
able to add to our numbers or depleie
them without thy wish. You lookP'
and seizing the rope the young man,
who had thrown aside his outer
garments and now appeared in a
suit of cleaning silver, tossed it NJ
into the air. The effort was a slight
one, yet the rope rose as If propelled
by great force, and when above thu
palace walls disappeared. A MO
ment later down it came, and upor
it the emperor and his officers saw
sliding down human form, ano
before they could recover from theil
astonishment a young man hac
reached the ground and, salutini
his Majesty, handed him a square
package wrapped in rice paper
"Canst thou tell from whence
came this messenger" asked Tho
youth,
"Perhaps he came over the palac'
wall" suggested one Of the emper
or's advisers.
"Surround the wall with soldiers,
said the youth, who overheard th'
remark, and these precautions being
taken, he took his cast.off carmen
and threw 1t over the new conner
who cr0uched upon the ground
Over this was placed the large um
brella. Then utterlng an invocation
the young man tore aside the robe
the new conner had disappeared.
"There is some trick of the imag
inatlon," said the emperor. ibid
you all see it?" turning fiercely to
his followers.
ayes, your Majesty" answered
his chief adviser; "it is some trick
our eyes have deceived u.s."
"Did not the messenger leave a
package ?" replied the youth.
"True, he did," said the monarch,
who now unfolded the package,
finally holding up to view u small
painting representing pastoral
scene. A range of snow-capped
mountains were seen in the distance,
skirting valley covered with green
grass, and in the foregl ound, in bold
relief stood pure white cow.
"The picture is a gift to your
Majesty" said the youth, "anC
possesses this peculiarly, that whil'
the COW is but the expression Of th'
skill of the painter, it has certain o
the instincts Of the living animal
Your Majesty observes that now, il
the light of day, the cow is feeding
but take the picture into the darkest
room of the palace, or examine 1t al
night, and it will be found that the
COW, thinking 1t night, has passed
into an inclosure and Is lying
down.
"Wateh this man, said the EN-
peror, "that he does not fly away
with his messenger" aud, with his
chief adviser, he took the picture
and retired to "A darkened room. Al
the entrance he halted to look al
the painting,and saw the COW stand
ing upon the green. Crossing the
threshold and drawing the curtains
the emperor was amazed TO see the
picture standing out in startling
distlnetness when all else was invisl
BILE In the room; but the COW wa'
now seen to be lying down behind
fence. "Can you explain IL ?" asked
the emperor OF his attendant.
at is magic" replied the latter,
~ see you cannot explain it,
retorted Tai %sung, "and, until yot
can, this prince shall haye YOU
place