Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-07-08

filled the place OF fact, and, as sne
walked, her mind was busy with visions.
She would sec great ship gliding to-
ward the boat. Ropes were let down,
and all were safely brought to the deck.
Then she would see the storm sweep
down, and a great wave would rise and
dash the little craft to pieces. With
such fancies would mingle pictures OF
the boat alone on the wide sea with no
sail in sight, and the despairing men
facing hunger and horrible thirst. She
saw, indeed, all the dangers, and the
one small hope.
With her mind in such tumult, she
at length reached the little house in
which she had passed SO many days
happily. Ii Kean sat in the door
way and started back in terror at the
figure in its strange dress, the uniform
of the Toyhai. The sound of the IA
miliar voice, however, quickly treasured
her, and then when the venerable IA
Their had been summoned the sad story
was told and tears were shed. Sho Mai
offered such consolation as she could
from heavy heart, and the thought of
her own miraculous escape helped to
inspire hope. 1t was evident that moth
ing could be done. Ii Xiii would send
tidings of his safety at the earliest pos
sible opportunity.
Seeing the grief in the little house
hold, Sho Mai would have remained
with her friends to comfort them, but to
this they would not consent. That she
should sacrifice the competition need
lessly was not to be thought Of. The
old philosopher would listen to no re-
fusal, and from his scanty savings he
provided her with what was needed for
her journey. She accepted his kindness,
knowing that her father would requite
him hundredfold.
A ship sailed from Teng Chow the next
day, and in it Sho Mai began her voyage
anew. Capricious fortune smiled at last,
and tavoring winds filed the sails every
day. The junk had never made so quick
passage, and the captain to whom Sho
Mai had confded her anxiety for haste
said that the Gods were on her side and
that the prize she sought would be hers.
Despite the excitement and the hard
ships of the past few days and the fears
which filled her mind, Sho Mai felt that
she had never been so we'll fitted for the
great task. The WEAKNESS of her body
passed away with the rest she found on
the voyage, for the free life of the past
year had given her strength and health.
Then the strange experience of that
year had taught her lessons and had de-
veloped her mind as no mere study of
books could have done. The Joy of her
love for Ii Xiii, tempered by the sorrow
of her separation from him, were forces
to strengthen her powers.
So she came at length to Picking mar
rowly in time, and yet not too late. The
great day of the competition dawned,
and she took her place among the forty
thousand scholars who, by winning the
Chin Shi degree, had qualified them
selves for this final struggle. She found
no trace of Ii Xiii, and yet he might
be there, for in that multitude their
meeting was but chance.
In the remarkable hall of the Han Lin
Yuen Foo the scholars gather. Its thou
sands of narrow, cell-like rooms, devoid
of doors and built IN rows upon rows
like the balconies of a theater, face a
great arena. Long, narrow galleries
provide passages by which the cells
may be reached. Each aspirant for
honors Is assigned cell in order that
all communication may be cut off. In
the grand arena sits the Chung Yuen
Foo of the royal family, surrounded by
scores of secretaries. The subject upon
which the competitors are to work is
written in large letters and hung up in
a conspicuous place where it can DO
seen from every cell. A sharp rap from
a mace in the hand of one of the as
sistants brings hush like that of death
upon the assemblage. The great COM
petition has begun.
Many heart beat wildly with excite
ment as the task was begun. Many a
brilliant mind was defeated by its own
eagerness which untitled it for the long
labor of the battle. Among all those
who strove for this high honor it is
| doubtful If there was one whose calm.
ness equaled that of Sho Mai. The
| thrilling scenes through which she had
| passed, so far from unsettling her nerves,
had left her in a state of quiescence
which nothing could disturb. She felt
| that all her faculties had never been
more perfectly under her control. Per
haps the despair regarding Ii Xiii
which had gradually crept into her
heart accounted in some measure for
her mental state, for who has not known
that strange awakening of the mind
after great disaster, comparable only
to what the soul may feel when it
awakens after death.
The subject chosen was one to which
she had given her deepest thought. She
would have chosen no other. She
worked with steadiness which was IN
shaken by any sensation of fatigue,
though hours came and went and
still the task was uncompleted.
Even after she herself laid down her
brush, satisfied that the best of which
she was capable had been done, the work
of many others was still unfinished
Three days and nights passed before the
announcement was made that tho last
manuscript was done.
Then a small army of pages gathered
up the work from each cell and took II
to the hundreds Of secretaries for read.
ing. This work is done with great
speed, though with scrupulous care
Each secretary reserves the best manu-
scripts, and these are sent to the i'm
perial palace, where the final choice is