The morning times., 1896-09-13
Timely History of China Makes
Its Appearance.
FICTION OF THE AUTUMN
Good Reading Spririlied in With
Publications of More
Solid Character.


tive land and the Orientalists, but it
reminds US how very ignorant we are of
the Oldest empire in the world, of its peo-
pie, geography, manner and customs, Ian
guage, politics and religion. There is, in
fact, very little literature on the subject.
This, OF course, Is in u large measure at
tributable to the narrow conservatism of
the Chinese which for centuries stood about
them impregnable as their own great wall
and made impossible knowledge or study
OF their policy or people.
! Only within this century. and in an ut
terly unsatisfactory manner during the
first fifty years, was any data obtainable.
But by degrees the insularty was over
come, and there with larger possibilities for
acquaintance with one OF the most inter
esting, because most dlssimilar from our
modes, peoples in the world.
1t is a fortuitous chance which, at this
time OF revival OF Chinese interests.
brings an efficient exposition of the life
of the Celestial in his own Flowery King
dom. 1t will be re ad with avidity because
OF its timellness, its value as a palliative
of curiosity and its merits as a really de,
lightful narrative OF important events. 1t
is by an American missionary, W. A. p.
0ldTtiu, WHO StoOQ uiSl III uiploHidtiC NOTk
at the critical moments Of Chinese totter-
ing exclusiyeness. 1t Is called "a Cycle
of Cathay," and is published. by Fleming
II. Revcll.
There is peculiar personal charm about
this booS. 1t possesses the Intimacy with
things one would feel In travelling through
the country under the same circumst anceS.
China, like this country. divides itself
into two great geographical subdivisions.
north and the south. The Emperor resides
in an interior city, and l.; mo st difficult of
access. Divine hODors are paid him because
he is considered the son OF God. Exclusive
ness. suspicion aud treachery confronted
the author o this book when he went to the
floral shores, but he obtained the entree
and his observations are most valuable, be-
cause they are impressions of a temperament
the opposite at almost every point of that
with which he came in contact, OF imme-
diate interest, as well as value in giving an
iGea of this book, are some transcriptio:is
from the text
1t is not perhaps generally known that
the Spanish have no monopoly of bull
lights. In the district of Kinhoa they
hold cattle show each spri.g, at wh.Ch
the principal attraction is the bull fights. of
which more take place than in any city
of Spain, for the animals are pitted, not
against man and horse, but against each
other. The vanquished is seldom killed, but
cred with blood. When asked the reason
for this cruel sport, Sport. it is not sport
but business replied grave looking
man, who was either philosopher or a
wag. to Mr.. Martin. We make the beasts
fight to take the spirit of co!Dbatativencss
out OF the air, so thai men may live IN
harmony" 1t goes without saying that
the motive back of this philaGth ropic aim,
WAS the excitement ot letting, for the Chi
nese are desperate gamblers, FORCING all
kinds OF pugnaciDus beasts to do their
fighting for them, while they do she bet
ting. The quail is, for instance, with them
a game bird and qual-cock which kills
half dozen antagoustsis worth its weight
in silver. The cricket, however affords
the highest sport. Young and old are
fascinated with the sport OF seeing them
snap each others heads off.
The Chinese have twenty-fo models OF
filial piety. They name cities and rivers
after them. A ferryman, having been
drowned, his daughter, after seeking the
corpse without success, threw herself into
the stream In despair. After three days.
her body floated to the surface. bringing up
that OF her parent. Moral the duty of sui
eide in a similar case. The other models In
this precious collection are not more worthy
of imitation. One is little boy, who lay
on the ice to melt it, that he might catch a
fish for his mothers breakfast. Another,
lad. who, on the occurrence OF thunder
storm, rem EN- bering that his mother was
afraid of lightning, threw herself on her
grave and cried: "Dont be afraid, mamma;
your son is here"
Human life is held lightly when 4 sacri-
flee is required, and they seem to be re-
Quired on all occasions. In droughts it Is
customary for some one to offer his life for
rain by preciptating himself in the dragon
pools. When Chinese army first marches
against the enemy, a human victim, usually
a criminal, is offered to the spirit of the
banner.
In 1854, when a rebel stronghold was
taken by SengkolinSon, MongOl prince,
the prisoners were offered in sacrifice, their
hearts being eaten by the vctors to oincreasc
their courage. This orgy is described by a
native historian without a word OF reproba
ton.
Human blood is held to be the best ce-
ment for the foundations OF high structures.
Bridges are secured in this manner:
beautiful maiden is yearly sacrificed to the
god of the Yellow River. When wife com
mits suicide on the death OF her husband,
she is held as a model OF virtue.
Some OF the superstitions related are
most amusing. When the first war with
Burmah broke out the king ordered a lion
which had been presented to the yicerOy OF
India to be imprisoned and starved to
death, lest by some magical influence he
should contribute to the success Of British
arius. Among the presents which the king
of England sent to Emperor Kiaching In
1916 was burning glass OF great power.
No sooner had the embassy left the capital
than council was called to decide what
should be done with it. All agreed that it
was a magical eye, which would enable a
foreign potentate to See into the palace;
and being broken to pieces it was buried in
the earth.
Here is q story of how a Chinese la wyer
got his ellen t out OF his dilemma. A young
man was charged with knocking out his
father'steeth. Deathsta redhimin theface.
Left alone with the criminal, the awyer
looked grave and walked rapidly around the
room, talking all the while. ''It is bad
case" he said, dropping his voice and whis-
periDg in the prisoner s ear. Suddenly seiZ-
ing the ear between his teeth h e gave it a
severe bite. "What do you meaD?" asked
the prisoner, raising his fist. Il mean"
replied the lawyer, that you are saved.
You have only to- show heprintsofmyteeth
and they were made by your father, whose
teeth, being shaky, dropped out"
1t is because they are our antipodes that
their customs are In such diametric op
position to our own. In reading, the Chi
pese begin at the end. In mourning they
wear white, they keep on their hats when
We take ours off. Honors flow upstream,
90 that deceased ancestors derive titles of
distinction from their worthy offspring
They place the family name before that OF
the individual, as Smith John, instead of
John smith. They say the magnetic needle
points to the south; We say to the north.
They shake hands with the left hands,
One might suspect that the cosmicai la WE
which placed their feet opposite to ours
must have turned their heads the other
way.
Bamboo is the animportant staple with
the Chinese 1t would seem. Their ingenuity
applies 1t to an endless variety of uses.
They make masts of it for their smaller
1unks and twist itin to cables for their larger