The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-16

labor. They were finally printed in an
edition limited to 100 copies. One COM
pletc CODY 10 in the British museum 1t
Is only natural that the Chinese with their
love of antiquiiiea should prefer the first
work with its imperfect knowledge 70 the
later one with Its vast accumulation OK
new Inventions aud enterprises. Learns
ing in n literary sense lis not original In
China. They borrowed their knowledge
from the Buddhist missionaries, who
aroused their interest when they trans-
lated the SUnskrit into Chinese. once
having learned "a new theory. science or
philosophy, the Chinese never forget for
the reason that they find ii much easier
to remember an old cult thnn to formulate
new one. Their patience in eollec, ing
and classifying knowledge from eetab-
! lished literature 10 phenomenal but they
are slow to originate thoughts and ideas
/ of their own.
] Strews show which way the wind blows.
and quaint little Chinese straw--the
forerunnbr OF many--has been sent out on
favorng commercial gale. IL is a happy
thought in the shape Of picture OF two
Chinese children-boys--wh are depicted
In water eoors or pastel on a sheet OF
soft volvety rice paper mounted en- ordi-
nary cardboard. The innocence OF child
hood shines through and through Tue
small celestials. who seem to say In their
childish expression, accumulated by thor
native costume. We wouldn't hurt ahy
one--not mucheo." one is braiding tho
Inevitable plgtail, adding some purple ribs
hon 10 It's length. Down the side OF tho
picture In ten chest characters Is the
phrase Good luck" At least that is what
my Chinese wushee man says II ls. but
II may be- an edlct from the empress Of
China to call her subjects home, for all
l could prove to the contrary. But the
little pictures with no name 10 explain
them are going like hot cakes with their
red hicroglyphics and the vague daring OF
their message.
when Minister Angel was In China ne
was invited to feast whore one of the
dishes was announced as "mouse-ear
with snails DR.. Angel was like the
French lady who excused herself from
eating indiscriminnte dishes by saying
that she cate only her acquaintanees. H3
desired to know his food 10 country
wbero strange connections are the RUE,
and he passed the mpuseear Without in
vestlgation TO learn later that II Is an
edibl fungus. and not tho glutinous ears
OF native mice While anails are delieacy
In both London and Paris. Doubtless it
VA he discovered when too late that the
Chinese never ate "lats" but have been
cnm0stbly slandercd.
An attempt has been made to exploit
Chinese poetry. but the transactions set
ones teeth on age. and the safest way
to read II Is In the original III 10 pup
lished with glossary more bewildern5
IMAM tho poetry and quite as yoluminous,
Here is love song. There Is no such
word as "dodder" In any language but
, the Chinese lover, like other poets, coins
words TO make out line. so his tranA-
, lator says In "a footnote.
When I 20 to pluck the dodder
Fields and lanes OF Mel among ~"
Guess YOU where my thoughts there wan
der aYR
! To the fsir-the eldest 1Siang
Tryst she gave me at Sang-chung
, Was to meet me at Sheng-kung
/ And would see me TO K'i-shans.
None OF the numerous verses indicate
whether the fair Kiang saw him further
I or not. The Chinese may like that kind
OF poetry, but even its ohscurty would
I not commend it in America.
NJ. l.. Raynr.