Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30
CHINESE PROVERBS,
quaint and Expressive Sayings That
obfain in the FlOwery Kingdom.
From the Shanghai Mercury

quaint and Expressive Sayings That
OBTAIN in the FlOwery kingdom.
From the Shanghai Mercury
Inc Chinese say that a grave and majes-
TIC outside is the palace of the soul. This
is intended to indicate that men of influence
and ability should be careful in regard to
appearances. The house of a man In a high
position will suit him we'll in convenience
and In its ornamentation. The Chinese
study appearances and those in high sta
lions Will not expose themselves to the gaze
OF the vulgar. man of rank cannot take
walk for exercise of an evening, however
iiVltlng the country lanes and woods may
De, nor can he visit the shops in a city
aione; he must have his accompaniment
OF RIDERS, runners and chair bearers. The
n1gh class Chinese are slaves to etiouette
and cannot enjoy the simplicity of nature
another proVerb says water cannot re-
main on the mountain, nor vengeance In a
great mind This is an excellent example
OF folklore. The man of small mind remem-
bers injuries and Sights of all sorts and
studies to punish them whenever there is
an opportunity. The man of noble mind
d dulgets tnem: 70 MIN they are but rain
drops on the ducks back. The ducks back
IN the English proverb is the mountain side
IN the Chinese proverb. Confucius was
asked what ne thought of the principle that
ness. He objected to it in that form How
them he asked, will you recompense kind
ness! Recompense an injury rather with
Justice, and kindness with kindness
Lautsz and the Tauists thought Injuries
should be forgiven. The followers of Com
fucius think it is not safe to forgive be-
cause in doing SO you invite the objection
able man to repeat his offense Shakes
peare speaks of "the spurns that patient
merit from the unworthy takes" Legge is
right in placing the standard of Confucius
below that of the Tauist philosopher. The
duty laid down by Christianity is bless
them that curse you and pray for them
that despitefully use you and prosecute
you. That Lautsz taught the principle or
the forgiveness of injuries shows that the
Chlnese mind Is quite capable Of rising to
the level of the Christian morality.
sweep the snow from your door and do
not pussy yourself with the frost on your
neighbours tiles" is another proverb. This
reminds us of the saying Of Confucius that
to have faults and not to change them is
really to be faulty. In the first Of the Four
as the chief duty of the scholar. The duty
to avoid spreading reports Of the faults OF
others Is particularly enjoined by the
Apostle Paul. Confucius says "A father
conceals his sons faults and son hides
his fathers faults The Duke of the Sheh
country said to the Sage Among us there
are those who may be rightly called up
VIII bear witness to the fact" Legee re-
marks on this that any one but Chinese
VIII say that both the dukes view of the
subject and the Sage's were incomplete.
Thefe Is no doubt that the sons dutv is m
exhort his father to return the stolen prop-
erty. The father Will through natural ar
fection listen to him because he is his son.
inns is probably Legge's meaning. Also
reckless disregard to a fathers Interests
cannot be justified