The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-01-15

/ Will SccOIupllS0.
But this Is all beside my story
though ut times my indignation run,
away with me. and I say my say
which Is wrong, for no sensible mar
should let himself get angry with that
which he cannot alter, which Is equiva
lent to saying that no sensible man ex.
cept the politician should take politics
seriously. fear my interest is a self.
ish one as regards China. loathe the
pestllential monkeys. have longed
for the roar Of our guns. have dream.
ed of the jack waving over the Forbid
den City, over the rich provinces of the
iang-tse. And shall see nothing.
II dare not enter into detailed &C.
count of my early wanderings In that
country; but. as you may have already
guessed, was more or less of rolling
stone. and one day | rolled against
kung. The impact was not hard one.
No corners We're Clipped of, no dam
age done. We smiled and shook hands
and vowed an everlasting friendship.
"Ostcnsihly a boatbuilder at Flu
chau, Kung was In reality the head Of
one OF the largest secret societies Of
the empire. that of the Hidden Mean
Ing. known to foreigners us the Boxers.
I This society embraced men of all
ranks and all ranges of intellect. from
the low cody to the high official.
kung's father, so the story went, had
once been person Of some conse-
quence ut Picking, but having fallen
under the displeusure Of the Son Of
Heaven he had been duly decapitated.
kung's family had therefore to fly to
avoid the imperial wrath, and Kung,
being man who neither forgot nor
forgavc. took to plotting.
Little by little the Importance of
this society increased, and Kung was
willing to prove to me that It's power
dominated six provinces. His own
freedom from arrest was proof of the
power lie welded. Indeed he played
upon me to such an extent that | al
ready saw him seated upon the dragon
throne dispensing provinces to his
trusted servants. In those days 1t was
anything for a merry life and a short
road to fortune. was promised both.
My western intellect would prove of
lncalculable service to the cause. In
Europe, Australia. America, the society
numbered many white men, but none
In China. for none who might have
Joined could speak Chinese with any
fiuency. Therefore might count upon
ten thousand advantages. l duly be-
came a member Of the Society Of the
Hidden Meaning.
shortly after my Inauguration,
which was attended by many oaths
and mysteries, ! was offered the COM
mand of a vessel which traded I'D and
down the coast. and soon found that
my now associates were as good as
their word. Many an excellent piece
OF business came my way, and nothing
more was eXactcd Of me than that |
should occasionally carry cargo of
which it was not necessary for me to
see the bill of ladin% and passengers Of
whom | knew not the legal status.
This | found extremely profitable and
somewhat inclined to my way of think
ing. for it enabled me to fulfill the
dream of my life and marry your moth
er. But it SO happened that was no
longer my own master-as what man
is! Hence my frequent journeyings
and long stoppages abroad. Then came
the climax and the subsequent cause of
all my misery.
II had just concluded trip from
ChcmulpO, in Korea, to Tien-tsin and
was about to betake myself ashore In
the due course of business, when cody
advanced across the deck to me and
without speaking word slipped pa
per into my hand. 1t was not the ii. st |
time such thing had happened, so
that upon opening the paper | was not |
at all surprised to see the symbol of
the society. This was that elliptical,
egg shaped sign seen on your mothers
forehead, on the gateposts, on the sta
bic door at the killing Of the horses. 1t
S the sign that you may one day see on
ny forehead unless / can eludc the
Of the society. Why such
symbol was chosen is no doubt obvious
O you. 1t is meant to represent an egg
md is symbolical Of what may be in
tide the shell unseen by human eyes.
Simple as 1t appears, it Is an allcgory
# deep meaning and Justly illustrates
he title Of the society. When you see
t, open wide your eyes and watch the
nan walking by your side, avoid sllad-
ws and all dark places and men with
elbow Skir" a'd rt"nrcc owes.
TO BE CONTINUED,