The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1902-01-07

Many Of the Quaint and Expressive
Sayings That Obtain in the
Fiowery Kingdom

The Chinese say that grave and
majestic outside is the palace of the
soul. This is intended to indicate
that men of influence and ability
should be careful in regard to ap-
pearances. The house of a man in a
high position viii suit him well in
convenience and in its Ornamental
ton. The Chinese study appearances
and those in high stations win not
expose themselves to the gaze of the
vulgar, says the Shanghai Mercury
A man of rank cannot take a walk
for exercise of an evening, however
inviting the country lanes and woods
may be, nor can he visit the shops in
a city alone. He must have his ac-
compartment of riders, runners and
chair bearers. The high-class Chi
nese are slaves to etiquette and can
not enjoy the simplicity of nature.
Another proverb says water can
not remain on the mountain, nor
vengeance in a great mind. This is
an excellent example of folklore.
The man of small mind remembers
injuries and sights of all sorts and
studies TO punish them whenever
there is an opportunity. The man of
noble mind forgets them. To him
they are but rain drops on the ducks
back. The ducks back in the
English proyerb is the mountain
side in the Chinese proyerb.
Confucius was asked what he
thought of the principle that in
jury should be recompensed with kind
ness. He objected TO il in that form.
How then, he was asked, viii you
recompense a kindness? Recompense
an injury rather with justice, and
kindness with kindness. Lautsz and
the Tauists thought injuries should
be forgiven. The followers OF Con-
fucius think ii is not safe to forgive
because in doing so you invite the OBJ
iectionable man to repeat his ofrense.
Shakespeare speaks of 'the spnrns
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 persecute
you." That Lautsz taught the prin-
ciple of the forgiveness of injuries
shows that the Chinese mind is quite
capable Of rising TO the level Of the
Christian morality.
"Sweep the snow from your door
and do not busy yourself With the
frost on your neighbor's tiles, is an
other proverb. This reminds us of
the saving of Confucius that to have
faults and not to change them is real
1, TO be faulty. In the first Of the
rorr Rocks the cultivation of self is
laid down as the chief duty of the
scholar. The duty to avoid spreading
reports of the faults of others is par
ticularly enjoined by the Apostle Paul.
Confucius says: ~ father conceals
his sons faults and son hides his IA
theirs faults" The duke of the Sheh
country said to the sage: among MS
there are those who may be rightly
called upright. If their father steals
a sheep, they will bear witness to the
fact" Legge remarks on this that any
one but Chinese viii say that both
the dukes view of the subject and the
sage's were incomplete. There is no
doubt that the sons duty is TO exhort
his father to return the stolen prop
erty. The father viii through natural
affection listen to him because he Is
his son. This is probably Legge's
4 meaning. Also, reckless disregard 70
fathers interests cannot be justi-
fed.