Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-07
FABLES OF THE CHINESE
HIGH MORAL TRUTHS WHICH
THEY CONVEY.
Humor Contained in Most of Them
Story of the Crows and
the Owls.

I rom the New York Evening Post
There is a pleasing humor in most Chi
nese fables which renders them highly
readable and. in the application, serves as
sugar-coating to the pill. This humor
crops out in the very first fable of which
the Chinese have any record. 1t is to be
found in the Histories of the Contending
states where certain prince uses it as
an Illustration of the need of wholesome
unity among those who, though entertain
ing internecine feuds, have cause TO COM
bine against Il common foe "A mussel was
basking on the bank of river so SAYS
this fable, when a big bittern came by
Seeing it move, the fowl put its head on
one side and watched it, Then it drew near
and pecked at the mussel; but that willy
sheliflsh. clapped its jaws together like
trap and held the birds beak fast Then
said the bittern: IF you don't open today
ana II you don't. turn me loose tomorrow,
some one will find a dead mussel lying
about here To which the mussei made
reply, IF L don't open today and If |
don t release You tomorrow, they will see
dead bittern holding up his toes on the
beach, AT this point fisherman came by
and seized the pair of them.
Moral of the Fables.
Most Chinese fables point a wholesome
moral, nor is it difficult to see the applica-
story Illustrates the similarity of the Chi
nese mind to that of more enlightened
races, for it plays the part of satire on
the pernicious habit of borrowing trouble.
Where We talk of two old women min
Cling their tears on the bank of a deep
pool in inconsolable grief at what might
have happened if little Freddy had fallen
in their and been drowned, the Chinese
nave the following. A certain rich old man
OF the Chi state gave his annual party to
commemorate his birthday, and invited all
his sons and grandsons to grace the occa-
sion In the midst of the publications.
however, he was observed sitting apart
with an expression of woe upon his face
Being asked what was the matter he re-
piled, 81 was only thinking what trouble T
should have in inviting all my guests when
my two hundredth birthday came round"
The fable which is least likely to rust
for want of handling in China is one which
gives in a clear fashion the advice: Never
put faith in a renegade In all countries
renegades should be handled with a pair of
tongs; but it seems in China there is es-
pecial need for strong fable to point the
advice, for In duping and being duped the
great pure empire has no equal.
The Crows and the Owls.
The crows and the OWLS having their re-
spective colonies adjoining, were so near
and dear to each other that there was no
love lost on the boundary line They hated
neighbors. By day, when the owls slept
the crows tormented them, and by night
when the crows slept, the owls were not
found irresponsible in the neighborly soIic-
1tude. The slaughter among the crows was
great, and one morning. after counting the
sla1n many-wintered crow shook his
mead and said that the only way to preserve
their peace was to exterminate the owls
He then directed his friends to peck him
and pull most of his feathers out They did
so, ana Ii was most badly handled
ing crow that put his head on one side and
winked his eye and strutted off to play his
game upon the owls.
Arrived at their dwelling he asked them
to take pity on him, he was in sorry
plight, and the Vermilion Bird forgave him
LOT ever having set up as a crow--a de-
graded creature that attacks one of his own
kind. pecks 1t almost to death and then
turns 1t out. They heard his tale and
pltled hlm Very soon he was comfortably
lodged in the owls domici1e, where he lay
Then one morning, as the winter was COM
ing on. he set to work and piled great heaps
of brushwood before the mouth Of the owls
dwelling, saying that he foresaw a heavy
snowstorm and wished to protect them
When everything was complete, the willy
crow, watching his opportunity when the
owls were within, snatched burning brand
from a PEASANTS fire and set the funeral
pyre in blaze. Then, as they flew ont
and were scorched, he stood with his legs
apart holding his sides with laughter at
eiiell dSIIS struggles. ms fable. however
although very much used by the Chinese
was probably derived from an Indian
source.
The Fox and Tiger.
Another, which is purely Chinese is re-
markable for its subtlety. A tiger was
making preparations to devour fox when
the sly one claimed some consideration from
the fact that he was superior to all other
animals of the forest. And if you want
proof of the fact" he continued come
with me and l will show you. They then
walked together through the forest and all
the other animals fed before them The
tiger, seeing this, glanced at his companion,
and was struck with the lordly manner in
which he waved the other animals off
verify" he said. this is the king of
beasts" and, being too stupid to see that
he himself was the object of terror and re-
spect, he decided not to attack the fox
Real American Music.