The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-21

ton Of the foregoing. Another quaint little
story illustrates the similarity of the
Chinese mind to that of more enlightened
races, for IL plays the part OF a satire on
the pernicious habit of borrowing trouble.
Where we talk of two old women mingling
their tears on the bank of a deep pool ina
inconsolable grief at what might have hap
pened if little Freddy had fallen in there
and been drowned the Chinese have the
following: A certain rich old man of the
Chi state gave his annual party TO COM
memorate his birthday and invited all his
sons and grandsons to grace the occasion.
In the midst of the publications. however,
he was observed sitting apart with an ex-
preston of woe upon his face Being asked
what was the matter he replied: II was
only thinking what trouble should have
In inviting all my guests when my 2ooth
birthday came around"
The fable which is least likely 10 rust for
want OF handling In China is one which
gives In clear fashion the advice: Never
put faith in a renegade. In all countries
renegades should be handled with pair
OF tongs, but Ii seems in China there Is
especial need for a strong fable 10 point
the advice, for in duDing and In being
duped the great, pure expire has no equal.
The crows and the owls. having their
respective colonies adjoining, were so near
and. dear TO each other that there was
no love lost on the boundary line. They
hated each other with hate passing that
of neighbors. By day, when the owls slept.
the crows tormented them, and by night.
when the crows slept. the owls were not
found irresponsive In the neighborly solicit
tude- The slaughter among the crows was
great, and one morning. after counting the
slain, many wintered crow shook his head
and said that the only way 10 preserve
their peace was to externinate the owls.
He then directed his friends TO peck him
and pull most Of his feathers out: They
did so, and IL was a most badly-handled
looking crow that put his head on one
side and winked his eye and strutted on to
play his game upon the owls.
Arrived at their dwelling. he asked them
plight, and the Nermillion bird forgave
him for ever having set up as crow-a
own kind. pecks II almost TO death and
then turns IL out. They heard his tale and
pitied him. Very soon he was comfortably
lodged in the owls domiciIe, where he lay
low until his feathers were grown again.
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 f0resaW
a heavy snowstorm and wished TO protect
them. When everything was complete the
willy crow, watching his opportunity when
brand from a PEASANTS fire and set the
funeral pyre in a blaze. Then. as they
flew out and were scorched. he stood
with his legs apart holding his sides with
laughter at their dying struggles. This
fable. however. although very much used
by the Chinese. was probably derived from
an Indian source.
Another, which Is purely Chinese. is re-
markable for its subtlety. A tiger was
making preparations TO devour a fox, when
the sly one claimed some consideration
from the fact that he was superior TO all
other animals OF the forest. And II 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
MS companion. and was struck with the
lordly manner In which he waved the 9TH
er animals or
Verify" he said. this Is the king OF
beasts, and, being too stupid To see that
ne himself was the object OF terror and
respect. he decided not 20 attack the fox