Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-21
TIKI ADVANTAGES CT THE
SCIENCES.
translated by Helen g. Smith.

There lived in China an Emperor Tsan-
ITO, whose nam. will be remembered as
long a. our fatherland exists. he wa.
very interested in the sciences although
he himself scarcely knew how to write and
always commissioned someone else to
write his name. a fact by which the neigh
boring nanaarl,s pfoNt'd greatly.
son In spite OF This he was greatly in
t.rcsted In the sciences sad ne once pro
pounded This question 10 himself Il won
der why they exist in the world
He ordered al tho learned men to he
summoned on an appointed day Tor q pub
lie examination
Tho will Of the Son Of Heaven was
law FOR the earth
AT the gates Of all the universities huge
drums ver. beaten end the public crier'
shouted Attend you people learned
people, Put your books aside and come
to resin to answer the Joy OF the Uni
verse, our gracious Emperor, what advan-
tag-s your sciences Yield
on the appointed day. n tho great
squsre before the ralacr, all thc learned
men Il China were gathered. There were
men so old that they vrre carried in lit
ters, but there were also young scholars
who seemed older than the Oldest Of the
old mon. There were scholars. who car
rird their head. 50 hiEh that their spinal
columns were hent backwards md others
Whose spinal column. were hcnt into an
angle from leaning over their hooks There
were men who had been greatly rewarded
for their learning There were men with
three four balls on their hats. There
were some who wore three eyed peacock
feathers There were scholars in green
ia csets and even some in yellow coats like
4 Womans
All OF course wore .pcctacles because. as
is well known, .pccteclnS are the Arst sign
Of learning Scholars arc always near
sighted
VIXEN the sun came ont from the clouds
and spar1ed on these glasses even the En
perez closed his eyes.
How their eyes burn ho said, AS
though they expected an increase of sal
airy"
And The Emperor. rancing over the
crowd and seeing that everything was In
order, seil go
In cur never cesslny care FOR the vel
fare u our children, the Chlnes., we have
decided 10 explain tho question Why do
sceucss exist In the world? They have eI.
listed . lonS timr ana We wish TO know for
What purpose Therefore answer us di-
rrrtly snd frankly without conccslment
aud without artfullnsS. Why do sciences
| exist ard WhR il their meaning Let us
begin With you 80 he pointed 10 q most dis
| tlugusled astronomer. AS am myself,
the Son Of Heaven. wish to begin with
the heavens. That will n" most firing for
I'VE. Your science IL the highest so you
speak nrst :"
The Distinguished astronomer came for
vsrd, made as many bows as were demand
I'd by etiquette, ard said -
Nhsp an ignorant man has to GO out
| OF his house for any purpose at night, like
4 pig he looks only under his feet hut II
le happens to glance 81 The sky-he merely
secs that the SKY Is covered, as though Eith
| snsll g0I, bv stars. II 10 another tt.7s TO
~ an learned astronomer For him there
are dssisus Of stars, they are words and he
reads tba heavens like book whether We
must expect vster nood, whether the Obj
and row OF the waters will M great and
how the sun will shine. To he brief, We
rcnd the future"
The future That is interesting :" said
the Emperor hut answer mo what ia
b.iug done this very moment in NnvkinT
"Hev can | know that, Light Of the Uni
verso" answered the astronomer, bowlns
hunhlr
veil" exclaimed the Emperor disdain
fully you know the future, but the pros
sst you 10 NOT know u would be better
for ven IN know the present than tho fu
tnrs II would ne more useful, The IN
| ture The future, In nv onlrion, yours
Ia very useless and stupid science Next
After tho astronomer came A distinguish
ed historian.
Tie was rnid IA he such \ wonderful his
torian. that he knew by name sll the Chi
ncss, who bad ever lived In the world,
He Frustrated himself before tho I'm
persr and said -
Model Of Virtues Great Administrator
whose equal do not know in the Who'll,
history OF China nv science will not
arouse your Wise anger like the science Of
my predecessor. am occupied with tho
past study II. note all its mistakes
blupders and even follos."
"a science admirably adapted to fools =
exclaimed the Tnperer ANY fool can 10 Ms
many stupid things AZ he wants with i'm
punity lie has but Ia refer to your sci
encc why folics and mistakes'-he vii