Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-20
THE REMoRsEFUL TIGER.
A Chinese Story of Feline Wronsdoins
and Reparation.

and ReparatIon.
Yuan Ying was appointed magis-
trate Of a district far removed from
his native home. This district had
earned an unenviable notoriety for
being infested with ferocious tigers.
Before Yuan had been in office three
months the inhabitants applied to
their official parent to devise some
means Of relieving them from their
trouble. The magistrate, who was
a kind hearted man and anxious for
the welfare Of his flock, at once
brought the matter before the spirit
whose special province it was to
watch over the interests Of the dis
trict and to keep its people from
harm, by addressing to it the fol-
lowing appeal:
1.-The magistrate Ying has been in
office in this district for almost three
months, but owing to his want of
ability he has been unable to advance
the welfare Of the people and to Sc
cure to them the blessings Of peace
anu cV1 Il6CLo hoNO
been creating trouble within its
boundaries, which is without doubt
due to want Of virtue on the part of
the magistrate and cannot be re-
garded as in any way the fault of
the guardian spirit. The magistrate
has endeavored to find out in what
respect he has failed in his duty,
but though he has searched his heart
to discover his shortcomings he has
not been able to find that he has in
any way neglected his duty. He has
administered justice with an even
hand, and has done all in his power
to relieve the sufferings of his peo-
pie. But If he has not violated his
duty, If he has not been guilty OF
oppression and extortion, how can the
frequent raid Of tigers be explained
Must the tiger hunters be tried for
having been remiss in their exertions
to extirpate the pest, or will the
guardian spirit. prompted by pity
for the sufferings of the people, be
their lairs in the mountains, thus
preventing them from inflicting end
less sorrow on the people? Such ar
act of beneficence will earn the un-
dying gratitude Of the magistrate
But If the presence Of tigers in the
district is really due TO the incompe.
tence of the magistrate and to his op-
pressive administration, then let him
be tried by the laws of the empire
and punished by the gods, without
fear or favor"
The earnestness of this appeal
moved the guardian spirit, for a few
days after it had been issued many
tigers were captured, every one de.
claring this satisfactory result to be
due to the beneficent action of the
spirit. About this time there was ar
old widow, more than sixty years OF
age, who had an only son and who
depended on his woodcutting for hel
living. One day her son who had as
usual gone into the hills to cut wood
was seized by a tiger and devoured
His old mother on hearing of the sad
occurrence was overwhelmed with
grief. Having, however, heard how
kind and good the magistrate was
she repaired to his presence, loudly
weeping. The magistrate, who was
much affected and felt much sorrow
for the poor old widow, at once is
sued a warrant and ordered the po-
lice to arrest the tiger which had
been guilty OF the enormity of eating
the widows son. The police naturally
did not feel much pleased at under
taking such a dangerous arrest
which would would probably result
in their being eaten like the widows
son. But their chief was not an