Arizona republican., 1910-06-08

-HERE are, of course, many things that Tan
 Shin will understand, matter how
 much he may puzzle over them during the long
 nights. To this day Helen insists that he IS
 lovegod (which. to say the least, is humi- ating) and Jack such is his ngTatude, scoffs openly his powers; nevertheless they both in their devotion and Tan-Shn recognizes the compensa tion Being very, very old the years days Tan Shin, so he remembers vividly how 1t happened It began in Chinese temple the Che had been sitting there for centures) and he absorbed in his own godlv affairs when the discordan. carnor of tumult interrupted lis medations Short, quick rife reports the cashng together of steel weapons groanS and mprecations foreign tongues the hurried tramp of many feet all added the indescrbable din of poste noises, nearer and nearer, culmnatng in roar as the door of his particular domain burst open. Profane hands, grimy with the reek of battle, reached out, him ruthessy from his shrine and thrust him. head first regardless of his age or dignity, into sack already tenanted by several lesser detes.
 Poor Tan-Shin! The peace of ages ended and there immediate danger that contact with these trumpery gods would shater his highly glazed surface The spny of unyieding sea-god pressing against his left jade eye gave him no opportunity to speculate upon the degradation of assocatng with the company in which he found himself But for the kindly interpo sition of highly embroidered tunc of recent facture, TanShn must have pershed at once, and, al though such contact distinctly mortifying to ancient god 1t IS fact that without it certain spots in his frail anatomy must surely have given way. shortly taken ogt "f inc sack bnndied m in straw and deposited in the bottom of box. For many months he remained there while the dust sed down upon his beautifully polished back till ke lost all resemblance a valuable antique and looked like very and very dirty piece of china
 But patience was one of Tan-Shin lesser attributes that he held persseny his precious parts in the hope that Fate might reent and after many changes from one place another he finally freed from the objectionable straw, washed clean of the dust accumu- lated in many parts of tie world and at length deposited with great deal of care on smooth glass shelf of cabinet
 pressed in the settled grin of his round face He thought himself over and found blemsh upon his cracked surface. Even the several weak spots, of which he keeny cCLscous, and not little fearful still intact.
 He gazed about him anxiously and was glad to find himself among his own kind. Through the glass door of the cabinet he saw quantities of Chinese fabrics hang ing on the walls carvings nnumerabe stood upon tables shrine doors temple bells ebroideries bronzes iyores-in short conglonerate collection Of the odds and ends of his empire He thought at first that he was back again in his land, but he looked more closely his joy turned to sorrow he lncon- gruous arrangement of his surroundings convinced hm that this could not possibly be China Out of the corner of his eye he standing quite close to him spurious folklore idol with whom fe could not associate and for whose presence on the same shelf there could be rational explanation. Sacred beasts and birds of origin almost ancient as his own were forced to consort with cheap and flaming counterfeits Of such manufacture that Shin, in utter disgust and for such lack of judgment cracked under his glaze.
 This inexpcable condition of things was bad enough, hut Shin soon discovered another fact that made the collection and although he knew himself to be the ancient and powerful god there, he receved but sant attention. he WorshpperS ktney Couu De nOt- ing else from Tan point of yiew) passed him by with hardly glance, while crudely shaped and newly made copies o the old gods received unstined praise
 But one morning Ian-ohIn discovered that, from one being at least he receiving something like proper respect True, she a woman-a disappointment, for his attributes not appropriate to females nor did he desire to have any dealings with then-st her appreciation of him seemed quite genuine, so, on the whole he was pleased with her. She was young, and her hands clasped together n an attitude he under stood perfectly. .
 The next day she came again. bringing another girl with her. ar with satisfaction he saw them make straight for his cabinet
 There he is. Edith exclaimed the first girl point ing long, white finger at him; the cracke-ware one on the left
 "Isn't he just perfectly fascnatng?" replied Edith
 Tan-Shin started crack under his glaze from pure joy It was according to rule but was distinctly worship.
 %oh, yesl Ages and agesl And wouldn't he fit nicely on the rnanel in the studio? Helen was almost knee- ing before Tan-Shin her effort to him the better
 Helenl" exclaimed Edith with conviction you sim
 But Helen looked doubtful He must be worth such a lot of money and l ought not to spend cent, she replied. "Of course, he might go at bargain-you can't ever tell at aucton-though I'm sure he's very valuable" his line. ,,,..t couragingy. sold on Thursday; and l mean to try to bid him in
 There were some words in this dialogue that, god though he was he did understand, and auction was one of them Still, he knew that, whatever it was, 1t happened on Thursday and he waited impatiently
 Quite early on that day he was removed from the cabinet and placed upon table in large room where great many people in ordered rows He looked about him eagerly. In pulpit by, high priest (so Ian Shin supp6sed) chanted unntegibe words necessarily Before them all was elevated red plushcovered stand that Tan Shin knew at to be the altar He saw several lesser detes placed upon it for time, heard the murmur of the high priest and the spurious gods were apparently banished With glow of pride he recog ized the ceremony and knew that this the place ot choosing These discriminating beings were deciding which were the real and which the unreal gods The hour of his triumph at hand fornow he would receive the respect due veritabe antique At last his turn
 Lot number 376 in your catalogues, ladies and gen temen. A cracke-ware piece, rare and valuable What am I offered to start--
 So chanted the high priest, and although Tan Shin did not comprehend what the words meant the silence of the worshippers was ample that his true worth was at once perceived.
 A voice in the audience broke in upon his thoughts, and he saw leaning forward pink flush on each cheek