The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-22

THERE are of course, many things that Tan
Shin will never understand matter how
much he may puzzle them during the long
nights 10 this day Helen insists that he IS a
ad s seh 'G ts SCOTS open
at mis- powers; nevertheless, they both in
their devotion, and TanShn recognizes the compensa
ton. Being very old, the days to Tan
Shin, so he remembers wildly how it happened 1t
began in Chinese temple across the Che had been
tumut interrupted his m,editatons Short quick rife
reports the clasng together of steel weapons
and imprecations in foreign the hurried tramp
Of many feet all added to the ndescribabe din of
the door of his particular domain burst
open Profane hands, grimy with the reek of battle:
thrust him. head first regardless of his age or dignity
INTO sack already tenanted by several lesser deities
there immediate danger that contact with these
trumpery gods would shaer his highly glazed surface
The pny toe of unyedng sea-god pressing against
in which he found himself But for the kindly nterpo
ston of a highly embroidered tunic of recent manu-
facture Tan-Shin must have persisted at and, al
though such contact distinctly notifying to an
ancient god it is fact that witt certain spots in
his fral anatomy must surely have given way
This, however, was but a temporary torture he wa.
shortly taken of the sack bundled in straw and
he remained there while the dust sted down upon his
beautifully polished back till he lost all resemblance to
a valuable antique and looked like very common and
very dirty piece of china
50 m he G to %
hope that Fate might reent and after many changes
objectionable straw washed clean Of the dust
lated in many of the world and length deposited
with great deal of care on smooth glass shelf of
cabinet.
The relief that this change brought truly ex
in the settled gTa o OF his h round face He
cracked surface. Even the several weak Spots of
which he keeny conscious, and not little fearful
were still intact.
He gazed about him anxiously and was glad to find
himself among his kind. Through the glass door
ing on the walls carvings nnunerabe stood upon tables
shrine DOORS temple BELLS embroideries vases, bronzes
worries in short conglomerate collection of the odds
and ends of his empire He thought at first that
he back again in his land, but as he looked
more closely his Joy was turned to sorrow Inc neon
at once that this could not possibly be China Out OF
the of his he saw standing quite close to
him spurious folklore idol with whom he could not
associate and for whose the shelf there
could be rational explanation. Sacred beasts and
with cheap and flaming counterfeits of such
recent manufacture that in utter disgust and
for such lack of Judgment cracked under his
This inexplcable condition of things was bad enough,
him still more indignant Crowds Of people came to see
the collection and although he knew himself to be the
e n
ing else from Tan point of yiew) passed him by
with hardly a. glance e. while e1udsy and newly
But one morning Tan Shin discovered that from one
being at Least he was receiving something like proper
respect True, she was womar-a disappointment,
for his attributes not appropriate to females nor
did he desire to have any dealings with thenst her
he ~a o' @ M & sEe was and
her hands casped together in an attitude he under
The next day she came again. bringing another girl
with her, and with some satisfaction he saw them make
There he is, Edith " exclaimed the first girl point
ing long, white finger at him; the crackle-ware one
Isn't he just perfectly fascinating?" replied Edith
Tan-Shin started crack under his glaze from pure
joy 1t not according to rule, but it was distinctly
and, Helen" continued Edith, che must be ages
on the mantel in the studo?" Helen was almost knee
ing before Tan-Shn her effort him the better.
ply must get him
But Helen looked doubtful g He must be worth such
replied i "oi course he might go At barsan-you
can't eve. tell at an auct'on-thoush I'm sure he's very
Shin listened eagerly, for money distinctly in
Maybe no one else will want him. said Edith
Maybe not" Helen answered hopefully Hell be
sold on Thursday, and mean to try to bid him in"
There words in this dialogue that, god
though he was he did not understand and auction was
happened on Thursday, and he waited inpatiently.
Quite early on that day he was removed from the
cabinet and placed upon table in large room where
great many people in ordered He looked about
him eagerly In pulpit near BY high priest $50 Tan
Shin supposedly chanted unntegible necessarily
that Tan-shin knew at once to be the altar He saw
several lesser dees placed upon for time heard the
OF the high priest. and the spurious gods
apparently banished, With glow of pride he recog
nzed the ceremony and knew that this the place Of
choosing These discriminating beings deciding
which the real and which the unreal gods
The hour of his triumph at hand, for he would
receive the respect due vertabe antique AT last his
Lot number 37o in your catalogues, ladies and gen.
tlemen crackle-ware piece, and valuable. What
am offered to start
So chanted the high priest, and although Tan-Shin
did comprehend what the words meant the silence
o: the worshppers was ample assurance 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 each cheek
the gill who had been his first votary. Evidently she