Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1911-10-31

the precious cassia tree fourishes.
With the coveted booty the Jealous
wife fed to the moon. but was
changed into frog, and there she is
yet, and Chinese children will
trace the outline on the full moons
surface on bright night.
Other young folks, who have read
the story Of the Man in the Moon.
see Mr.. Kang, who, for some Of
Tense against supernal powers, was
banished to the white planet and
to labor without ceasing in try
ing to hew down the cassia, or GIN
namon tree. which grows there. AS
fast as his ak fails, the wood closes
again. SO his labors are endless and
all for naught. This Is at root and
in idea the Same man in the moon.
and 1t is the same story told in
Europe Thousand years ago, OF the
sinner who broke the Sabbath by
gathering fagots of wood and is still
carrying them.
In the moon grows the cassia
tree, at the foot Of which crouches
the hare that pounds drugs for the
genii. AS this noble tree IL espec-
tally brilliant at mid-autumn, those
who take a degree at the literary
examinations ''pluck q leaf from the
cassia tree" At this time the moon
is worshiped and the children en-
Joy immensely the moon cakes
which are made in honor Of the sea-
son.
The Japanese, who borrowed SO
many of their ideas and legends
from China, as we did most Of ours
from the nations in Asia, tell us that
it is the reddening leaves Of the
cassia, or katsura tree, that causes
the eftulgence OF the autumn moon.
The islanders have stories also Of
moon maidens visiting the earth and
returning to their silvery palace in
the sky. Chinese who admire a
very beautiful woman may call her
the Lady Of the Moon, in reference
to the one who fed with the immor-
tai drug.
Jade, or neprite, is real miner
al. which, apart from its beauty or
comparative rarity. has thousand
sentimental values. The word jade
is one Of a hundred or more, like
joss, junk, mandarin, catsup Cor
ketchup), which foreigners fancy is
Chinese, and Chinese believe ia for
eign. 1t is Of Spanish origin, mean
ing collie (stone). Nephrite Is
Greek. meaning kidney (stone). The
mineral was SO named by our an
cestors, who were aften as super
stitious as the Chinese. because they
imagined it would cure the stomach
ache or kidney disease. The hard
stone, worked into tools and used as
axes, knives. etc., is found all over
the world, but IS believed to have
come in every case from China.
where 1t Is called w. Being so cost
", the Chinese. from ancient times,
a. the poems edited by Confucius
show, considered it their chief gem,
and made scepters, bracelets, vases
and ornaments ont of it. To them
It was the symbol of all that is most
excellent in human life and virtue.
Like heaven, Of which 1t is an emb-
lem, It combines the highest
strength with the purest effulgence.
AS the most perfect expression of
the positive masculine principle in
nature. various magical virtues have
been attributed to it. The mystical
treaties Of the immortals are in
scribed on tables of Jade. These tell
us that the liquid flowing from the
jade mountains, after thousand
years, becomes clear as crystal. II
to this liquid certain herb be add
ed, the drinker OF the draught at
tains millennial life. BY virtue OF
this "jade spirit beverage he be-
comes incorporal and is able to soar
through the air without wings, bal
loon, or aeroplane. 1t is curious to-
read that this rock or jade stone,
where the genii live, and whence
flows the liquor OF Immortality, isl
placed by ancient writers seventy
thousand II to the west. OF the
jade tree blossoining in the moon,
we have already heard. China's
story by william Elliot Griffis.
70 Consolidate Offices.
In short time the Bell telephone
and Western Union telegraph Of
fees in the small towns may be con-
solidated. SunDlementary relations