Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-05
A DANIEL COME TO JUDGMENT
Oricntals Got New Idea of Justice
When the Prefect Came to Rescue
of Girl

or SIft.
One summer afternoon a young girl
paused in the street, where shabby
scholar sat reading to a group of oilers
outside the Projects yamen of Chuan-
chow City. She had sold her last
''larded DEVIL kind of ,doughnut eaten
in that part of China. and the days
earnings lay in her empty basket. The
readers face was livid. his voice was
hoarse and his black trimmed speetacles
made him look like lean old dragon
fly, but his fingers quivered with the
varying emotions of the story, darting,
caressing lowering, insisting. unul she
quite forgot their brown opium stains
and the cadaverous appearance of their
owner
Some noticed the girls absorption
as she stood tiptoe peeping between NOV
ing heads and shoulders at the histrionic
gestures of the scholar; a def hand
moved lightly, and the money disap-
peared from her basket. When the story
came to an end the girl awoke from her
dream to find that the precious pile of
cash was gone. She spoke of her loss to
the people who stood near, but no one
helped her, and presently. with the cal
Il
shows to misfortune, the bystanders be-
gan to laugh. At that moment spare
man of about 30 came out of the yamen
and turned into the street. His face,
which had a restrained and almost
mournful look. had little to distinguish it
from ordinary faces, except, perhaps, a
pair of keen eyes and long, thin nose.
Mr.. Ii. the Project of the city-for it
was he-noticed the child, who was now
"crying as though her mother were
dead and told his interpreter TO lind
out what was the matter.
Ills but little thing Your Excel
lency The child has lost some cash and
dare not 90 home" said the man.
"How much money has she LOST"
One hundred and eight cash. Your
Excelency."
ASK her how il happened"
The Project waited patiently until, be-
tween sobs and terrified pauses the girl
had told her tale Meantime a crowd
collected, yamen runners. hangers-on
of the Court and oilers from the street
came sauntering up to what was
happening. Presently His ExeeIency
gave orders that the girl should be taken
to the justice hall so that the case might
be tried. Scarcely crediting their ears,
the bystanders began TO wonder what
had befallen Mr.. Ii. Even supposing the
troubles of a crying child were worthy
the notice of one concerned with public
business the absence of all proof or EVIL
dence in the affair rendered it neither
profitable nor wise to intermeddle with
such a matter. When, therefore. the peo-
pie saw him re-enter the Court. followed
by runners leading the girl, they trooped
after them into the great yamen, ana
even the oilers left their story and the
shadow of the wall by the street edge 10
see the fun.
The examination, as any one could
have foretod, came to an end without
throwing fresh light upon the circum-
stances of the theft. The secretaries
pulled each others sleeve aud raised
their eyebrows The bystanders wills
pered, and some of them began to laugh
Mr.. Ii spoke a word to the attendants
next moment the yamen doors swung &c
with clatter.
THE people laugh" said Mr.. Ii. MS
keen eyes gittering as he raised his head
and looked at the throng. The people
laugh at us, the father and mother OF
the people, for trying to help child OF
one of the citizens of this city! 1ney
laugh at a representative of the Dragon
| Thone' in the discharge of duty, They
must be taught
The crowd was quiet now, for the
sound of bolts rafting between then
and the street had sobered the whispers
such a breach of etiquette must be-
punished continued His Exceliency
speaking slowly and with emphasis
| Each person shall pay fine of eish
cash before he leaves this Court
The gamins. who had been most FOR
| ward to see the great mans FOLLY
| were now as mum as mice, the stuGent'
i and ragged plea writers who nae
| thronged into the presence chamber
| were ruefully feeling their empty pock'
/ cts. and there was much covert borrow
| ing among the crowd. Half amused by
| their own discontinue, half afraid OF the
| man who held them in the hollow of his
| hand. the people came forward one by
one to pay their fines
AS the first man laid his cash upon the
i table the Projects eyes-half sad, NAH
tolerant and kindly-seanned his face
| Then. to the surprise of everybody, the
great man carefully counted the coins
with his own fingers The brown heaps
/ of copper money grew upon the tapie as
| the crowd filed past, but the doors re-
/ manned close fastened and nobody was
l allowed to leave the Court.
Presently a mean-looking fellow came
up and paid his fine
/ His EXcellency counted the COINS
This money is covered with grease
| said he. "What right have you to bring
| dirty cash to me?'' Pay eight more fol
| your bad manners.
The man put the money upon the table
| without a word.