Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-14
The Daily Story
THE BAMBOO UMBRELLAS-BY CLARISsA MACKIE.
c.pyrtgnted :sIs AssoeIatel Lr,erary

for an adventure of some sort even
if the day is beastly hot and there is
not a drop to drink short of the Astor
House beyond the wall.
Much virtue. much virtue" repeat
ed the vender suggestively.
Virtue? Tell US about IT." insisted
Halter. producing some copper cash
that Immediately disappeared into the
yoracious sleeve.
In spasmodic English. punctuated by
shrill screeches to properly emphasize
the interspersed Chinese words, the
vender OF umbrellas managed TO con-
vey the legend of the extraordinary
nature OF the bamboo umbrellas just
purchased by the two Americans.
1t appeared that the umbrellas had
crcf belonged TO a very learned ply
stefan. who. sitting beneath their
shade, had in deep concentration OF
mind become possessed Of the wisdom
of all the past ages; consequently be
became the wisest man in the entire
world
"Pshaw. the umbrellas have lost
their virtue by this time" laughed the
skeptical Vail.
But the narrator OF the legend pro-
tested loudly and called upon the seller
OF sweetmeats TO substantiate mis-
statements. And this the latter did,
swearing by his ancestral tablets and
the grave of his great grandfather in
so convincing a manner that the tour
lists tossed each of the rascals dol
: lar and grinningly entered the temple
of the Ten Gods to put the story to a
test.
The temple of the Ten Gods was
supposed to offer the quiet and seclu.
sion necessary to carrying out the
scheme of concentration OF mental
forces. all of which was quite essential
to attaining the wisdom of all the ages
through the medium of the bamboo
umbrellas. Thus had spoken the two
Chinese.
Within the temple It was dim and
dark and cool. and ii smelled OF dead
incense smoke. The squatting idols In
their shrines showed here and there
glimmer Of gilt. There were no priests
in attendance. and the tall prayer
screens afforded a deep shadow where
one who desired to mediate might
hope TO do so quite undisturbed.
"Of course it's all rubbish" remark
ed Vail carlessly as he opened his
umbrella and twirled It over his shoul-
der; but, inasmuch as we are going
to rest in here awhile and cool off. we
might rs we'll have try for the wis.
dom end of the affair, eh?'
surely shall try it," declared Hal.
Ter solemnly. "As nearly as can rec
| ollect, he said that he who meditates
| for three hours under one of these
bamboo umbrellas will at the end of
that time be possessed of all the wis.
dom Of the ages. In other words. be
the wisest man In the world"
There will be pair of us. We will
have to divide the honors." laughed
Vail as he sat down on n pile Of mats
in the shadow Of a prayer screen.
"Of course some of these oriental be.
liefs sound foolish" said Halter.
! The air grew warmer as the day ad.
vanced. and finally the medtations of
the tired tourists became merged In
somnolence.
At last the rays OF the declining sun
pierced the carved screen in front Of
the doorway and awakened the sleep.
ers
They stared foolishly at each other.
and with one accord each one reached
for his timepiece to mark the hour.
Their pockets were empty.
An incredulous smile dawned on
Wallis face and faded. Slowly he
arose and closed his bamboo umbrella
with a sharp click.
T've discovered the wisdom Of the
ages" he said dryIy.
"Yes?" muttered Halter. his round
face wearing a dazed. hurt expression.
what is it,
THAT we are fools. recollect a
Chinese proverb that says, He who
discovers himself fool, no man can
tell him more; therefore he is a sage "
They stumbled out into the deserted
street, and they knew that among the
thousand mazes of the ancient city IL
was useless to search for the two
thieves.
Silently they tramped toward the
gate that gave upon the Bund, where
were life and civilization.
When they reached a favorable spot
on the river front. with one accord
they flung the bamboo umbrellas far
into the sluggish wsters of the HUI
angpo.
And the long look they exchanged
was an unspoken interchange Of prom.
ises that the affair OF the bamboo I'm.
brellas was closed incident.
Back In the walled city. on another
crooked street, squatted the vender OF
umbrellas and the seller Of sweetmeats
They were In high good humor. for
each one was admiring bis American
gold watch. The seller Of sweetmeats
cracked melon seeds with his strong
teeth and grinned as he listened 10 tht
words of the umbrella vender. Said
the latter;
"'He who dienvgs himself fool, M
man can tell him more; 1t Ia the wis
dom OF the ages!"
Then they both laughed heartily.