Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-06-28
A Chinese Solomon.

The men who really govern China and
who make life happy or miserable for the
people are the district magistrates. There
are about fifteen hundred OF them in all.
These men unite in themselves many var
ious offices. They are coroners, sheriffs,
tax collectors, road surveyors and forest
commissioners. They are superintend-
ents OF schools and overseers OF the poor,
and they are at the head OF the state relig-
ion, and worship at the temples on speci-
fled days. There is scarcely any matter
into which they may not pry and for
which they are not responsible.
The administration OF justice is in their
hands. In the court OF justice there are
no iuries, lawyers or men who are enti-
tied to speak for the culprit. The parties
TO the suit, whether civil or criminal, kneel
before the magistrate; who, sitting in his
official chair, asks such questions as he
sees fit, and as soon as he thinks he has
discovered the truth, brings in his verdict.
Either party may appeal from his decision
to higher court still, as the expense OF
lawsuit is higher proportionalIy than in
America, that is not often done.
II will at once be apparent that such
man must possess a keen mind, good
knowledge of human nature, and be fer
tile in expedients. Above all, he must
be man OF decision; not because imme-
date action is required, but in order TO
sustain his own dignity and command the
respect Of the people. The magistrate
who hesitates is despised.
Some years ago Chlnaman who owned
mill where he pressed oil from beans
was visited by neighbor who came to
borrow an immense basket used by the
oil man TO receive the bean refuse after
the oil had been extracted. The Chinese
are quite neighborly, so the request was
granted, and the neighbor, who was a
miller, carried the basket home to use for
holding bran.
Time went on, and the following fall
the oil man asked for the return OF the
basket. To his surprise, the miller claim
ed the basket as his own. In spite OF the
fact that there were no witnesses, the oil
man went 10 law, and the case came be-
fore the district magistrate.
The magistrate asked each man TO tell
his story, which he did. Each man also
acknowledged that he could not produce
witnesses. The magistrate recognized
that his own reputation was at stake, and
also that il was case where a righteous
decision would greatly enhance his own
reputation. He did not hesitate.
Bring in the basket" he said. He had
already determined in his own mind that
in all probability the oil man was in the
right. for he felt that no man in his senses
would be likely to 60 TO law about so
cheap an article unless it were really his
AS soon as the basket was brought in,
The magistrate, with severe frown, ad-
dressed it in these words "Mr. Basket,
each of these two men here in court claims
you as his own property. There are no
witnesses as to which is telling the truth.
Now | order you to tell us TO which Of
them you belong. What, you remain
silent Are you not aware that am the
magistrate OF this county? If you do not
reply at once shall order you TO be
severely punished Still silent Here,
sergeant, get your paddle, turn over this
basket and give him hundred blows -
The underlngs who were present had
great difficulty in keeping their faces
straight, but they had 10 obey, and accord
ingly the man who was wont 10 use the
stick for beating unwilling witnesses pro-
ceeded to beat the basket. He had not
delivered many blows before the oil,
which had been concealed by the bran,
began TO ooze forth.
Hold on" said the magistrate "that
is enough thought | should make this
basket speak II is evident that he be-
longs to the oil man. Take out the miller
and give him five hundred blows, and
you, Mr.. Oil Man, carry no me your bas-
ket."