The Topeka state journal., 1919-09-13

characters, Crystal GlobeSs while
Jones, who had been wise and crafty
enough to consult an old missionary on
the subject, advertised his wares by
the striking title Of Dragon Bubbles"
well. what OF that? What coulS
the difference signify? Why should
they run after bubbles rather than
crystals? Is it simply because they
are human like the rest of US and, as
the poets and philosophers tell US, we
all spend our lives really in chasing
bubbles!"
"Oh. no. that's the Western idea
not the Eastern-and you mustn't
make the popular mistake of putting
Occidental thought and reason into the
Oriental brain, for that's what causes
three-quarters of all the trouble be-
tween them. The difference lies just
here: n globe OF crystal or glass is
to the Chinese mind, simply a piece
OF inanifnate and material nature. a
cold, dead and lifeless thing like the
rock or sand from which II comes
beautiful and attractive. but not alive
or capable OF communicating life or
any attendant blessing to mankind.
on the other hand, the bubble formed
from the foam in the mouth OF the
dragon--himself the king OF nature
and embodiment OF all it's forms of life
lis not only a beautiful and living
thing in itself, but conveys to its for
tunate possessor the vivifying quail
ties OF all the animal kingdom. so
you see. to have hanging from the
ceiling a lamp globe that bears the
name of the dragon bubble would
convey infinitely more good luck to a
native home than all the crystal
globes in the world"
Remarkably interesting and clever
story that!" exclaimed Major Perkins
from Bombay, as he laid down his
cheroot ana drew out of his pocket a
notebook. 'Ill Just jot It down here
at once before forget 1t. By Jove!
You can learn something new here
every day. just as you can in India,
don't you know. Dragon Bubbles.
Very good! Very good! I'll not forget
that in many day. not l. And now.
gentlemen. as its a very warm after
noon. 1 suggest we all have a little
liquid refreshments and imagine we
see genuine dragon bubbles sparkling
on the soda. eh?"
He rang the bell for the boy. but
before giving him the order for the
liquids. he thought he would Just ge:
his view on the subject and SC he
said: Boy. you can savvee dragon
bubble?"
eS. n1- can SaNVee.
'Talkee him bTongee veIly good joss,
ehg"
"Chineeman talkee him number one
good joss"
you thinkee Hong Kong side can
catcher"
''S'posee some piecee joss-house
makee sell glassee. look see all samee
Chineemen he buy. no can get house
FIRE, no can get sick. gettce plenty lich,
can catchee cash buy licee."
General protection all around Ell?
my savvee joss-man he tailxee so
fashion-some piecee man tal6ee all
same fool pidgin."
Well hurry up the sodas now. boy,
and have them cold and sparkling"
After the ever-popular and refresh
ing beverage of the Far East, the little
party broke up and wandered OF to-
ward the tennis club and the boat
house, the two favorite. cooling-off
spots OF the colony. They had moi
noticed at all q quiet Chinese gentle
man who had sat in a large wicker
work chair just beyond them on the
verandah. and who. although apparent
ly deeply absorbed in the mysterious
contents OF a native volume. had been
a most interested listener to all their
conversation. After the last one had
departed he rang the bell for the boy.
and addressing him in his native
tongue. said: AT what temple on the
Island are they selling the dragon bub-
bles now7"
"The elder-born Asketh well, but the
ignorant little servant knoweth not"
You told the foreigner Just now
that you knew. for I distinctly heard
you"
The honorable elder-born must
have misunderstood the question OF the
oceAn-man."
Not at all; I understood It per-
fcctly"
Great and august Is the learning OF
the elder-born that he understands the
language OF the oeean-man SO easily"
waste not thy flowery terms on me.
nor scatter jade-stone compliments in
the pathway OF the SAges humblest
scholar" replied Wang Foo. the famous
Man OF Mystery. as he took the boy
into the furtheEt quiet corner OF the
verandah and. opening out the jap
anese screen that stood there, concealed
them both from the eyes and ears OF
all observers. He seized him by both
wrists and holding him with the grip
OF a vice. looked straight into his eyes
and said: "Ah Ling. I know exactly
who you are. You are from Pow Tai
village across the bay. for your accent
tells It. The Information that I want
Is for the Mandarins. You know the
native pfovero well: Keep out OF the
( clutches OF the lawi' Now tell me at
once what I want to know, or before
the moon is three days older the
/ wooden eangue win be about thy
neck" He tightened his grasp on the
wrists OF the trembling All Ling, who
now was wriggling like an eel
You know it. tell me quicki"
II DO not know; I do not"
"Liarl You do. Which temple is It?
Quicki or I will"
The houseooy fell upon his knees,
gasping as he did so: 'YSek Tai Tai,
YHek T6i Tai" (the Moon Goddess$the
Moon Goddess). But spare me. o mer-
/ ciful Master. for the vengeance of the
| a,-t, k.Ii-.....