three…quarters of the brass cash of the land； and judging that no more
suitable object could be procured for the purpose； I entered the shop；
and desired the attending slave to submit it to my closer scrutiny。
〃Behold；〃 I exclaimed； when I had made a feint of setting the device
into motion （for it need not be concealed from you； O discreet one；
that I was really inadequate to the attempt； and； indeed； narrowly
escaped impaling myself upon its sudden and unexpected protrusions）；
〃the highly…burnished surface of your dexterously arranged window gave
to this engine a rich attractiveness which is altogether lacking at a
closer examination。 Nevertheless； this person will not recede from a
perhaps too impulsive offer of one unit of gold； three pieces of
silver； and four and a half brass cash；〃 my object； of course； being
that after the mutual recrimination of disparagement and over…praise
we should in the length of an hour or two reach a becoming compromise
in the middle distance。
〃Well；〃 responded the menial one； regarding me with an expression in
which he did not even attempt to subdue the baser emotions； 〃you HAVE
come a long way for nothing〃； and he made a pretence of wishing to
replace the object。
〃Yet；〃 I continued； 〃observe with calm impartiality how insidiously
the rust has assailed the outer polish of the lacquer； perceive here
upon the beneath part of wood the ineffaceable depression of a
deeply…pointed blow； note well the〃
〃It was good enough for you to want me to muck up out of the window；
wasn't it？〃 demanded the obstinate barbarian； becoming passionate in
his bearing rather than reluctantly； but with courteous grace；
lessening the price to a trifling degree； as we regard the proper way
of carrying on the enterprise。
〃It is well said；〃 I admitted； hoping that he might yet learn wisdom
from my attitude of unruffled urbanity； though I feared that his angle
of negotiating was unconquerably opposed to mine； 〃but now its many
imperfections are revealed。 The inelegance of its outline； the
grossness of the applied colours； the unlucky combination of numbers
engraved upon this plate； the〃
〃Damme！〃 cried the utterly perverse rebel standing opposite； 〃why
don't you keep on your Compound； you Yellow Peril？ Who asked you to
come into my shop to blackguard the things？ Come now； who did？〃
〃Assuredly it is your place of commerce；〃 I replied cheerfully；
preparing to bring forward an argument； which in our country never
fails to shake the most stubborn； 〃yet bend your eyes to the fact that
at no great distance away there stands another and a more alluring
stall of merchandise where〃
〃Go to it then！〃 screamed the abandoned outcast； leaping over his
counter and shouting aloud in a frenzy of uncontrollable rage。 〃Clear
out； or I'll bend my feet〃 but concluding at this point that some
private calumny from which he was doubtless suffering was disturbing
his mind to so great an extent that there was little likelihood of our
bringing the transaction to a profitable end； I left the shop
immediately but with befitting dignity。
With a fell…founded assurance that you will now be acquiring a really
precise and bird's…eye…like insight into practically all phases of
this country。
KONG HO。
LETTER VIII
Concerning the wisdom of the sublime Wei Chung and its
application to the ordinary problems of existence。 The meeting
of three； hitherto unknown to each other； about a wayside inn；
and their various manners of conducting the enterprise。
VENERATED SIRE；You will doubtless remember the behaviour of the aged
philosopher Wei Chung； when commanded by the broad…minded emperor of
his time to reveal the hidden sources of his illimitable knowledge； so
that all might freely acquire； and the race thereby become raised to a
position of unparalleled excellence。 Taking the well…disposed
sovereign familiarly by the arm； Wei Chung led him to the mouth of his
cave in the forest； and； standing by his side； bade him reflect with
open eyes for a short space of time； and then express aloud what he
had seen。 〃Nothing of grave import；〃 declared the emperor when the
period was accomplished； 〃only the trees shaken by the breeze。〃 〃It is
enough；〃 replied Wei Chung。 〃What； to the adroitly…balanced mind； does
such a sight reveal？〃 〃That it is certainly a windy day；〃 exclaimed
the omnipotent triumphantly； for although admittedly divine； he yet
lacked the philosopher's discrimination。 〃On the contrary；〃 replied
the sage coldly； 〃that is the natural pronouncement of the rankly
superficial。 To the highly…trained intellect it conveys the more
subtle truth that the wind affects the trees； and not the trees affect
the wind。 For upwards of seventy years this one has daily stood at the
door of his cave for a brief period； and regularly garnering a single
detail of like brilliance； has made it the well…spring for a day's
reflection。 As the result he now has by heart upwards of twenty…five
thousand useful facts； all serviceable for original proverbs； and an
encyclopaedic mind which would enable him to take a high place in a
popular competition unassisted by a single work of reference。〃 Much
impressed by the adventure the charitably…inclined emperor presented
Wei Chung with an onyx crown （which the philosopher at once threw into
an adjacent well）； and returning to his capital published a decree
that each day at sunrise every person should stand at the door of his
dwelling； and after observing for a period； compare among themselves
the details of their thoughts。 By this means he hoped to achieve his
imperial purpose； but although the literal part of the enactment is
scrupulously maintained； especially by the slothful and defamatory；
who may be seen standing at their doors and conversing together even
to this day； from some unforeseen imperfection the intellectual
capacity of the race has remained exactly as it was before。
Nevertheless it is not to be questioned that the system of the
versatile Wei Chung was； in itself； grounded upon a far…seeing
accuracy； and as the need of such a rational observation is deepened
among the inconsistencies and fantastic customs of a barbarian race； I
have made it a useful habit to accept as a guide for the day's
behaviour the reflections engendered by the first noteworthy incident
of the morning。
Upon the day with which this letter concerns itself I had set forth；
in accordance with an ever…present desire； to explore some of the
hidden places of the city。 At the time a tempest of great ferocity was
raging； and bending my head before it I had the distinction of coming
into contact with a person of ill…endowed exterior at an angle where
two reads met。 This amiable wayfarer exchanged civilities with me
after the politeness characteristic of the labouring classes towards
those who differ from them in speech； dress； or colour： that is to
say； he filled his pipe from my proffered store； and after lighting it
threw the match into my face； and passed on with an appropriate
remark。
Doubtless this insignificant occurrence would have faded without
internal comment if the penetrating Wei Chung had never existed； but
now； guided by his sublime precedent； I arranged the incident for the
day's conduct under three reflective heads。
It was while I was meditating on the second of these that an
exclamation caused me to turn； when I observed a prosperously…outlined
person in the act of picking up a scrip which had the appearance of
being lavishly distended with pieces of gold。
〃If I had not seen you pass it； I should have opined that this hyer
wallet belonged to you；〃 remarked the justice…loving stranger （for the
incident had irresistibly retarded my own footsteps）； speaking the
language of this land； but with an accent of penetrating harmony
hitherto unknown to my ears。 With these auspicious words he turned
over the object upon his hand doubtfully。
〃So entrancing a possibility is； as you gracefully suggest； of
unavoidable denial；〃 I replied。 〃Nevertheless； this person will not
hesitate to join his acclamation with yours； for； as the Book of
Verses wisely says； 'Even the blind； if truly polite； will extol the
prospect from your house…top。'〃
〃That's so；〃 admitted the one by my side。 〃But I don't know that there
is any call for a special thanksgiving。 As I happen to have more money
of my own than I can reasonably spend I shall drop this in at a
convenient police station。 I dare say some poor critter is pining away
for it now。〃
Pleasantly impressed by the resolute benevolence of the one who had a
greater store of wealth than he could； by his own unaided efforts；
dispose of； I arranged myself unobtrusively at his side； and
maintaining an exhibition of my most polished and genial conversation；
I sought to penetrate deeply into his esteem。
〃Gaze in this direction； Kong；〃 he said at length； calling me by name
with auspicious familiarity； 〃I am a benighted stranger in this hyer
city； and so are you； I rek'n。 Suppose we liquor up； and then take a
few of the side shows together。〃
〃The suggestion is one against which I will erect no ill…disposed
barrier；〃 I at once replied； so inflexi