now; instead of contemplating a misspent career; have been really
great。' How much less;〃 I continued; 〃can a person of immature
moustaches hope to depict two such conflicting objects as a recumbent
elephant and the President of a Republic standing beneath a banner?〃
Upon the temptation to deal critically with the religious instincts of
the islanders this person draws an obliterating brush。 As practically
every traveller who has honoured our unattractive land with his
effusive presence has subsequently left it in a printed record that
our ceremonies are grotesque; our priesthood ignorant and depraved;
our monasteries and sacred places spots of plague upon an otherwise
flower…adorned landscape; and our beliefs and sacrifices only worthy
to exist for the purpose of being made into jest…origins by more
refined communities; the omission on this one's part may appear
uncivil and perhaps even intentionally discourteous。 To this; as a
burner of joss…sticks and an irregular person; he can only reply by a
deprecatory waving of both hands and a reassuring smile。
With the two…sided memories of many other details hanging thickly
around his brush; it would not be an achievement to continue to a
practically inexhaustible amount。 As of the set days when certain
things are observed; among which fall the first of the fourth month
(but that would disclose another involvement); another when flat cakes
are partaken of without due caution; another when rounder cakes are
even more incautiously consumed; and that most brightly…illuminated of
all when it is permissible to embrace maidens openly; and if
discreetly accomplished with no overhanging fear of ensuing forms of
law; beneath the emblem of a suspended branch; in memory of the wisdom
of certain venerable sages who were doubtless expert in the practice。
As of the inconvenient custom when two persons are walking together
that they should arrange themselves side by side; to the obvious
discomfort of others; the sweeping away of all opportunities for
agreeable politeness; and the utter disregard of the time…honoured
example of the sagacious water…fowl。 As of the inconsistency of
refusing; even with contempt; to receive our most intimate form of
regard and use this person's lip…cloth after a feast; yet the mulish
eagerness in that same youth to drink from a cup previously used by a
lesser one。 As of the precision (which still remains a cloud of
doubt;) with which creatures so intractable as the bull are
successfully trained to roar aloud at certain gong…strokes of the day
as an agreed signal。 As of the streets in movement; the lights at
evening; and the voices of those unseen。 As of these and as of other
matters; so multitudinous that they crowd about this person's mind
like the assembling swallows; circling above the deserted millet
fields before they turn their beaks to the sea; and dropping his brush
(perchance with an acquiescent sigh); he; also; kow…tows submissively
to a blind but appointed destiny; and prepares to seek a passage from
an alien land of sojourning。
With the impetuous craving of an affectionate son to behold a revered
sire; intensified by the fact that he has reached the innermost lining
of his sleeve; with affectionate greetings towards Ning; Hia…Fa; and
T'ian Yen; and an assurance that they have never been really absent
from his thoughts。
KONG HO。
Ernest Bramah; of whom in his lifetime Who's
Who had so little to say; was born in
Manchester。 At seventeen he chose farming as a
profession; but after three years of losing
money gave it up to go into journalism。 He
started as correspondent on a typical
provincial paper; then went to London as
secretary to Jerome K。 Jerome; and worked
himself into the editorial side of Jerome's
magazine; To…day; where he got the opportunity
of meeting the most important literary figures
of the day。 But he soon left To…day to join a
new publishing firm; as editor of a
publication called The Minister; finally;
after two years of this; he turned to writing
as his full…time occupation。 He was intensely
interested in coins and published a book on
the English regal copper coinage。 He is;
however; best known as the creator of the
charming character Kai Lung who appears in Kai
Lung Unrolls His Mat; Kai Lung's Golden Hours;
The Wallet of Kai Lung; Kai Lung Beneath the
Mulberry Tree; The Mirror of Kong Ho; and The
Moon of Much Gladness; he also wrote two one…
act plays which are often performed at London
variety theatres; and many stories and articles
in leading periodicals。 He died in 1942。
End
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