BY
Putnam Weale, The present writer was discuss ing the other day with a Chinese highly interested in Western views the position created by the Restoration movement, and remarked that nearly three hundred years had elapsed since the tragic disappearance of the last Imperial ruler of Chines blood. At this our interlocutor smiled; then, in the inimitable Chinese way, be in sinuated rather than insisted that the last Chinese emperor had probably died only 120 years ago. And to explain his meaning he finally related the following famous story Jong the delight of Chinese scholars.
In the reign of Yung Cheng the favourite Grand Councillor was a native of Chekiang province, famed both for his scholarship and for the zeal with which he served his imperial master. No important decision was ever taken without first consulting him, and in no case did he betray the imperial confidence. The emperor never.tired of extolling his virtues which seemed so strong and well-defined that they were the very heart and soul of the man.
One day, the Grand Councillor presented himself at the Daybreak audiones and after prostrating himself said Fortune has smiled on me, your Majesty. Last night a son was born to me."
What!" exclaimed his monarch, "again a son for your How much more fortunate is the Minister thet his master: Last night a daughter' was born to me—' He sat deep in
child. Let him brought to the thought: "FE peerie gladly see your Palace."
The Grand Councillor, overjoyed the honour, home. The child was conveyed with due cere-many to the Palace for the inspection of the sovereign, ard in an hour or two the cortege returned laden with presenta. But hardly had the household received back the baby than the nurses rushed to the Grand Councillor with their faces blanched with terror "Alas! Your Excellency" they ered. There has been black magic. We sent a son to the Emperor and a daughter has been The Grand Councillor started up in confusion. He made his way to the bedchamber and found that it was true. There fay a baby but a girl had been substituted for the Now the Grand Councillor was dutiful man, famed, as we have said, for his scholarship and zeal. No hasty or perverse action was to be expected of him. Though the serenity of his thoughts waa somewhat marred by this rude shock his demeanour betrayed nothing. On the contrary, in a very sober fashion, he took counsel of his official colleagues, and consulted the oracles. Thus was it made clear to him that not only could the action of his sovereign not be questioned, but the heavenly constellations plainly indicated that it was necessary for him to lay down high office and retire to his native place since it would be unseemly and even disastrous to serve the Emperor when his own son was in the Palace. So with his heart heavy in him he journeyed back to his native province, coming to his birthplace, Hangchow. There, entering the ancestral house, he wrote two scrolls which were pasted over the Central Door ea that it should be perpetually closed. The lines on the scrolls said Ju vit ten men kai: Hou tai we erh lai (If you wish to open this door You must wait the coming of my son).
Now the babe which had been left in the Palace grew up to be a wise man cast in the very image of his father. The Emperor, watching over him, saw this efflorescence of virtue with satisfaction and knew that he had acted well. When at last Yung Ch'eng had grown old
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.