very picturesque festival took' place on August 30, it being the seventh day of the seventh moon, or the "double-seventh," according to the Chinese lunar calendar and it is one in which all lovers are interested.
The lunar calendar records the "Tse Yueh Tse, or the the god of Ursa Major, worshipped by male scholars, and of the s goddesses of the Pleiades, who are worshipped by women.
'The story which attends this ti 1 is a most touching one and, while itis intended to win sympathy for the two lovers concerned, it has a moral of which all lovers' should take note.
Tse Chéh, the chief female chara ter, was the daughter of one of the many Chinese gods and was as gent as she is beautiful, while Nia Long, a buffalo be; was the hero The Chéh was most adept at wea ing and her work was famed far and neal Niu Long. tended the buffaloes and he, likewise, was of Jan industrious nature, He used take his buffaloes out early in the morning and return late at night; fand, during his are hours, he devoted himself to study.
This being the case, the gods decreed the young should be joined in marriage, The ceremony duly took place but, after the wedding, the happy young pair became lax in their work and this anger? le- the gods, who fort lo them to meet more than once each year ther2- after. in huge flocks and made a bridge across: the Silver River which one abled the young lovers to meet and: talk until the dawn of day when: they were again forced apart until. the following. year:
These love meetings have gone on for years and, according to the Chinese belief, it continues even up to the present time. Niu Long, by. the way, is said to keep all his dirty clothes to hand to Tse Chéh to wasir when the pair meet because he is too Inzy to do the washing himself.
Even the gods, it is said, syme pathize with the young couple, for they make it rain on this day every year to show that the heavens shed: tears for: them.
Girls in Ching are especially me" terested in this date and they lovk forward to it eagerly. They offer sacrifices in the form of fruits, cakes: and wines, to Tse Chéh and Niw Long in the hope that they may obtain Tse Chéh's beauty and ability' but not her unhappiness. Yestor+ day evening, many met together' and, slipping' beneath the tables, lit candles: and endeavoured to thread needles: in the dim light. The one accomplishing the task first will, it is said, be endowed with Tse Chéh's beauty' and ability, A KasHing merchant has submitted a proposal to the Groater Shanghai Chinese General Chamber Conimerce, suggesting tht means should be devised to prevent Japanese silk from being sent to China en the ground that China' silk trade will be adversely affecter by the importation.
'The first. consigantent' of Jay Accordingly, they were separated and allowed to sep each other on! once a year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.