Born of a poor family he had shown extraordinary aptitude as a Scholar and in the course of time assed the highest literary examination, namely that of the Hanlin, Dur~ ing his official career he held several remunerative posts and after some years retired to his native city, full 'Of wealth and honours. He took' very Tittle Interest in local affairs and seldom gave assistance to the many applicants for office who sought his help and. patronage. This naturally caused him to have many enemies, but so high was his prestige that no one dared to attack him and his opinion was always sought in matters of importance concerning the welfare of. the eily. while whenever high officials visited the city always called fon him frst and pald him the utmost Fespect and honour.
There Is a Chinese saying to the effect that even a great minister of State cannot manage his family. Affairs, and. the famous Hanlin, in Spite of the fact that he was the most influential man in the city if not In the province, had his own troubles. and. as might be expected, they were closely connected with his desire to be the head of a large progeny, con~ sisting of a. number of sons and nelsons. "His wife died shortly, After giving birth to a son. and he married another lady. who became the head of his household. She how-the northwestern coast of Asia Minor, tresses, the Black Sea, passes North of the Caucasus Mountain, enters. near Orenburg into Siberia, and passes, th Whole southern part, traverses choukuo, the Yero ever failed to bring him anything more than daughters, and before long an "I tal tai," or' concubine, was added to his men:
Many Coneubines in the House His only son was married carly in life. and as his wite failed to bring him an heir, he also was given a concubine, This lady' produced two grandsons for the old Hanlin and as Soon as possible these two young men were also given wives, and before long were the possessors of con cubiness. The old man however was SUI dissatisfied and determined to try his fortune again and so another concubine was added to his list, while the son and grandsons were similarly favoured. The great blow came when the son, weakened by his efforts to carry out the wishes of his father. Aled.
The old Hanlin was prostrate with: grief and threw the blame upon the concubines of his son and had them Severely beaten. th order to appease hhis- anger another concubine" was found for him and, though he was approaching seventy' years of age, and in due course he was Informed of the birth of a son, Thir pleased him greatly and in the following year a Other son was born to him, His joy however was clouded by the fact that his grandsons died within a. short time of one another, and this upset him that he quickly followed them ant was buried with all the
0 honoures ceremony due to one so famous and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.