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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
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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
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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 inflexibly determined not to lose sight of a
person possessing such engaging attributes as to be cheerfully prepared
even to consume my rice spirit in the inverted position which his words
implied if the display was persisted in。 〃Nevertheless；〃 I added； with a
resourceful prudence； 〃although by no means undistinguished among the
highest literary and competitive circles of his native Yuen…ping； the one
before you is incapable of walking in the footsteps of a person whose
accumulations are greater than he himself can appreciably diminish。〃
〃That's all right； Kong；〃 exclaimed the one whom my last words
fittingly described； striking the recess of his lower garment with a gesture
of graceful significance。 〃When I take a fancy to any one it isn't a matter
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of dollars。 I usually carry a trifle of five hundred or a thousand pounds in
my pocket…book； and if we can get through thatwhy； there's plenty more
waiting at the bank。 Say； though； I hope you don't keep much about you； it
isn't really safe。〃
〃The temptation to do so is one which this person has hitherto
successfully evaded；〃 I replied。 〃The contents of this reptile…skin case〃
and not to be outshone in mutual confidence I here displayed it openly
〃do not exceed nine or ten pieces of gold and a like number of printed
obligations promising to pay five pieces each。〃
〃Put it away； Kong；〃 he said resolutely。 〃You won't need that so long
as you're with me。 Well； now； what sort of a saloon have we here？〃
As far as the opinion might be superficially expressed it had every
indication of being one of noteworthy antiquity； and to the innately modest
mind its unassuming diffidence might have lent an added charm。
Nevertheless； on most occasions this person would have maintained an
unshaken dexterity in avoiding its open door； but as the choice admittedly
lay in the hands of one who carried five hundred or a thousand pieces of
gold we went in together and passed through to a compartment of retiring
seclusi