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to the varied and animated scene behind； where； amid a very profuse
display of contending passions； the erected stage was already being
dragged to the ground； and a band of the official watch was in the act of
converging from every side； he led me through more deserted paths to the
scene of a final extrication。
With a well…gratified sense of having held an unswerving course along
the convoluted outline of Destiny's decree； to whatever tending。
KONG HO。
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LETTER XIV
Concerning a pressing invitation from an ever benevolently… disposed
father to a prosaic but dutifully…inclined son。 The recording of certain
matters of no particular moment。 Concerning that ultimate end which is
symbolic of the inexorable wheels of a larger Destiny。
VENERATED SIRE；It is not for the earthworm to say when and in
what exact position the iron…shod boot shall descend； and this person；
being an even inferior creature for the purpose of the comparison； bows an
acquiescent neck to your very explicit command that he shall return to
Yuen…ping without delay。 He cannot put away from his mind a clinging
suspicion that this arising is the result of some imperfection in his
deplorable style of correspondence； whereby you have formed an
impression quite opposed to that which it had been the intention to convey；
and that； perchance； you even have a secret doubt whether upon some
specified occasion he may not have conducted the enterprise to an ignoble；
or at least not markedly successful； end。 However； the saying runs； 〃The
stone…cutter always has the last word；〃 and you equally； by intimating with
your usual unanswerable and clear…sighted gift of logic that no further
allowance of taels will be sent for this one's dispersal； diplomatically
impose upon an ever…yearning son the most feverish anxiety once more to
behold your large and open…handed face。
Standing thus poised； as it may be said； for a returning flight across the
elements of separation； it is not inopportune for this person to let himself
dwell gracefully upon those lighter points of recollection which have
engraved themselves from time to time upon his mind without leading to
any more substantial adventure worthy to record。 Many of the things
which seemed strange and incomprehensible when he first came among
this powerful though admittedly barbarian people； are now revealed at a
proper angle； others； to which he formerly imagined he had found the
disclosing key； are； on the other hand； plunged into a distorting haze；
while between these lie a multitude of details in every possible stage of
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disentanglement and doubt。 As a final and painstaking pronouncement；
this person has no hesitation in declaring that this country is notas
practically all our former travellers have declaredcompletely down…side…
up as compared with our own manners and customs； but at the same time
it is very materially sideways。
Thus； instead of white； black robes are the indication of mourning； but
as； for the generality； the same colour is also used for occasions of
commerce； ceremony； religion； and the ordinary affairs of life； the matter
remains exactly as it was before。 Yet with obtuse inconsistency the
garments usually whitein which a change would be really noticeable
remain white throughout the most poignant grief。 How much more
markedly expressed would be the symbolism if during such a period they
wore white outer robes and black body garments。 Nevertheless it cannot
be said that they are unmindful of the emblematic influence of colour； for；
unlike the reasonable conviction that red is red and blue is blue； which has
satisfied our great nation from the days of the legendary Shun； these pale…
eyed foreigners have diverged into countless trifling imaginings； so that
when the one who is now expressing his contempt for the development
required a robe of a certain hue； he had to bend his mouth； before he could
be exactly understood； to the degrading necessity of asking for 〃Drowned…
rat brown；〃 〃Sunstroke magenta；〃 〃Billingsgate purple；〃 〃London milk
azure；〃 〃Settling…day green；〃 or the like。 In the other signs of mourning
they do not come within measurable distance of our pure and
uncomfortable standard。 〃If you are really sincere in your regret for the
one who has Passed Beyond； why do you not sit upon the floor for seven
days and nights； take up all food with your fingers； and allow your nails to
grow untrimmed for three years？〃 was a question which I at first
instinctively put to lesser ones in their affliction。 In every case save one I
received answers of evasive purport； and even the one stated reason；
〃Because although I am a poor widder I ain't a pig；〃 I deemed shallow。
I have already dipped a revealing brush into the subject of names。
Were the practice of applying names in a wrong and illogical sequence
maintained throughout it might indeed raise a dignified smile； but it would
not appear contemptible； but what can be urged when upon an occasion
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one name appears first； upon another occasion last？ A dignity is conferred
in old age； and it is placed before the family designation borne by an
honoured father and a direct line of seventeen revered ancestors。 Another
title is bestowed； and eats up the former like a revengeful dragon。 New
distinctions follow； some at one end； others at another； until a very
successful person may be suitably compared to the ringed oleander snake；
which has the power of growing equally from either the head or the tail。
To express the matter by a definite allusion； how much more graceful and
orchideous； even in a condensed fashion； would appear the designation of
this selected one； if instead of the usual form of the country it was
habitually set forth in the following logical and thoroughly Chinese style：…
Chamberlain Joseph； Master； Mr。； Thrice Wearer of the Robes and Golden
Collar； One of the Just Peacemakers； Esquire； Member of the House of
Law…givers； Leader in the Council of Commerce； Presider over the Tables
of Provincial Government； Uprightly Honourable Secretary of the
Outlying Parts。
Among the notes which at various times I have inscribed in a book for
future guidance I find it written on an early page； 〃They do not hesitate to
express their fathers' names openly；〃 but to this assertion there stands a
warning sign which was added after the following incident。 〃Is it true； Mr。
Kong；〃 asked a lesser one； who is spoken of as vastly rich but discontented
with her previous lot； of this person upon an occasion； 〃is it really true that
your countrymen to not consider it right to speak of their fathers' names；
even in this enlightened age？〃 To this I replied that the matter was as she
had eloquently expressed it； and； encouraged by her amiable
condescension； I asked after the memory of her paternal grandsire； whose
name I had frequently heard whispered in connection with her own。 To my
inelegant confusion she regarded me for a period as though I had the
virtue of having become transparent； and then passed on in a most
overwhelming excess of disconcertingly…arranged silence。
〃You've done it now； Kong；〃 said one who stood by （or； as we would
express the same thought； 〃You have succeeded in accomplishing the
undesirable〃）； 〃don't you know that the old