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THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
that as a result of the limited vision of their creator they only possessed
twelve legs and three whole bodies among them。〃
Perchance this tactfully…related story； so applicable to his own
deficiencies； may sink into the imagination of the one for whom it was
inoffensively unfolded。 Yet doubt remains。 Our own picture…judgers take
up a position at the side of work when they with to examine its qualities；
retiring to an ever…diminishing angle in order to bring out the more
delicate effects； until a very expert and conscientious critic will not
infrequently stand really behind the picture he is considering before he
delivers a final pronouncement。 Not until these native artists are able to
regard their crude attempts from the other side of the canvas can they hope
to become equally proficient。 To this fatal shortcoming must be added that
of insatiable ambition； which prompts the young to the portrayal of widely
differing subjects。 Into the picture…room of one who might thus be
described this person was recently conducted； to pass an opinion upon a
scene in which were depicted seven men of varying nationalities and
appropriately garbed； one of the opposing sex carrying a lighted torch； an
elephant reclining beneath a fruitful vine； and the President of a Republic。
For a period this person resisted the efforts of those who would have
questioned him； withdrawing their attention to the harmonious lights upon
the river mist floating far below； but presently； being definitely called
upon； he replied as follows： 〃Mih Ying； who was perhaps the greatest of
his time； spent his whole life in painting green and yellow beetles in the
act of concealing themselves beneath dead maple leaves upon the
approach of day。 At the age of seventy…five he burst into tears； and upon
being approached for a cause he exclaimed； 'Alas； if only this person had
resisted the temptation to be diffuse； and had confined himself to green
beetles alone； he might now； instead of contemplating a misspent career；
have been really great。' How much less；〃 I continued； 〃can a person of
immature moustaches hope to depict two such conflicting objects as a
recumbent elephant and the President of a Republic standing beneath a
banner？〃
Upon the temptation to deal critically with the religious instincts of the
islanders this person draws an obliterating brush。 As practically every
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traveller who has honoured our unattractive land with his effusive
presence has subsequently left it in a printed record that our ceremonies
are grotesque； our priesthood ignorant and depraved； our monasteries and
sacred places spots of plague upon an otherwise flower…adorned landscape；
and our beliefs and sacrifices only worthy to exist for the purpose of being
made into jest…origins by more refined communities； the omission on this
one's part may appear uncivil and perhaps even intentionally discourteous。
To this； as a burner of joss…sticks and an irregular person； he can only
reply by a deprecatory waving of both hands and a reassuring smile。
With the two…sided memories of many other details hanging thickly
around his brush； it would not be an achievement to continue to a
practically inexhaustible amount。 As of the set days when certain things
are observed； among which fall the first of the fourth month （but that
would disclose another involvement）； another when flat cakes are partaken
of without due caution； another when rounder cakes are even more
incautiously consumed； and that most brightly…illuminated of all when it is
permissible to embrace maidens openly； and if discreetly accomplished
with no overhanging fear of ensuing forms of law； beneath the emblem of
a suspended branch； in memory of the wisdom of certain venerable sages
who were doubtless expert in the practice。 As of the inconvenient custom
when two persons are walking together that they should arrange
themselves side by side； to the obvious discomfort of others； the sweeping
away of all opportunities for agreeable politeness； and the utter disregard
of the time…honoured example of the sagacious water…fowl。 As of the
inconsistency of refusing； even with contempt； to receive our most
intimate form of regard and use this person's lip…cloth after a feast； yet the
mulish eagerness in that same youth to drink from a cup previously used
by a lesser one。 As of the precision （which still remains a cloud of doubt；）
with which creatures so intractable as the bull are successfully trained to
roar aloud at certain gong…strokes of the day as an agreed signal。 As of the
streets in movement； the lights at evening； and the voices of those unseen。
As of these and as of other matters； so multitudinous that they crowd about
this person's mind like the assembling swallows； circling above the
deserted millet fields before they turn their beaks to the sea； and dropping
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his brush （perchance with an acquiescent sigh）； he； also； kow…tows
submissively to a blind but appointed destiny； and prepares to seek a
passage from an alien land of sojourning。
With the impetuous craving of an affectionate son to behold a revered
sire； intensified by the fact that he has reached the innermost lining of his
sleeve； with affectionate greetings towards Ning； Hia…Fa； and T'ian Yen；
and an assurance that they have never been really absent from his
thoughts。
KONG HO。
Ernest Bramah； of whom in his lifetime Who's Who had so little to
say； was born in Manchester。 At seventeen he chose farming as a
profession； but after three years of losing money gave it up to go into
journalism。 He started as correspondent on a typical provincial paper； then
went to London as secretary to Jerome K。 Jerome； and worked himself
into the editorial side of Jerome's magazine； To…day； where he got the
opportunity of meeting the most important literary figures of the day。 But
he soon left To…day to join a new publishing firm； as editor of a
publication called The Minister； finally； after two years of this； he turned
to writing as his full…time occupation。 He was intensely interested in coins
and published a book on the English regal copper coinage。 He is； however；
best known as the creator of the charming character Kai Lung who appears
in Kai Lung Unrolls His Mat； Kai Lung's Golden Hours； The Wallet of Kai
Lung； Kai Lung Beneath the Mulberry Tree； The Mirror of Kong Ho； and
The Moon of Much Gladness； he also wrote two one… act plays which are
often performed at London variety theatres； and many stories and articles
in leading periodicals。 He died in 1942。
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