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discriminating encouragement of his attitude towards me on all
occasions； I have read a sympathetic concern over my welfare。 Him I
now approached； and taking him aside； I first questioned him
flatteringly about his age and the extent of his yearly recompense；
and then casually inquired what in his language he would describe the
nature of a cricket to be。
〃A cricket？〃 repeated the obliging person readily； 〃a cricket； sir； is
a hinsect。 Something； I take it； after the manner of a grass…'opper。〃
〃Truly；〃 I agreed。 〃It is aptly likened。 And； to continue the simile；
a game cricket？〃
〃A game cricket？〃 he replied； 〃well； sir； naturally a game one would
be more gamier than the others； wouldn't it？〃
〃The inference is unflinching；〃 I admitted； and after successfully
luring away his mind from any significance in the inquiry by asking
him whether the gift of a lacquered coffin or an embroidered shroud
would be the more regarded on parting； I left him。
His words； esteemed； for a definite reason were as the jade…clappered
melody of a silver bell。 This trial of sportiveness； it became
clear；less of a massacre than most of their amusementsis really a
rivalry of leapings and dexterity of the feet： a conflict of game
crickets or grass…hoppers； in the somewhat wide…angled obscurity of
their language； or； as we would more appropriately call it doubtless；
a festive competition in the similitude of high…spirited locusts。 To
whatever degree the surrounding conditions might vary； there could no
longer be a doubt that the power of leaping high into the air was the
essential constituent of success in this barbarian match of
cricketsand in such an accomplishment this person excelled from the
time of his youth with a truly incredible proficiency。 Can it be a
reproach； then； that when I considered this； and saw in a vision the
contempt of inferiority which I should certainly be able to inflict
upon these native crickets before the eyes of their maidens； even the
accumulated impassiveness of thirty…seven generations of Kong
fore…fathers broke down for the moment； and unable to restrain every
vestige of emotion I crept unperceived to the ancestral hall of Sir
Philip and there shook hands affectionately with myself before each of
the nine ironclad warriors about its walls before I could revert to a
becoming state of trustworthy unconcern。 That night in my own upper
chamber I spent many hours in testing my powers and studying more
remarkable attitudes of locust flight； and I even found to be within
myself some new attainments of life…like agility； such as feigning the
continuous note of defiance with which the insect meets his adversary；
as remaining poised in the air for an appreciable moment at the summit
of each leap； and of conveying to the body a sudden and disconcerting
sideway movement in the course of its ascent。 So immersed did I become
in the achievement of a high perfection that； to my never…ending
self…reproach； I failed to notice a supernatural visitation of
undoubted authenticity； for the next morning it was widely admitted
that a certain familiar demon of the house； which only manifests its
presence on occasions of tragic omen； had been heard throughout the
night in warning； not only beating its head and body against the walls
and doors in despair； but raising from time to time a wailing cry of
soul…benumbing bitterness。
With every assurance that the next letter； though equally distorted in
style and immature in expression； will contain the record of a
deteriorated but ever upward…striving son's ultimate triumph。
KONG HO。
LETTER XI
Concerning the game which we should call 〃Locusts；〃 and the
deeper significance of its acts。 The solicitous warning of one
passing inwards and the complication occasioned by his ill…
chosen words。 Concerning that victory already dimly foreshadowed。
VENERATED SIRE；This barbarian game of agile grass…hoppers is not
conducted in the best spirit of a really well…balanced display； and
although the one now inscribing his emotions certainly achieved a wide
popularity； and wore his fig leaves with becoming modesty； he has
never since been quite free from an overhanging doubt that the
compliments and genial remarks with which he was assailed owed their
modulation to an unsubstantial atmosphere of two…edged significance
which for a period enveloped all whom he approached； as in the faces
of maidens concealed behind fans when he passed； the down…drawn lips
and up…raised eyes of those of fuller maturity； the practice in most
of his own kind of turning aside； pressing their hands about their
middle parts； and bending forward into a swollen attitude devoid of
grace； on the spur of a sudden remembrance； and in the auspicious but
undeniably embarrassing manner in which all the unfledged ones of the
village clustered about his retiring footsteps； saluting him
continually as one 〃James；〃 upon whom had been conferred the
gratifying title of 〃Sunny。〃 Thus may the outline of the combat be
recounted。
From each opposing group eleven were chosen as a band； and we of our
company putting on a robe of distinctive green （while they elected to
be regarded as an assemblage of brown crickets）； we presently came to
a suitable spot where the trial was to be decided。 So far this person
had reasonably assumed that at a preconcerted signal the contest would
begin； all rising into the air together； uttering cries of menace；
bounding unceasingly and in every way displaying the dexterity of our
proportions。 Indeed； in the reasonableness of this expectation it
cannot be a matter for reproach to one of the green grass…hopperswho
need not be further indicatedthat he had already begun a
well…simulated note of challenge to those around clad in brown； and to
leap upwards in a preparatory essay； when the ever…alert Sir Philip
took him affectionately by the arm； on the plea that the seclusion of
a neighbouring pavilion afforded a desirable shade。
Beyond that point it is difficult to convey an accurately grouped and
fully spread…out design of the encounter。 In itself the scheme and
intention of counterfeiting the domestic life and rivalries of two
opposing bands of insects was pleasantly conceived； and might have
been carried out with harmonious precision； but； after the manner of
these remote tribes； the original project had been overshadowed and
the purity of the imagination lost beneath a mass of inconsistent
detail。 To this imperfection must it be laid that when at length this
person was recalled from the obscurity of the pagoda and the alluring
society of a maiden of the village； to whom he was endeavouring to
expound the strategy of the game； and called upon to engage actively
in it； he courteously admitted to those who led him forth that he had
not the most shadowy…outlined idea of what was required of him。
Nevertheless they bound about his legs a frilled armour； ingeniously
fashioned to represent the ribbed leanness of the insect's shank；
encased his hands and feet in covers to a like purpose； and pressing
upon him a wooden club indicated that the time had come for him to
prove his merit by venturing alone into the midst of the eleven brown
adversaries who stood at a distance in poised and expectant attitudes。
Assuredly； benignant one； this sport of contending locusts began； as
one approached nearer to it； to wear no more pacific a face than if it
had been a carnage of the hurl…headlong or the curved…hook varieties。
In such a competition； it occurred to him； how little deference would
be paid to this one's title of 〃Established Genius；〃 or how
inadequately would he be protected by his undoubted capacity of
leaping upwards； and even in a sideway direction； for no matter how
vigorously he might propel himself； or how successfully he might
endeavour to remain self…sustained in the air； the ill…destined moment
could not be long deferred when he must come down again into the midst
of the elevenall doubtless concealing weapons as massive and
fatally…destructive as his own。 This prospect； to a person of
quiescent taste； whose chief delight lay in contemplating the
philosophical subtleties of the higher Classics； was in itself devoid
of glamour； but with what funereal pigments shall he describe his
sinking emotions when one of his own band； a