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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
noticeableremain 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 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 man was in the tripe and
trotter line？〃
〃To no degree；〃 I replied truly。 〃Yet；〃 I continued； matching his
idiom with another equally facile； 〃wherein was this person's screw
loose？ Are they not openly referred tothose of the Line of Tripe and
Trotterby their descendants？〃
〃Not in most cases；〃 he said； with a concentration that indicated a
lurking sting among his words。 〃Generally speaking； they aren't
mentioned or taken into any account whatever。 While they are alive
they are kept in the background and invited to treat themselves to the
Tower when nice people are expected； when dead they are fastened up in
the family back cupboard by a score of ten…inch nails and three…trick
Yale locks； so to speak。 And in the meantime all the splash is being
made on their muddy oof。 See？〃
I nodded agreeably； though； had the opportunity been more favourable；
I would have made the feint to learn somewhat more of this secret
practice of burying in the enclosed space beneath the stairs。 Thus is
it set forth why； after the statement； 〃They do not hesitate to
express their fathers' names openly；〃 it is further written； 〃Walk
slowly！ Engrave well upon your discreet remembrance the unmentionable
Line of Tripe and Trotter。〃
Another point of comparison which the superficial have failed to
record is to be found in the frequent encouragements to regard The
Virtues which are to be seen； like our own Confucian extracts； freely
inscribed on every wall and suitable place about the city。 These for
the most part counsel moderation in taking false oaths； in stepping
heedlessly upon the unknown ground； in following paths which lead to
doubtful ends； and other timely warnings。 〃Beware a smoke…breathing
demon；〃 is frequently cast across one's path upon a barrier； and this
person has never failed to accept the omen and to retrace his steps
hastily without looking to the right or the left。 Even our own
national caution is not forgotten； although to conform to barbarian
indolence it is written； 〃Slowly； slowly； drive slowly。〃 〃Keep to the
Right〃 （or； 〃Abandon that which is evil；〃 as the analogy holds；） is
perhaps the most frequently displayed of all； and doubtless many
charitable persons obtain an ever…accruing merit by hanging the sign
bearing these words upon every available post。 Others are of a stern
and threatening nature； designed to make the most hardened ill…doer
pause； asin their own tongue〃Rubbish may be shot here〃； which we
should render； 〃At any moment； and in such a place as this； a just
doom and extinction may overtake the worthless。〃 This inscription is
never to be seen except in waste expanses； where it points its
significance with a multiplied force。 There is another definite threat
which is lavishly set out； and so thoroughly that it may be
encountered in the least frequented and almost inaccessible spots。
This； as it may be translated； reads； 〃Trespass not the forbidden。 The
profligate may flourish like the gourd for a season； but in the end
assuredly they will be detected； and justice meted out with the
relentless fury of the written law。〃
In a converse position； the wide difference in the ceremonial forms of
retaliatory invective has practically disarmed this usually eloquent
person； and he long since abandoned every hope of expressing himself
with any satisfaction in encounters of however acrimonious a trend。 At
first； with an urbane smile and gestures of dignified contempt； he
impugned the authenticity of the Ancestral Tablets of those with whom
he strove； in an unbroken stream of most bitter contumely。 Finding
them silent under this reproach； he next lightly traced their origin
back through generations of afflicted lepers； deformed ape…beings； and
Nameless Things； to a race of primitive ghouls； and then went on in
relentless fluency to predict an ea