按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
themselves from every available window。 In our own land the
interspersal of umbrellas； musical instruments； and banners； with an
occasional firework； would have given a greater animation to the
scene； but with this exception I have never taken part in a more
impressive and well…extended procession。 Even while I looked； the
helmets of other official watchers appeared in the distance； as
immature junks upon the storm…tossed Whang…Hai； apparently striving
fruitlessly to reach us。
As I was by no means sure what attitude was expected of me； I smiled
with an all…embracing approval； and signified to the one at my side；
by way of passing the time pleasurably together； that the likelihood
of his nimble…witted friends reaching us with unruffled garments was
remote in the extreme。
〃Don't you let that worry you； Li Hung Chang；〃 he said； in a tone that
had the appearance of being outside itself around a deeper and more
bitter significance； 〃if we get out again with any garments at all it
won't be your fault。 Why； youwell； YOU ought to have been put on the
Black List long ago； by rights。〃
This； exalted one； although I have not yet been able to learn the
exact dignity of it from any of the books of civil honours； is
undoubtedly a mark of signal attainment； conferred upon the few for
distinguishing themselves by some particular capacity； as our Double
Dragon； for instance。 Anxious to learn something of the privileges of
the rank from one who evidently was not without influence in the
bestowal； and not unwilling to show him that I was by no means of
low…caste descent； I said to the official； 〃In his own country one of
this person's ancestors wore the Decoration of the Yellow Scabbard；
which entitled him to be carried in his chair up to the gate of the
Forbidden Palace before descending to touch the ground。 Is this Order
of the Black List of a like purport？〃
〃You're right；〃 he said； 〃it is。 In this country it entitles you to be
carried right inside the door at Bow Street without ever touching the
ground。 Look out！ Now we shall not〃
At that moment what this person at first assumed to be a floral
tribute； until he saw that not only the entire plant； but the
earthenware jar also were attached； struck the official upon the
helmet； whereupon； drawing a concealed club； he ceased speaking。
How the entertainment was conducted to such a development this person
is totally inadequate to express； but in an incredibly short space of
time the scene became one of most entrancing variety。 From every
visible point around the air became filled with commodities
whichthough doubtless without set intentionfittingly represented
the arts； manufactures； and natural history of this resourceful
country； all cast in prolific abundance at the feet of the official
and myself； although the greater part inevitably struck our heads and
bodies before reaching them。 Beyond our immediate circle； as it may be
expressed； the crowd never ceased to press forward with resistless
activity； and among it could be seen occasionally the official
watchmen advancing self…reliantly； though frequently without helmets；
and； not less often； the helmets advancing without the official
watchmen。 To add to the acknowledged interest； every person present
was proclaiming his views freely on a diversity of subjects； and above
all could be heard the clear notes of the musical instruments by which
the officials sought to encourage one another in their extremity； and
to deaden the cries of those whom they outclubbed。
Despite this person's repeated protests that the distinction was too
excessive； he was plucked from hand to hand irresistibly among those
around； losing a portion of his ill…made attire at each step； so
agreeably anxious were all to detain him。 Just when the exploit seemed
likely to have a disagreeable ending； however； he was thrust heavily
against a door which yielded； and at once barring it behind him； he
passed across the open space into which it led； along a passage
between two walls； and thence through an involved labyrinth and
beneath the waters of a canal into a wood of attractive seclusion。
Here this person remained； spending the time in a profitable
meditation； until the light withdrew and the great sky lantern had
ascended。 Then he cautiously crept forth； and after some further
trivial episodes which chiefly concern the obstinate…headed slave
guarding the outer door of a tea…house； an unintelligent maiden in the
employment of one vending silk…embroidered raiment； the mercenary
controller of a two…wheeled chariot and the sympathetic and opportune
arrival of a person seated upon a funeral car； he succeeded in
reaching the place of his abode。
With unalterable affection and a material request that an unstinted
adequacy of new garments may be sent by a sure and speedy hand。
KONG HO。
LETTER V
Concerning the neglect of ancestors and its discreditable
consequences。 Two who state the matter definitely。 Concerning
the otherside way of looking at things and the
self…contradictory bearing of the maiden Florence。
VENERATED SIRE；A discovery of overwhelming malignity oppresses me。
In spite of much baffling ambiguity and the frequent evasion of
conscious guilt； there can be no longer any reasonable doubt that
these barbarians DO NOT WORSHIP THEIR ANCESTORS！
Hitherto the matter had rested in my mind as an uneasy breath of
suspicion； agitated from time to time by countless indications that
such a possibility might； indeed； exist in a condensed form； but too
inauspiciously profane to be contemplated in the altogether。 Thus；
when in the company of the young this person has walked about the
streets of the city； he may at length have said； 〃Truly； out of your
amiable condescension； you have shown me a variety of entrancing
scenes。 Let us now in turn visit the tombs of your ancestors； to the
end that I may transmit fitting gifts to their spirits and discharge a
few propitious fireworks as a greeting。〃 Yet in no case has this
well…intentioned offer been agilely received； one asserting that he
did not know the resting…place of the tombs in question； a second that
he had no ancestors； a third that Kensal Green was not an entrancing
spot for a wet afternoon； a fourth that he would see them removed to a
greater distance first； another that he drew the line at mafficking in
a cemetery； and the like。 These things； it may occur to your
omniscience； might in themselves have been conclusive； yet the next
reference to the matter would perhaps be tending to a more alluring
hope。
〃To…morrow；〃 a person has remarked in the hearing of this one； 〃I go
to the Stratford which is upon the Avon； and without a pause I shall
prostrate myself intellectually before the immortal Shakespeare's tomb
and worship his unequalled memory。〃
〃The intention is benevolently conceived；〃 I remarked。 〃Yet has he no
descendants； this same Shakespeare； that the conciliation of his
spirit must be left to chance？〃
When he assured me that this calamity had come about； I would have
added a richly…gilded brick from my store for transmission also； in
the hope that the neglected and capricious shadow would grant me an
immunity from its resentful attention； but the one in question raised
a barrier of dissent。 If I wished to adorn a tomb； he added （evading
the deeper significance of the act）； there was that of Goldsmith
within its Temple； upon which many impressionable maidens from across
the Bitter Waters of the West make it a custom to deposit chaplets of
verses； in the hope of seeing the offering chronicled in the papers；
and in the Open Space called Trafalgar there were the images of a
great captain who led many junks to victory and the Emperor of a
former dynasty； where doubtless the matter could be arranged； but the
surrounding had by this time become too involved； and this person had
no alternative but to smile symmetrically and reply that his words
were indeed opals falling from a topaz basin。
Later in the day； being desirous of becoming instructed more
definitely； I addressed myself to a venerable person who makes clean
the passage of the way at a point not far distant。
〃If you have no sons to extend your industrious line；〃 I said； when he
had revealed this fact to me； 〃