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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 early
return in their descendants to the condition of a similar state。 For some
time he had a well…gratified assurance that those whom he assailed were so
overwhelmed as to be incapable of retort； and in this belief he never failed
to call upon passers…by to witness his triumph； but on the fourth occasion a
young man whom I had thus publicly denounced for a sufficient though
forgotten reason； after listening courteously to my venomous accusations；
bestowed a two…cash piece upon me and passed on； remarking that it was
hard； and those around； also； would have added from their stores had it
been permitted。 From this time onward I did not attempt to make myself
disagreeable either in public or to those whom I esteemed privately。 On
the other hand； the barbarian manner of retort did not find me endowed by
nature to parry it successfully。 Quite lacking in measured periods； it aims；
by an extreme rapidity of thrust and an insincerity of sequence； to entangle
the one who is assailed in a complication of arising doubts and emotions。
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THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
〃Who are you；no one but yourself；〃 exclaimed a hireling of hung…dog
expression who claimed to have exchanged pledging gifts with a certain
maiden who stood； as it were； between us； and falling into the snare； I
protested warmly against the insult； and strove to disprove the inference
before the paralogism lay revealed。 Throughout the whole range of the
Odes； the Histories； the Analects； and the Rites what recognised formula
of rejoinder is there to the taunt； 〃Oh； go and put your feet in mustard and
cress〃； or how can one； however skilled in the highest Classics； parry the
subtle inconsistencies of the reproach； 〃You're a nice bit of orl right； aren't
you？ Not arf； I don't think。〃
Among the arts of this country that of painting upon canvas is held in
repute； but to a person associated with the masterpieces of the Ma epoch
these native attempts would be gravity…dispelling if they were not too
reminiscent of the torture chamber。 It is rarely； indeed； that even the most
highly…esteemed picture…makers succeed in depicting every portion of a
human body submitted to their brush； and not infrequently half of the face
is left out。 Once； when asked by a paint…applier who was entitled to
append two signs of exceptional distinction behind his name； to express an
opinion upon a finished work； I diffidently called his attention to the fact
that he had forgotten to introduce a certain exalted one's left ear。 〃Not at
all； Mr。 Kong；〃 he replied； with an expression of ill…merited self…
satisfaction； 〃but it is hidden by the face。〃 〃Yet it exists；〃 I contended；
〃why not； therefore； press it to the front at all hazard； rather than send so
great a statesman down into the annals of posterity as deformed to that
extent？〃 〃It certainly exists；〃 he admitted； 〃and one takes that for granted；
but in my picture it cannot be seen。〃 I bowed complaisantly； content to let
so damaging an admission point its own despair。 A moment later I
continued； 〃In the great Circular Hall of the Palace of Envoys there is a
picture of two camels； foot…tethered； as it fortunately chanced； to iron rings。
Formerly there were a drove of eightthe others being freeso exquisitely
outlined in all their parts that one night； when the door had been left
incautiously open； they stepped down from the wall and escaped to the
woods。 How deplorable would have been the plight of these unfortunate
beings； if upon passing into the state of a living existence they had found
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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…f