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had explicitly stated that she was desirous of having a little dog。 Now；
however； when this part of the enterprise ought to have taken place； I
found myself unable to evade the conclusion that some important detail of
the entire scheme had failed to agree harmoniously with the rest； and； had
it been possible； I would have retired with unobtrusive tact and permitted
another to wear my honourable acquirements。 But； for some reason； as I
looked around I perceived that every eye was fixed upon me with what at
another time would have been a most engaging unanimity； and； although I
bowed with undeterred profusion； and endeavoured to walk out behind an
expression of all…comprehensive urbanity that had never hitherto failed me；
a person of unsympathetic outline placed himself before the door； and two
others； standing one on each side of me； gave me to understand that a
recital of the full happening was required before I left the room。 *
It is hopeless to expect a display of refined intelligence at the hands of
a people sunk in barbarism and unacquainted with the requirements of true
dignity and the essentials of food preparation。 On the manner of behaving
of the male portion of those present this person has no inducement
whatever to linger。 Even the maiden for whom he had accomplished so
much； after the nature of the misunderstanding had been made plain to her；
uttered only a single word of approval； which； on subsequently consulting
a book of interpretations； this person found to indicate： 〃A person of weak
intellect； one without an adequate sense of the proportion and fitness of
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THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
things； a buffoon； a jester； a compound of gooseberries scalded and
crushed with cream〃； but although each of these definitions may in a way
be regarded as applicable； he is still unable to decide which was the
precise one intended。
With salutations of filial regard； and in a spirit seven times refined by
affliction and purified by vain regrets。
KONG HO。 （Upon whose tablet posterity will perchance inscribe the
titles； 〃Ill…destined but Misjudged。〃）
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THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
LETTER III
Concerning the virtuous amusements of both old and young。 The sit…
round games。 The masterpiece of the divine Li Tang； and its reception by
all； including that same Herbert。
VENERATED SIRE （whose breadth of mind is so well developed as
to take for granted boundless filial professions； which； indeed； become
vapid by a too frequent reiteration）；
Your amiable inquiry as to how the barbarians pass their time； when
not employed in affairs of commerce or in worshipping their ancestors；
has inspired me to examine the matter more fully。 At the same time your
pleasantly…composed aphorism that the interior nature of persons does not
vary with the colour of their eyes； and that if I searched I should find the
old flying kites and the younger kicking feather balls or working
embroidery； according to their sex； does not appear to be accurately
sustained。
The lesser ones； it is true； engage in a variety of sumptuous handicrafts；
such as the scorching of wooden tablets with the semblance of a pattern；
and gouging others with sharpened implements into a crude relief；
depicting birds and flowers upon the surface of plates； rending leather into
shreds； and entwining beaten iron； brass； and copper into a diversity of
most ingenious complications； but when I asked a maiden of affectionate
and domesticated appearance whether she had yet worked her age…stricken
father's coffin…cloth； she said that the subject was one upon which she
declined to jest； and rapidly involving herself in a profuse display of
emotion； she withdrew； leaving this one aghast。
To enable my mind to retranquillise； I approached a youth of highly…
gilded appearance； and； with many predictions of self…inferiority； I
suggested that we should engage in the stimulating rivalry of feather ball。
When he learned； however； that the diversion consisted in propelling
upwards a feather…trimmed chip by striking it against the side of the foot；
he candidly replied that he was afraid he had grown out of shuttle…cock；
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THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
but did not mind； if I was vigorously inclined； 〃taking me on for a set of
yang…pong。〃
Old men here； it is said； do not fly kites； and they affect to despise
catching flies for amusement； although they frequently go fishing。 Struck
by this peculiarity； I put it in the form of an inquiry to one of venerable
appearance； why； when at least five score flies were undeniably before his
eyes； he preferred to recline for lengthy periods by the side of a stream
endeavouring to snare creatures of whose existence he himself had never
as yet received any adequate proof。 Doubtless in my contemptible
ignorance； however； I used some word inaccurately； for those who stood
around suffered themselves to become amused； and the one in question
replied with no pretence of amiable condescension that the jest had
already been better expressed a hundred times； and that I would find the
behind parts of a printed leaf called 〃Punch〃 in the bookcase。 Not being
desirous of carrying on a conversation of which I felt that I had misplaced
the most highly rectified ingredient； I bowed repeatedly； and replied
affably that wisdom ruled his left side and truth his right。
It was upon this same occasion that a young man of unprejudiced
wide…mindedness； taking me aside； asserted that the matter had not been
properly set forth when I was inquiring about kites。 Both old and young
men； he continued； frequently endeavoured to fly kites； even in the
involved heart of the city。 He had tried once or twice himself； but never
with encouraging success； chiefly； he was told； because his paper was not
good enough。 Many people； he added； would not scruple to mislead me
with evasive ambiguity on this one subject owing to an ill…balanced
conception o