Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 680

1841.

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

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described, the Chinese make very elegant ones of colored paper called trow ma tăng, or horse-racing lamps, having two, three or more cylinders one within the other, and very delicately balanced. Wind- Haps are so contrived that the draft of heated air circulating up through the lantern, causes the inner cylinders to turn round; and as they are made of paper figures set in a frame, the effect of so many tiny men, women, children, horses, or other animals, pursuing one another round and round is very beautiful. There are others of still more elaborate workmanship than these made for gandees, de scribed to us as being twenty cubits in diameter, containing many sorts of "lamps placed within, and so artificially and agreeably that the light adds beauty to the painting, and the smoke gives life and spirit to the figures in the lantern, which art has so contrived, that they seem to walk, turn about, ascend and descend. You shall see horses run, draw chariots and till the earth; vessels sailing; kings and princes go in and out with large trains, and great crowds of people both afoot and horseback, armies marching, and a thousand other divertisements and motions represented." These and many other sorts are got up for the feast of lanterns, to the great jollity of all sorts of people.

Soo Huuy's Ode. Sometime ago, we noticed a ballad, the cha- racters of which were arranged in the shape of a cow. We have here a more elaborate performance, in which the characters are placed so as to form squares, with a large character in the centre of each. It is a sonnet upon a husband's long absence, and is popularly ascribed to Soo Hway of the first Tsin dynasty. In the Tsing Sze, or History of the Passions, is a short account of Soo Hwuy, from which we take a few particulars regarding this lady, and the ode she

wove.

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“Soo Hwuy, (also styled Jeð-lan,) flourished during the Tsin dynasty, B. C. 250; she was the daughter of a military officer, and at the age of six- teen was married to Tow Taou. She had very superior parts, was retiring and modest in her demeanor, as well as beautiful and elegant in her person, nor did she seek to be known abroad; but her temper was rather basty, and she was liable to fits of jealousy. Her husband Tow (also styled Leënpo) had been, on account of his spirited conduct and his talents, appointed by Fookeen to a very responsible office, which he filled with great reputation and credit. However, while he was the chief magistrate of Tsinchow, for opposing the emperor he was transported to the frontier at Tun-hwang; but in the insurrection of Fookeen, the city of Seängyang became a very impor- tant place; and being in danger, Tow, on account of his talents, was ap pointed general to quiet the southern provinces, and in consequence made

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