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only. After the long article appearing in our yesterday's issue has been digested by both sides, we anticipate that the atmosphere will seem clearer. It is less easy to find excuses for a person who, resenting com- ments in one journal, writes to another insiruating that there has been deliberate and calculated misrepresentation. That is mean, and so, providing its advertency be admitted, is the act of the journal which consents to publish such philippics. We perhaps should not go to quite such a length, for the text of our secular sermon is practically that" you never can tell." The Buddhist parable of the three blind men and the elephant supplies it. One groped his way to a bind #g, and on the evidence of his own sense of touch declared that an elephant is like a tree. The second stum- bled against the animal's fauk, and had no hesitation in swearing that an elephant is more like a huge boulder than a tree. The third, handling the swinging trunk, called them both fools. It was beyond the slightest shadow of doubt that the elephant
resembled A serpent. We can easily imagine the heated debate that ensued, and perhaps it will be less hard, remembering that, to reflect in future controversies that both or all parties may be in the right, as the blind men of the parable certainly were, from their several points of view. The story might be extended to include two bystanders, one seeing, the other bliud. It is impossible in the nature of things, the blind bystander logically would argue, that all three could be right. A suake is nothing like a rock, for instance, therefore,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The lessons of bistory and literature are lost upon him. The joys for which wise men strive have never been his. He is the richest man on earth, and his position and influence are the heaviest indictment of wealth that can be made. A lively debate is a thing, an actuality that may be enjoyed, and its two or more With extremes make it a complete whole. one extreine missing, or inadequately pre- sented, it is not complete, and becomes as flat as a Band of Hope lecture. It is really an epitome of life, and the who see this cannot help being optimists. When they make the mistake of thinking that each of the blind witnesses was wrong, as pessimists they are pessimists, and behave accordingly. But here again the two extremes form one, and the omission of one leaves no remainder. If there were
obviously, q.e.d., and go on, either the second or third witness must be falsely testifying. Mcst of us are iu the position of the blind bystander when confronted with life's little problems and discussions, and it is only a few seers who are able to smile and admit the justice of each claim. It is an erroneous aphorism that puts truth between two extremes, then; both extremes are truths; and propositions that may appear to the blind bystander to be mutually destructive may actually be complemen tary. But this is metaphysical. In his latest publication, which we recommend military men not to read, Mr. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW says the universal regard for money is the only hopeful symptom our civilisation shows. He says it is au impudent lie and extreme hypocrisy to teach the young that it is wrong to desire money. The following striking passage is worth quoting :
seers
[August 19, 1907.
of material science and the multiplying of alleged necessities. With greater luxury
and costlier existence come dissatisfaction and indiscipline, and a degenerated physique and a
more complex mentality prone to hysteria. The Californian agita ion, the repatriation of Chinese from South Africa, and the colour prejudices of British Columbia and elsewhere, are merely portents Boora's prophecies were to look like coming of what would happen if "General
true. It is undoubted that the skill and
patience of workmen and craftsmen whose needs are simple and habits frugal are deadly weapons when opposed to the industry of those accustomed to a more comfortable plane of existence as bread. wiuners. Before they could be generally no pessimists, there could Le no optimists. have other weapons out, and by the time the brought to bear, however, the West would
C'est la vie !
41
East became ready to work on equal terms it would perhaps find itself doing all the work, but in slavery to the West. At present such a situation is unthinkable, and the picture is drawn merely to show the futility of such forecasts as the опе attributed
an old man whom too many back pattings have made garrulous.
to
THE CHINESE EMPRESS. DOWAGER.
(Daly Press, 17th August.)
The story of the imminent abdication of the Hmpress-Dowager of China is one that has been frequently repented during the last twelve mouths, and we believe the date was fixed about two months ago by a Chinese journalist in Shanghai who has the advantage of an imagination in thorough working order. It may be taken for granted that authentic information of that nature would not be published in any hole-and- corner ways, whereas at present the story is
" of
FUTILE FORECASTS.
(Daily Press, 16th August). No properly informed person is likely to regard
General" BOOTH as an authority on Far Eastern matters, and it will hardly be claimed that he was "inspire." when he prophesied recently that China and Japan will one day exercise the hegemony of the world, and that they will attain that position, at present held by white men, “by peaceful commercial competition." He was a mere globetrotter in the Far East, and did not even trouble to visit China, although he includes it in his subsequent observations. Like all globetrotters, he was not careful t› cut the coat of his criticians according to the measure of bis acquired material, and much of what he is reported to have uttered is mere parrot-like repetition of phrases he has heard or read from others. It is this fact, that there are others saying the same or similar things, that alone mikes big remarks worth noticing, although we discreetly ignored by native journals have no intention of taking them seriously. amenable to Peking influences. In the “General” ВооTH expressly eliminated war
middle of last month the Empress-Dowager from his prognostications, though it seems was reported to be "seriously thinking clear enough that before they could be handing back the reins of government to permitted to come to pass, war would be the Emperor, and that "the day chosen for inevitable, war of the bloodiest description, the ceremony will be the first day of the war à l'outrance, in fact, because provoked sext Chinese new year"—February 2nd by dire necessity, by the struggle for ex
next. The story of that date was given istence. Those who really and seriously vraisemblance by the added comment that believe in the Yellow Peril of the German
14 ดน that occasion also it is probable Emperor, since, we understand, r. canted by au Heir Apparent will also be selected," His Majesty, may look upon Asia as 3, +4; { the in'at nephew of the Emperor hornets' nest, and upon Western civilization (Prince Chun's son) and Princes Kung as a mischievous boy poking it with a stick, | and P'u Lua were nominated as to see what will happen. We do not admire likely selections. Subsequent statements the analogy, referring to call the hornets' are unlikely to be more than repeti- The first duty of every citizen is to insist
uest a nest of bedgehogs, for we do not as
tions and variations of these canards, on having money on reasonable terms, and this demand is not complied with by giving yet, even with Japan in mind, see any which were a natural outcome of the period marked by anti-dynastic agitation. It is three sillings each for ten
decisive signs that the Asiatics have come
} twelve hours' drudgery and one man a thon within measurable distance of realizing the suppose to be unwise to prophesy, but our sand pounds for nothing. The crying need potentialities of their numbers and weight.uccess in the matter of Ex-Viceroy Sham's of the nation is not for better morals, cheaper The West has worked hard to hustle the non-return to Canton emboldens us to bread, temperance, liberty, culture, redemption Eas, which has preferred to roll itself up venture the further prediction that the of fallen sisters and erring brothers, nor the like the hedgehog, presenting its spines to Empress-Dowager will die in harness. The grace, love, and fellowship of the Trinity; the disturber, but otherwise lying inert. official panic that has been responsible for but simply for enough money. And the evil
It has become platitudinous to say that the so much barbarity may have pe‹ etrated to be attacked is not sin, soffering, greed, priesteraft, kingcraft, demagogy, monopoly Japanese, by their conversion to Western the Forbidden City to some extent, but ignorance, drink, war, pestilence, nor BDy
manners and methods, have contributed to even that would be against the probability other of the scapegoats which reformers the force of impact from the West a tractive of her retirement. She must know that s crifice, but simply poverty.
force from the East, but as yet they cannot the odour of sanctity that bangs about the be said to have successfully drawn as much Chinese throne, to say nothing of the com as the West has driveu. Possibly it will plicated system of palace guards, constitutes yet be found, as we suspect, that their con- her best protection. In a Dower House version is 80 thorough that they too at any distance from these, her life would prefer to drive rather than to draw. It not be, in insurance parlance, a good risk, does certainly appear to us that they have while if she remained quartered with the accepted the handicaps as well as the helps Emperor, her abdication would be only The only solution of the West; and the labour or industrial nominal, a mere `farce. troubles of Germany, Belfast, Southern of the mo her-in-law problemițis to get her France, anl elsewhere, are by no means out of the house. Bemaining, no patier unparalleled in modern Japan. Such is one
how good her intentious, she must meddle. of the penalties to be paid for the progress It would be so with the old lady of Peking,
four men
от
On the other hand, a les famous writer in Blackwood's Magazine, while smiting and slashing the Americau plutocrats, with great apparent gusto, has this
Their bank-books are the index of their folly. They waste their years in a vain pursuit, which they cannot resist. They exclude from their lives all that makes life worth living, that they may acquire innumerable specimens of a precious metal Gold is their end, not the gratification it may bring. Mr. Rockefeller will go out of the world as limited in intelligence, as unin structed in mind, as he was when he entered it.
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