CHINA THE LAND OF MYSTERY.

247

features that are peculiar to the race, and do not obtain among more western nationalities. So far as an insight has been obtained into the records of bygone ages, it seems fair to assert from such gleaning, that what they now are, such they were in times long passed away (decay of present century eliminated from the question). And we find them yielding something to every reformer or revolutionizer from within, as well as to every new theory of ethical and political system pressing on them from external sources, nevertheless, steadily refusing to succumb, but after long passive resistance fairly swallowing up, by their own stolid inertia, all others that approached them, refusing nothing altogether, but contrawise receiving it, and with supreme indifference, almost ludicrous in its matchless pride, contenting themselves with ignoring all foreign superiority or even equality, and thus gradually returning, after slight reforms, to their old conservative standard of moral, political, and social maxims, so that while revolution after revolution rocks the mighty machine in the throes of apparent dismemberment, we find them still sailing along, assimilating but little from others, whilst they contrive by their own gravitation to impress their peculiar features of social organization upon surrounding nations, by whose active propagandism most of their maxims and practice have been filtered into the world's civilization.

China! an empire stereotyped in mind, and to all progress dead, in whose past history is hidden something "pro"foundly mysterious," and upon the stage of whose affairs. has been acted a drama of some "most mysterious events." Such a tremendous mystery as might make it the theatre of action on whose stage the first angels trod, as they performed their transitory but awful tragedy, and then disappeared, sinking to rise no more, passed by and left to their fate, and chained in the bands of the darkness of impenetrable mystery till the great day of their now fast approaching judgment lifts the curtain of the past.

Unhappy pair, and still more wretched race that drew them down to the level of that civilization, and its morality

from which they were lifted to educate, advance, and elevate the rest of the human race! These children of God, choosing to eat of the fruit of theological good and evil, rather than patiently work out the problem of humanity's destiny, drew down upon themselves and their sacerdotal seducers, a sentence that consigns them to an existence on Ixion's wheel, till measurement of eternity by man shall be no more. No banner with motto of "Excelsior" for them, but such as they are, and were, such they remain, until other nations fulfilling their several allotted destinies, find them after immense cycles of years have rolled over them, a monument of awful warning to all, that all power belongs to the Most High, and that without obedience to him who gives breath to the people on this revolving planet, and his spirit of life to them that dwell thereon, there is no progress, no change, no immortality, no hope, but the heavy stone that Sisyphus hoists heavenward to attain his eternity of rest, is never, never to reach the top, nor yet may miserable Tantalus wet his cracked and bleeding lips with the elixir of eternal peace. Generation after generation rise, culminate in the zenith of manhood, sink, and vanish in the ocean of eternal night, but still there comes "no change," journeying on, journeying ever, a weary, dreary walk. Silver they gather by thousands, gold by tens of thousands, property by millions; this is the reward for some hard workers, but for none is there eternal life.

And yet these men are all content, for have not their gods pendulous bellies? Why should not they have the same ? What man is there that would be the Adonis or Apollo of his set, let him enlarge his waistband, and measure fifty inches round his waist. Did Apicius, that mighty gastronomic, hang himself? so do they. Was he remarkable for an aptitude for cookery? so are they, a very nation of cooks, and moreover wonderfully clever actors, with minds and bodies of such india-rubber suppleness, that they can at pleasure act any part, and by turns shew passions so opposite that they may be said, each individual, to be an epitome of the entire race, and having,

GLEANING FROM ABBE HUC'S TRAVELS.

249

observes M. Huc, missionary apostolic from Christian France, "a good deal of the monkey in their nature," therein differing widely from his countrymen, not however if there be any truth in M. Voltaire.

To all religious impressions our celestial friends are profoundly indifferent, it is, quoth Abbé Huc, "an inveterate "and chronic malady." They will swallow everything, but digest and assimilate nothing. And we are furnished with an anecdote, that speaks volumes for the Chinese animal. This is an answer to our priest from an anticipated convert, who instead of turning up trump, as expected, refused to follow suit.

66

Quoth John Chinaman, "No doubt the Christian religion "is beautiful and sublime, its doctrine explains with method "and clearness all that is necessary for man to know, whoever has any sense must see that, and will adopt it in his "heart with all sincerity, but after all we must not think "too much of these things, and increase the cares of life. "Now just consider, we have a body, how many cares it "demands, it must be clothed, fed, sheltered from the "injuries of the weather, its infirmities are great, its "maladies numerous; it is agreed on all hands, that health "is our most precious good. This body that we see, that "we touch, must be taken care of every day, and every "moment of the day. Now is not this enough without "troubling ourselves about a soul that we do not see? The "life of man is full of misery, and very short, it is made up "of a succession of important concerns that follow one "another without interruption. Our hearts and our minds are barely sufficient for the solicitude of the present life. "Is it wise then to torment oneself about a future one?"

66

The Chinese are represented as being passionately fond of theatres, whereat national and tragic events are represented, and are said to be wonderfully skilful in all that depends upon address and agility.

Is it possible that in the legacy left by Joseph to his children, called the books of the beginning or Genesis, we are listening to an ancient oratorio, transcribed from an

Oriental tragedy, relating to this profoundly mysterious event we are in search of?

Say, king Solomon! "There is nothing new under the sun." Oh Asia! what is this mystery remaining hid in the yet unearthed records of thy chancery? Thy emperor is even yet called a "son of heaven," was this ever a genuine title? Was thy emperor ever truly and literally the representative of heaven, and the anointed son of him who is God most mighty and most high? Who first bore the title of "KING "OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS?" Who first carried so many crowns upon his head? Not alone King of kings and Lord of lords, but Supreme Head, High Priest, and great sacrificer, principal legislator, first doctor of the empire, chief of the literary aristocracy, instructor and governor, all of whose decrees were designated "Lessons," looked up to as a parent, whose duty was to teach his subjects as his children, and having a holy mission entrusted to him for the sake of the community, where the emperor and law are regarded as father and mother; a system of government tending marvellously to create attachment to ancient customs, and profound respect for the authority of eternal law. So the citizens owe filial obedience to the emperor, as to a parent, who is the anointed son of heaven, and whose "QUEEN" was styled the "MOTHER OF ALL "LIVING" over whom she reigned.

Where art thou, O Adam, and where art thou, O Eve? Who was universal censor at that most eventful period, when you were warned by heaven's messenger that your power was gone? To this censorship even emperor must listen; and what said he, publishing his message to your disgrace?

This was your sentence miserable woman, and this your doom unhappy king: "Dust thou art, and to mother earth "thou shalt return, the only narrow road to conditional immortality you have barred up yourselves."

66

On what page of the ancient "San-dze-king" must we look for that cry of bitter regret that echoed its useless accents to the wind. Down to dreary stagnation do we

SOCIAL SCIENCE IN THE ORIENT.

251

drop. A long struggle ensues between the children of the Most High, and the men of this mortal life, continuing onwards from Cain's butchery of his brother down to the emigration of Noah to distant lands, going he knew not where ; but believing in active faith of obedience, that his God would lead him to the new country prepared for his ladder of immortality, to water and clouds above, and boundless waste of ocean around, till land is once more reached, a new earth is found, and a race separated by a pathless waste of waters from the stagnant and corrupting mass of civilization, from which Noah and his descendants have been led away.

When we read accounts of Chinese social life, we are forcibly impressed with the vivid reality of the curse pronounced upon Eve and her daughters, the curse of abandoning them to the tender mercies of that civilization and its moral maxims, from which Eve ought to have lifted them.

The condition of women in China is said to be most pitiable. Their sufferings, privations, and miseries of all kinds, wait upon them from their cradle, and dance attendance until they die. They are looked upon as "soul-less" beings, and are treated as creatures radically despicable, so that it has been truly remarked, that the servitude of women has become in some measure the corner stone of society in China. A learned philosopher says:-"The newly-married "wife should be but a shadow and echo in the "house."

So her lord and master compels her to swallow her victuals when himself and his boys have distended their provision pouches to the required dimensions. The wife may look on, may serve them, pour out for them the hot wine, fill and light their pipes, and then she must retire to get her meals apart, and let her husband, his guests, and boys, talk obscenity. The husband can legally starve or sell his wife, nay may stipulate for certain "rupees" for hire of her prostitution, wherefore it has certain results, for this state of perpetual degradation and misery frequently drives these unhappy creatures to cut short the thread of life. Considerable numbers hang and drown themselves. The