We then asked her if at that time of the year they were very busy in heaven.
“No,” she answered; “all our days are like each other. It is only on New Year’s Day that there is a great reception at the house of our Sovereign Master.”
“Do the gods keep Lenten fasts?”
“Our Master before becoming a genii used to abstain from rice. Once immortal, he gave up food of all kinds. As regards the food of the gods, it is composed of venison, of dragons’ livers, of mountain flowers, and fruits of Paradise, and so on.”
“Is it true that besides heaven there is hell?”
“Hell and heaven are in the minds of men—one represents what is good, the other what is bad.”
This exchange of questions and answers went off as easily as a conversation between friends. The answers were given much more quickly than at table-turning seances. Our amusing game lasted until long past midnight.
The above is a very accurate description of this kind of spirit seance, as generally practised in China. Of course, in different places the language and the way of thinking differs. It is because of the elevated style of the language used at these meetings that they enjoy so much favour with our literary men.
