[54] One of the “Six Boards” at the capital, equivalent to our own War Office, Board of Works, etc.
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[55] The Chinese names for two stars: βγ Aquila and α Lyra.
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[56] Lanterns very prettily made to resemble all kinds of flowers are to be seen at the Chinese New Year.
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[57] This is, as with us, obligatory on all friends invited to a marriage.
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[58] The accompaniment of all weddings and funerals in China.
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[59] The soberest people in the world, amongst whom anything like sottishness is comparatively unknown, think it no disgrace, but rather complimentary, to get pleasantly tipsy on all festive occasions; and people who are physically unable to do so, frequently go so far as to hire substitutes to drink for them. Mandarins especially suffer very much from the custom of being obliged to “take wine” with a large number of guests. For further on this subject, see No. LIV., [note 292].
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[60] The wedding-party was, of course, composed entirely of foxes; this animal being believed by the Chinese to be capable of appearing at will under the human form, and of doing either good or evil to its friends or foes. These facts will be prominently brought out in several of the stories to follow.
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[61] Lineal descendants of Confucius are to be found at this day near their founder’s mausoleum in Shantung. The head of the family is a hereditary kung or “duke,” and each member enjoys a share of the revenues with which the family has been endowed, in well-merited recognition of the undying influence of China’s greatest sage.
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[62] More or less proficiency in the art of poetry is an absolutely essential qualification for all who present themselves at the great competitive tests by which successful candidates are admitted to Chinese official life. [See [Appendix A].] The following anecdote is given by the London correspondent of the Leeds Mercury:—
“The new Chinese ambassador in this country is a man of considerable literary ability, and perhaps one of the few diplomatists since the days of Matthew Prior (Lord Lytton alone excepted) who has achieved distinction as a poet. Shortly after his arrival in this country, he expressed a wish to become acquainted with the principal English poets, and as Mr. Browning is more accessible and more a man of the world than the Poet Laureate, an arrangement was made the other day by which the two should be brought in contact with one another. After the mutual courtesies, Mr. Browning having learnt that His Excellency was also a poet, expressed a desire to know how much he had published. “Only three or four volumes,” was the reply, through the interpreter. “Then,” said Mr. Browning, “I am a greater offender than His Excellency, and unequal to him in self-restraint. What kind of poetry does His Excellency write: pastoral, humorous, epic or what?” There was a pause for a short time. At length the interpreter said that His Excellency thought his poetry would be better described as the “enigmatic.” “Surely,” replied Mr. Browning, “there ought then to be the deepest sympathy between us, for that is just the criticism which is brought against my own works; and I believe it to be a just one.””
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