Page 3 - incense-bearers of han

PERFACE

The Chinese are an ancient and an interesting people. Other nations have risen to
great heights of power and dominion and then have one by one fallen and been
relegated to the limbo of oblivion or strewn upon the sands of time.

All the while China and the Chinese have continued the even tenor of their way.
The storms of time have not neglected to beat upon them but the serene majesty of the
people and nation seems to have been as little affected as the cliffs of Gibraltar by the

breakers of the Mediterranean and Atlantic.

One looks on the inside and finds cliques, divisions, parties innumerable, as many
wheels moving in opposite directions as in the back of an Elgin watch, and yet

presenting an amazing unity and solidarity withal. As easy to dent as a rubber ball, the
dent disappears as suddenly when the pressure is relaxed. As easy to invade as a pit of
quicksand and just as absorptive.

I have been asked to try and account for the longevity of China. I reply that I
believe the answer to this as to every other question will be found between the covers
of the Bible. “Honor thy father and thy mother” is the first commandment with
promise and the promise is “that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy

God giveth thee.” The first of the virtues listed by the sage Confucius was the
character “siao” which means filial piety. We know of no nation that, through the
centuries, has collectively applied itself to obedience to this moral principle as has
China, and the effect of this cause is that “their days have been long in the land which

the Lord God gave them.”

In recent years the interest of Western readers has been aroused as never before in
the land and people of China. With pen-strokes of real literary genius the life and

habits of her people have been portrayed in fictional form. The quaintness, uniqueness
and attractiveness of the people have been so presented to secular readers in the West
as to convey to them a slight touch of the lure that seizes upon everyone who sojourns
at any length among them. It has placed the noveliste, who has pioneered in this field

on the loftiest of literary pedestals. Other writers have ridden the wave with efforts, in
this direction, distinctly inferior.

Owing to the fact that this author was raised among the Chinese people and from

youth has been conversant with the language and customs of the people, and on

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