But do Chinese really make good husbands? my lady friends ask.
I will cite the case of an American lady. Some years ago
a Chinese called on me at my Legation in Washington accompanied by
an American lady and a girl. The lady was introduced to me as his wife
and the girl as his daughter; I naturally supposed that the lady
was the girl's mother, but she told me that the girl was the daughter
of her late intimate friend, and that after her death, knowing that
the child's father had been a good and affectionate husband to her friend,
she had gladly become his second wife, and adopted his daughter.
Those who believe in reincarnation (and I hope most of my readers do,
as it is a clue to many mysteries) understand that when people
are reincarnated they are not always born in the same country or continent
as that in which they lived in their previous life. I have an impression
that in one of my former existences I was born and brought up
in the United States. In saying this I do not express the slightest regrets
at having now been born in Asia. I only wish to give a hint
to those white people who advocate an exclusive policy
that in their next life they may be born in Asia or Africa,
and that the injury they are now inflicting on the yellow people
they may themselves have to suffer in another life.
While admitting that we Chinese have our faults and that in some matters
we have much to learn, especially from the Americans, we at least possess
one moral quality, magnanimity, while the primal virtues of industry, economy,
obedience, and love of peace, combined with a "moderation in all things",
are also common among us.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165