Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/134



ING HUANG was happy once more, and as usual when he was happy he turned his attention to the well-being of his people. An old custom in Ghina was to place tubs of food in all towns and villages so that the poor and hungry might be fed. Now he directed that two tubs of food be placed out instead of one. The decree was published in the Court Gazette. He made a grant to the College of Astronomy for the erection of a Celestial Sphere which, according to plans, would revolve by hydraulic machinery every twenty-four hours.

In all the towns and villages, schools already had been established, but he made a further gift to the schools of money so that they might be able to hire the services of scholars to copy any poetical works that were not already in their libraries. Unfortunately, during the days of the T'angs, not even the greatest poets had their works published. Poems were written for pleasure only, sometimes on walls of houses so that the people might read them as they strolled through the alleys. The poems were not even signed, appreciated not because of the famed name of the poet but for their rhythm and pictorial excellence. Sometimes a group of poets at some friendly gathering chanted their poems in turn. Occasionally a friend presented a bit of paper or silk upon which a beloved poem might be written down and treasured always. In no country has the written