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 the bastinado in the Imperial courtyards; forget the naval appropriations spent by the late Empress Dowager on her pleasure resort; and be thankful for the fact that after all something beautiful has survived the naval defeats and even the dynasty itself. Let us ascend the Pai Ta in a tranquil mood and allow our thoughts to transcend the hideousness of the Tantric religion and go back to those beautiful tales of Queen Hsiao (or was it Lady Liy) for whom her Tartar Emperor built the Dressing Arbor on that glorious Golden Island And let us forget, for the moment at least, all the woes and wait ings of the people around us and lose ourselves in appreciative contemplation of Peking the Beautiful.

HU SHIH

Shanghai, China, November 20, 1927.