Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/48

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Rare Earth

most treasured discovery—Contentment. They are acquainted with the fact that over-industry accomplishes naught. The Chinese are the most poetic people in the world. Few there are who do not love poetry. They are educated to appreciate the beauties of nature even though there are many who can neither read nor write. To a vast degree the present bad conditions in China are caused by lack of food. When famine grips a land and men starve, their minds grow dim. Feed China and watch her regain her lost grandeur. My people are yellow people because they are people of the sun. There are those who are surprised that I am well educated. There is nothing extraordinary in this. It is mirthprovoking to read novels in which Chinese figure prominently who use pidgin English and have the mental processes of a child of ten. I do not say the counterpart of these characters cannot be found in China very easily. But I do contend that all Chinese characters are not identical as though they had been

turned out by a molding machine. The Chi-

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