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Show CHINESE HISTORICAL METHODS Work of Writer Not Published Till Lonit After Dynmty's Close. The Chinese court historian's work does not see the light until the reigning reign-ing dynasty comes to an end, says the St. Louis Republic. In this way these celestial historians have an opportunity op-portunity to describe most truthfully the virtues and vices of the various rulers and the real significance of the events which take place during their regime. They can write what they please without fear of censure, for they know that their work will not be published pub-lished as long as the reigning dynasty lasts. This has been the rule for more than 2,000 years. The duty of these historians is to write a plain account ac-count of all events that occur during their tenure of office. At regular intervals in-tervals their completed work is taken from them and locked up in an iron safe or vault. There it remains untii the first member of a new dynasty ascends as-cends f.:e throne. It is then given, with all the other histories in the vault, to the court historian who is then living, and from the mass ot documents he is expected to prepare s. truthful history of the dynasty which has Just expired. The present dynasty has been reigning since 1644, and, consequently, no court history has been published since that time. |