OCR Text |
Show Chinese Artist. In the fourth century A. D. there lived in China an artist, who was also a poet. His name was Ku K'ai-chih. In London there is a painting, a long scroll, which for at least a thousand years has been treasured as his work; and though that cannot be proved, it is in all probability a painting by his hand. One day, we are told, he intrusted in-trusted to a friend a chest full of paintings which he had collected. For better security he fastened the lid of the chest and sealed the fastening with a seal. The friend however coveted the paintings, and hit on the simple expedient of removing the bottom of the box and so abstracting them. When the box was restored to Ku K'ai-chih, he broke the seal and found it empty. But he suspected no theft and expressed no surprise. Beautiful paintings, he said, communicate communi-cate with supernatural beings; they have changed their form and flown away, like men when they join the immortals.- Laurence Binyon, fh the . Atlantic. I |