Here, I may remark that I have carefully studied the notes of poor Leo Bergin. They are full, carefully revised, and show a masterly understanding of the situation, but they are too copious for even extensive quotation. From many closely and well-written pages, the notes report Oseba's orations, with hardly a break or comment. For the sake of brevity, I shall appropriate Oseba's story, and, save by a few pointed quotations, I shall use my own language in the review of the next scene. I realise that by this method the story will be marred, the language will be less picturesque and expressive, and probably less correct, but it will be economy of space, and, what is of importance to me, "economy" in the expenditure of intellectual force. That is worthy of consideration! The imaginative Leo seemed to be absorbed in the changing scenes of the unique situation. During a lull in the proceedings he notes:-- "How like a dream! Oh, my soul, how I do hope!" But, probably being again confronted by that "if," he seems to hang his head, halt, and ponder, for he writes:-- "Hopes, like joys and promising children, grow into regrets, or wither and die." _SCENE IV._ FIRST "DISCOVERY." SIZING UP AH SIN, AND LU. The sage Oseba, after locating China on the globe, threw a view of the map of the Empire on the wall. He explained that this country "embraced" 4,000,000 square miles of the surface of Oliffa, and contained about 400,000,000 "souls," or nearly one-third of all the Outeroos. But this includes the Mandarins, who are not supposed to have "souls." With amusing speech, he reviewed the history, the social, political, and industrial conditions of this "peculiar" people. It was in China that Oseba became first acquainted with the aggressiveness, the pretentiousness, and the real power of the European or Occidental Nations. As a race, these "foreign devils" were taller in stature, stronger of limb, and lighter in complexion, and they had better opinions of themselves than the Orientals. Conceit is a strong factor in all these mighty games. The clergymen, or missionaries, were among his first acquaintances from over the seas. A mischievous consular clerk, he says, who seemed to have a grievance, used to sing:-- "They came in shoals, To save the souls, Of Hop, Lee, Sing, and Wu. They gathered gear, Both far and near, As you or I would do." These "solemn men," as Oseba called them, apologising for the digression, came first of their countrymen, not for "filthy lucre," but to "save all the sons of Confucius and to take them to Heaven, where, together, they could sing and associate forever, and forever, and forever." "This," said Oseba, "seemed kind of them," but he soon learned that the nations who sent these agents to prepare the social situation for "the sweet by-and-bye," were "not at home," to Hop, Lee, Sing, or Wu, during their brief stay on the surface of Oliffa.