and more harmless custom of placing straw and wooden effigies in the
mausolea of the great. When the "First Emperor" died in B.C. 210, all
those among his wives who had borne no children were buried alive with
him.

Praying for Rain.--From another Commentary on the _Spring and Autumn_,
by Ku-liang Shu, fourth century B.C., we have the following note on
Prayers for Rain, which are still offered up on occasions of drought,
but now generally through the medium of Taoist and Buddhist priests:--

"Prayers for rain should be offered up in spring and summer only; not in
autumn and winter. Why not in autumn and winter? Perhaps the moisture of
growing things is not then exhausted; neither has man reached the limit
of his skill. Why in spring and summer? Because time is pressing and
man's skill is of no further avail. How so? Because without rain just
then nothing could be made to grow; the crops would fail, and famine
ensue. But why wait until time is pressing, and man's skill of no
further avail? Because to pray for rain is the same thing as asking a
favour, and the ancients did not lightly ask favours. Why so? Because
they held it more blessed to give than to receive; and as the latter
excludes the former, the main object of man's life is taken away. How
is praying for rain asking a favour? It is a request that God will do
something for us. The divine men of old who had any request to make to
God were careful to prefer it in due season. At the head of all his high
officers of State, the prince would proceed in person to offer up his
prayer. He could not ask any one else to go as his proxy."

Posthumous Honours for Confucius.--Before leaving Confucius, it is
necessary to add that now for many centuries he has been the central
figure and object of a cult as sincere as ever offered by man to any