When the Qingdao Issue〔1〕arose, Hunan’s students were greatly stirred up, and new-style plays and speeches became all the rage for a time. A friend told me that an elderly gentleman was so incensed because his son had been dressing up and performing in a play that he went straight to the school to confront the teacher. As soon as he opened his mouth, he blurted out, “What kind of cruel fate has befallen me? The son I raised has actually resorted to such a vulgar act!” Upon hearing this, I could not help bursting into laughter!

　　Printed in the inaugural issue of the Xiangjiang Review on July 14, 1919. Signed: Ze Dong.

　　Notes

　　〔1〕The Qingdao Issue refers to the Paris Peace Conference’s refusal in the spring of 1919 to return Shandong’s Qingdao to China.