In a current book a college president tells this story:
A traveler in Japan says that one day as he stood on the quay
in Tokyo waiting for a steamer, he excited the attention of
a coolie doing the work of a stevedore, who knew he was an
American. As the coolie went by with his load, in his pigeon
English he said, “Come buy cargo?” By which he meant, “Are you
in Japan on business?” The man shook his head. The second time
the coolie passed, he again asked, “Come look and see?” By
which he meant to ask if the American were a tourist seeing the
country. Receiving a negative reply, the next time he passed he
tried one more question. “Spec’ die soon?” By which he meant to
ask if the man was there for his health.
This the writer used to describe three different classes of
people in the world. There is the young man who seems to be in
the world for his health. They want to be coddled. There is the
young man who seems to be in the world as a traveler. He wants
to be amused. There are the young men who are in the world for
business. They mean to do something and be somebody.--N.
MCGEE WATERS.
(1826)
=Life Yet to Be=--See FUTURE, THE.
=Life’s Furrow=--See SYMBOL OF LIFE.