A Chinese Proverb's Origin

" 'He'll steal your shoes' is an eipression which in China is used to describe an arrant knave and pilferer," says exConsul Edward Bedloe. "The expreseion ia hundreds of years old and is based on an adventure perpetuated through the medium of decorated crockery ware. A wealthy Chinaman, whose gorgeously embroidered shoes were the envy of the community, was, according to the legend, despoiled of his pride in the folio wing manner: A rascal one day rushed np, gave the rich man a hearty blow on the back, and seizingthe astonished gentleman's hat pitched it upon a high wall. The next moment the fellow seemed to discover that it was not an old friend he was greeting so enthusiastically and apologized profusely. " 'How shall I get my hat?" inquired the man with the beautiful shoes. " ' Jump on my back and you can reach it,' replied the schemer. "The suggeetion was carried out, but while the hatless m an was reaching for his head covering me rascal 6lipped off the handsome shoes and made away, leaving the simple minded millionaire clutching the wall."