There lived once upon a time in China a wise
Emperor who had one daughter. His daughter
was remarkable for her perfect beauty. Her feet
were the smallest in the world; her eyes were
long and slanting and bright as brown onyxes, and
when you heard her laugh it was like listening to
a tinkling stream or to the chimes of a silver bell.
Moreover, the Emperor's daughter was as wise
as she was beautiful, and she chanted the verse
of the great poets better than anyone in the land.
The Emperor was old in years; his son was mar-
ried and had begotten a son; he was, therefore,
quite happy with regard to the succession to the
throne, but he wished before he died to see his
daughter wedded to someone who should be worthy
of her.

Many suitors presented themselves to the palace
as soon as it became known that the Emperor
desired a son-in-law, but when they reached the
palace they were met by the Lord Chamberlain,
who told them that the Emperor had decided that
only the man who found and brought back the blue
rose should marry his daughter. The suitors were

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