成語是語言演化賽程中不可或缺的精髓。成語蘊藏著極為細膩的文化傳統及特有的生活習性。成語的學習是階段性的。第一階段應該是主動的。第二個階段則是被動的。第三個階段應該也是主動的。時機成熟後，自然而然的流露即是學以緻用的呈現。

Isracl Epstein, born in 1915 in Poland, was

brought up in China and there began his jour-

nalistie work, publishing also in the Unlted

States and other countries. His first association

with Soong Ching Ling was in 1938-45 in the

wartime China Defense League In Hong Kong

and Chongqing (Chungking). In 1951 she invit-

ed him and his wife, the late Elsle Fairfax-

Cholmeley (1905-84), to return from the Unit-

ed States, where they then lived, to help set up

the magazine she founded in Beijing, "China

Reconstructs" (now "Chlna Today") of which, at

Soong Ching Ling's death in 1981, Epstein was

edltor-in-chief, havlng, in the meantime, be-

come a citizen of the People's Republic.

From the late 1970s, she had asked him

several times to write her biography after she

dled. Following retirement from the magazine,

he spent several years In researching and wrlt-

Ing this book which appeared on the centenary

of Soong Chlng Ling's birth.

Previous books by Epstein include The Peo-

ple's Ww in China, London, Victor Gollancz,

1939; The Unflnished Revolutlon in China, Bos-

ton, Little Brown, 1947; From Oplum War to

Llberation, Beijlng, New World Prcss, 1956 with

subsequent editions in 1964 and 1980 in Bei-

jing and Hong Kong (by Jolnt Publlshing Co);

and Tlbet Transformed, Beijing, New World

Prass, 1983

Concerning Soong Ching Ling, he has pub-

lished a number of articles and lectured at

symposia in the United States and Japan.