The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-08-26
DECAY ORA GREAT CHINESE CITY.


Rev.Jolin L. Nevins writes to- the
New Y ork Observer: g Hang Chow
has long had the reputation, both
among natives and foreigners, of be-
ing the most beautiful city in China
and Marco Polo describes it, in his
time, as one ofthe finest in the world.
1t is said to have been few hundred
years ago more than thirty miles in
circumference and Chinese records
represent its walls, during former
dynasties as enclosing several high
hills beyond the southern limits of the
present city. The wall is now about
twelve miles in circumference. Ten
years ago when I spent several
months there, the space within the
walls was almost entirely occupied
with buildings and closely built sub
urbs extended from these to four
miles in opposite directions, north
and south. About nine years ago. it
was taken by the Tai Ping insurgents
who held it only few days. At that
time it is supposed that about twenty
thousand of the inhabitants of Hang
Chow perished, the whole number
being one million. .aa..s...s
A few years later, when Hang Chow
was again attacked by the rebels, it
offered a determined resistance. 1t
was for long time in state of siege.
All the provisions i'll the city were
exhausted. Even bundles of fresh
grass were sold for food at exorbitant
prices. The leather of shoes and
trunks was boiled, and eaten, and the
flesh of those who had died from want
not unfrequently became the food OF
the survivors. The city was finally
taken, and the Tartar city included
within its walls was utterly demol-
ished, not a single house being left
standing. Large portions the main
CITY were also burned, and now pre-
sent scene of blackened walls and
shapeless ruins. All with whom l
have conversed on the subject concur
! in the testimony that no more than
one fifth of the city were included
among its inhabitants ten years ago.
Ii is more than enough to make the
heart sick to wander through its des-
olate streets and imagine the scenes
of horror which they have witnessed"
| -AOS----.
A GENTLEMAN residing several miles
from--has been in the habit of
sending his waiting message: "Tell
my wife I'm caught on that id jury
again" His wife, to be sure, a little
suspected that the jury was set of
boon companions bent on a /" high old
time and the determination not to go
home till morning. A few days since
he sent said waiter-boy to town after
some necessary articles. The boy fell
in with friends, got elevated and top
heavy, and pitched out of the buggy.
The horse and buggy arrived home all
right, but the boy did not make his
appearance until next day. With a
stern countenance our juryman called
the boy up and demanded, why he
did not come up in the proper time.
Fore God, massa, was cotched on
de id jury"
i II He COULDN'T 9 STAND THAT.-A
i young gentleman of our acquaintance
who had been paying his ''devours"
Gas Mrs. Partington would say) to
Young lady for some time, suddenly
left her. We, asked for the reason,
and-he told US in the following words:
q had been with her, you know,
for good while, and noticed that
she was hather cool in her remarks,
and limited that she would rather 60
home alone than to have Inc with her;
but didn't mind that, you know
Well, one night when we got to the
door, says she, Mr.. -, 1 do not
wish your company any longer, and
! I'll thank you to keep in yonr place,
and away from me-" Thai was lit
tie too hard Z sacked her that ce,,y
/ ,7;nbf3 . .... .t..H F.. -.s'