The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-08
CELESTIAL-LAN


actual number expressed in the term; but
when We are told there are 100000 OF
people in the United States of America,
800, 10000 of inhabitants in Europe, and
400, 100000 OF Chinese, We may as well get
the facts in some shape which will convey
to the mind an intelligent idea or compre-
hension of the statement. Captain llatcn
is an excellant marshal for large process
sion; and suppose he undertakes, for this
purpose, TO march the people OF China IN u
column, ten persons abreast, with only two
PAGES between the row, and move them at II
speed of three miles per hour, ton hours
per day, past given point for six years.
That procession would approximately
represent or express the numeri-
cal strength Of the population OF
China, which, if estimates are reliable, Is
equivalent to nearly one-thrd OF the entire
population of the globe. The procession
would twice belt the earth at its widest lon
gitude, with clap OVER equal to the dis.
tanca from st, Petersburg to San Francisco.
Stick pin in there, and then let us see what
this vast crowd of people do tor u living,
and learn something abou acountry whose
resources are not ouly equal to the necessi-
ties of such multitude, hut are actually
thousands OF years, during which time
many nations have had their rise, growth,
decline aud fall; aud various systems of re-
ligion and government have been tested by
mankind, while the world itself still goes
"bobblng around"
VAST EMPIRE,
The Chinese empire has an area OF 525O,-
900 square miles, with " circuit of over -.
6O miles. IL has many large and navigable
rivers. The Eangtse is Il good offset 10 the
Mississippi, and extends nearly 200 miles
In almost II direct course, or over 3 900 miles
in all. Ships of the largest size ascend it
700 miles, to Hankow, where the river is n
mile and half in width and ships of q
smaller class ascend to l-Chaug, 100 miles
from the ocean, while native boats" 20 up
II distance of over 1000 miles from the sea.
The mineral wealth Of China is beyond
human calculation. Uoal. irou copper, tin,
lead, silver and gold are abundant. Ii is
coal-iield of nina, without II flaw or tiex-
urc, accessible by means of coal galleries,
10 10000 square miles; and that
the entire coal beds of China exceed 100000
square miles, or twenty times more
than the aggregate area of all the coal
fields OF Europe, One.half of which Is in
Great Britain. Alongside Of these euor-
nous coal beds in China are iron ores in
great abundance. With these two power
ipl items, and the cheap labor of China,
who can estimate the possibilities Ui this
country, If her people should happen to
wake up to realizing sense OF their ability
to cope with other nations in the contest for
supremacy on seas and CONT
nents, or employ a portion OF her pupuia
ton IN naval ileesand standing, or moving
armies? Lime, gypsum, alum, sulphur,
boraX, clays of various kinds, marbles OF
every variety, salt wells and petroleum
springs are also plentiful.
Among its staple products are silk, cot
ton, tea add rice. Cereals, vegetables, fruit
aud fish are everywhere abundant. IL has
been truly claimed that China has long
been sell-dependent for all the neccssaries
OF life. In TACT, there seems to be no lack of
anything except the spirit of enterprise and
industry. Agriculture IL carried on sys.
good, and nothing goes TO waste
positively nothing.
Duringmy frequent and extensive rambles
through Canton have been amazed No the
diversity and multiplicity of lbs Industries.
Yet find that various provinces of China
are noted for some special features of do.
nestle commerce, one province is noted
for the excellence of It's silks. Another ex.
GELS in teas. And IN another the superior.
tly of its pOtlcrles aud earthenware is main.
tanned. And still IN another province glass
Guido all rivals. In Canton
with its population of nbouttwo millions,
one finds all Chinese interests strongly rep
resented.
ClynI1Y.
A civil man from any country on the
earth can go through this great city with.
out being iostled in its narrow and crowded
streets, or receiving one Word or look of de.
rislon or disrespect. IoG can inspect thf
goods in any of the shops, and whether
YOU purchase or not, there IL no impor-
tunity or impotence manifested and
when. you depart you go bearing the kindly
greeting, "chin-chin" You must not be
surprised if a crowd of curious Chiuamen
darken the shop door to see what YOU are
doing. In one act, especially, the Chinese
are sensible, Instead of the filthy habit of
promiscuous hand. shaking, in vogue among
Europeans and Americans, the Cinnamon,
while greeting you with a pleasant saluta-
ton and gesture, shakes hands with him.
self or shakes his own hands. Hand.
shaking is ard always was nasty custom
and when one thinks who--well, never
mind; adopt the Chinese plan.
INDRrENDENCE AND sELr.RBLIANCE.
The independence and selErelance OF
Cinnamon who have mn average education
and knowledge OF affairs are noticeable.
They do positively regard Europeans and
Americans vs. bnrbarans, and have no de.
sire to adopt any OF our notions. They
simply look at you aud let YOU pass on as a
mystery, Ii you hire Chinese servant he
will serve you with meekness and obseoul.
business; but II tie Chinamau meets YOU
on equal footing in business he puts his best
foot forward to get your money and trade;
and oy SO doing he maintains his own in.
dividuaiity and prerogatives. When how.
ever, you come into contact with the
learned and accomplished Chinese official
or the successful commercial compradol
entrusted with large financial transactions
he will take your measure" with wise dis
cernment, and give you no points in the
game 10 which You are not entitled. No
one could scare you more thoroughly,
Do you expect n hale and hearty man Of
10 years to give much heed to the prattle OF
n precocious brat who has only recently
emit red upon the second year of his uncer
tain career2 IL not, then why should you
expect nation, with over forty centurie.
oi history and experience as evidence OF
its vitality and longevity, To hastily
adopt the views and policies of younl
republic, that has barely commenced il
second century OF national existence ,on tn,
basis OF u nomnally Christian system o
civilization, while excluding from its publ,
schools the oraclcs OF wisdom, whose pre-
cepts Of justice and humanity are tho chic
corner.stones Of the entire fabric Of civil ant
religious freedom.
Nothing does so much to hinder or detel
China from taking powerful and lnflnen
tial part among the nations as her reverence,
tor and satisfaction with her past record
Her literature does not expand, or embrac,
any new field OF thought and observation
1t is all made up of grouping around IN,
central idea or system Of Coniucianism; anC
largely made up of chronological or legend
nry and musty lore, which taxes croddlity
but brings no new acquisition of knowledge