Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-16
{, THE ORIGIN OF elAckMAiL
Boldness and Sang Froid of Chinese
Thieves-Phiio-ophy OF Endurance.

Boldness and Sang Froid of Chinese
Thieves-Philo-ophy OF Endurance.
Among the archaisms which Chinese
civilization has brought into the light of
modern times Is the blackmail system of
modern Europe, which might merit the
attention of the Peking Oriental society
The city Is like large reservoir hled with
varied fish. all feeding On each other The
transportation of bullion affords fine pick
hgs for many hungry mouths Among
the army of parasites which live on this
land may be mentioned the porters or car
riers in the capital. who derive very heavy
emoluments from their judicious handling
of the silver which passes through their
hands, No doubt their gains are equita
bly, distributed among their official
patrons, who could not touch the unciean
thing with their own hand But the
wealth of the porters excites the cupidity
OF others, who prey on them When a
porter Is known to be going on duty the
banditti waylay him. his guard make re
sistance. but if captured he is held for
ransom, and may have 10 part with half
a years profits to one successful raider
After the manner of the traders III the
middle ages. these wealthy porters seek
the protection Of powerful barons. here
called wang web, or princes. One of
these lends the silver carriers his cart
and mule, which the robbers do not care
to meddle with. and for this service the
prince receives his share of the profits
which would otherwise pass. not without
violence. into the hands of the bandits
The vulnerable porters further protect
themselves by hiring prize fighters TO sit
on the shafts as they pass through the
streets of the open city These men also
have TO be extravagantly paid.
Another tribe of parasites pervades the
city-the pickpockets-whose harvest is
In the wet season. when the roads are
nearly impossible The other day a man
boastsd of never having had his pocket
picked. when within ten minutes his pipe
and case were, snatched from his hands
in his hand. his finger through the looped
hard tug from thief cut his finger and
forced him TO release his hold
Ladies are often the victims. even when
riding in carts, and tine thieves ere so
daring as to spring on the top of the cart
while in motion and snatch the valuable
head ornaments of the Manchu ladies in
siu6, tHc cart urlNtr taxing 10 HOIlCo lOr
fear of his own skin The thieves are so
well organized as to have regular depots
where stolen property is slowed. and per
sons Of intiusnce can generally recover
what they have lost If they are persistent
enough. Near one of the gates is market
where stolen goods are regularly sold
during one hour at daybreak- Spurious
articles are often offered at this place.
For example. a man thought he was get
ting a good bargain in roast duck. but
OH reaching home he was surprised to find
only clever imitation in mud There are
also excellent counterfeits, in paper. of
the Chinese boats. which dissolve at mere
sight of water
In the social arrangements Of the Chi
nese the philosophy of grin and bear has
been cultivated to an extreme perfection.
and is also, no doubt. archaic Bystanders
will never interfere with the commission
Of crime in the open street in open day.
and the whole system of predatory crime
is tolerated. as vermin is, as tine ordinary
lot of humanity In fact, foulness. i'm.
passable roads. defective laws. and all
other forms of suffering. are borne with.
for want of the energy to resist and over
come them. and not. as is sometimes sup
posed. because the people really love these
things.-Chinese Times.