The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-02
An Ancient CITY.

State Department an interesting ac-
count of the visit he recently made to
Nan King, the ancient capital of the
Chinese empire. to confer with Tactai
Lou, Foreign Minister, regarding
the interests of American citizens
within his consulate, the result of
which the consul says was most sat-
isfactOry.
OF the city Of Nan King its condi-
ton and material interests Consul
Jones says "a creneeted wall built
of brick and stone sixty feet in
height, and it is said thirty-six miles
in circum ference, inclOses the city I;
in one or two places there are evil
dences of repair, but generally it is
intact and in an excellent state of
preservation. considering that it was
huilt over a thousand years ago.
Much of the arena inclosed by its
walls has lapsed into savage state
and become the resort Of wild game.
The city, no doubt, was once a very
great one; there are evidences of it
everywhere. In the thirteenth cen
! fury it was the capital of the empire.
It is still of a vast extent, and from
what is seen its recent condition and
many ruins OF ancient palaces and
temples and paved roads that once
were pOpulOuS and busy streets, |
could well imagine its former great.
ness.
1.-THE present population is esti-
mated at 100000. The capital was
removed from Nan King to Picking
in the Ming Dynasty in 14l1. / Wis
tied the tomb of the first Ming EN-
per0r in picturesque valley a mile
or two outside the walls, Leading
up to it on the plain are number of
S slossel s t.; G, ffdT4r ns p. :
oyt;..SE7TI3T}TI9 J9nI0 IMER more
or less dilapidated condition. The
ample grounds which inclose the
tomb were at one time Ornamented
with stone and marble bridges, XII
Osks and tablets, the remains OF which
are scattered about the grounds bur.
led in a rank growth of wild shrub
berry and trees. All the tombs, tenn
pies. palaces and ancient landmarks
of China are ruins, 1t seems never
to have been the policy of China to
rebuild or repair. Near here was the
great first pagoda built way back in
the centuries, at cost 8, 900 900 taelS.
Its material was porcelain brick, the
top Overlaid with FURNISHED copper
and Ornamented with jewels. No
vistage of it remains.
1.-THE city is now the capital of the
department of Yang So, where re-
sides large number of officials, the
Viceroy Tseng, who governs the de-
partment, consisting of the provinces
of Anohui, Kiangsu and Kiangsi
with ii population all told of 100, 000,-
900. 1t has always been noted as the
seat of learning of the Empire, the
residence of scholars and learned
men, and where colleges, unlversi-
ties and libraries are established. 1t
is the headquarters also of the vice
roy's army and navy. In an indus
, trial way there is an arsenal here
where small arms and ammunition
are manufactured and which employs
1000 wOrkmen and many machinists
all natives, There are also here ex-
tensive manufactures of ribbons, silk.
satin and velvet.
Being the literary centre the an.
nual examination of candidates for
all civil and military positions are
held here. The examination hall,
which l went to see. has accomoda-
tons for 80. 900 students. Under cover
of the hall are long rows or streets of
cells three and one-half feet deep
and three feet wide. in which the
| CdHulIdicS ar CNDIllIutu lIOtI luIG6 W
nine days. They are given the SUBJ
ject, pen ink and paper. and closed
in. At the last examination there
were $4,000 candidates for the 146 va
cancies."
Of American missionaries, their
WORK and influence, Mr.. Jones says |:
"There are thirty Americans in
Nan King connected with the mis-
siOnary societies, including women
and children. They live in good
brick. double story houses with am
pie grounds, and have every comfort.
They are the only foreigners living
at Nan King. The only annOyances
to which they are subjected is to have
Foreign deyils' shouted at thom In