The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-02
Nanking and It's Once Great but Now Crum-
bling Walls, Its Tombs, Temples, Palaces,
and the Industries Of Its Odd People.
An Institute of Learning That Has No
Rival in Size in the Civilized World.
Effect Of the Craze for Trusts in Germany Upon
the Workingmen-ASugar Rings Scheme
to Rob the United States Treasury.



United States consul to Chin Kiang, China.
has written to the State Department an
interesting account of a visit he recently
made to Nanking, the ancient capital of
the Chinese empire, to confer with Taotai
Liu, Foreign Minister, regarding interests
of American citizens within his consulate.
the result of which the consul says was
most satisfactory. Of the city of NaukiDg.
its condition and material interests Consul
Jones says: "a crenelated wall built of
brick and stone sixty feet in height. and it
is said thirty-six miles in circumference,
incloses the city. In one or two places
there are evidences of repair. but generally
il is intact and in an excellent state of
preservation. considering that it was built
over thousand years ago. Much of the
area inclosed by this wall 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 every
where. In the thirteenth century it was
the capital of the empire. 1t is still of vast
extent, and from what / saw of its recent
condition and the many ruins of ancient
palaces, and temples, and paved roads that
once were populous and busy streets. T
could we'll imagine its former greatness.
The present population is estimated at 6O0,
900. The capital was removed from Man.
king to Peking in the Ming dynasty. in14l1.
II visited the tomb of the first Ming en-
peror i'm picturesque valley a mile or two
outside the walls Leading up to it on the
plain are number of colossal stone figures
of warriors, elephants. camels. lions, etc.,
in more or less dilapidated condition. The
ample grounds which inclose the tomb
were at one time ornamented with stone
and marble bridges. kiosks and tablets, the
remains of which are scattered about the
grounds buried in rank growth of wild
shrubbery 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 re-
pair. Near here was the great first pagoda.
built away back in the centuries at a cost
of three million taels. Its material was
porcelain brick. the top oyerlaid with bur,
nished copper and ornamented with jewels.
No vestige of it remains.
''The city is now the capital of the de-
partment of Yangtsze, where resides, with
a large number of officials the Viceroy
Tseng, who governs the department, con-
j.,
Kiangsu and Kiangsi, with population
all told of 100, 100000. 1t has always been
noted as the seat of learning of the empire
the residence of scholars and learned men,
braries are established. 1t is the head
quarters also. of the Viceroy's army and
navy. In an industrial way there is an ar
senal here. where small arms and ammu-
milton are manufactured. and which en-
ploys one thousand wOrkmen and machin-
lists, all native talent. There are also here
extensive manufactures of ribbons silk,
satin, and velvet. 'Nankeen," fabric
well known to the youth of America forty
years ago, ia made here from the yellow
cotton plant, which is extensively culti-
waited on the river bottoms. There is a
paper mandatory which makes beauti-
full translucent paper from vegetable pith.
This paper Is much used for painting
water-cOlOr pictures by the native artists.
Being the literary center, the annual ex-
| amnations of candidates for all civil and
military positions are held here. The ex-
animation hall, which l went to see, has
| accommodations for 1000 students Under
| cover of the hall are long rows of streets Of
| cells about three and a half feet deep and
| three feet wide, in which the candidates
are confined from three to nine days They
are given the subject, pen; ink and paper,
and closed in. AT the last examination
| there were $1,000 candidates for the 146
| vacancies. This literary class a very con-
siderable one. for the most part young and
| poor, distinguished more than anything
| else for hostility to the foreigner and
| swashbucklere, when In force. gave the
| authorities great deal of trouble in keep
| ing them in order. They are generally at
| the bottom of every disturbance and out
| rage, and it is rarely, on account of their
| connections, that they can be brought to
| account
| Of American missionaries. their work
| and influence. Mr.. Jones says: There are
| thirty Americans in Marking connected
/ women and children. They live in good
brick, dOube-stOry houses, with ample
| grounds. and have every comfort. They
are the only foreigners living at Nanking
subject are to have foreign deviis'
shouted at them in passing. and OCCASION
ally to have their windows broken by the
gamins. while engaged at their prayer
meetings; They hey are are Nell. lMsll9ehaysd and
authorities. The central mission, of the
| Methodist Church, has a hospital at Nan
| king, where the Chinese are received and
treated at a nominal expense. This is
practical Christianity, which the people
sects Of missionaries. and their hostility to
| each and all others, have a confus sing
effect on the mind of the heather, and in
duce him to stick to his original godsn
The person of the Viceroy and some of
the customs of the country are thus de-
scribed: IL arrived at the quarters of the
| Viceroy, and was received by his Excel
lency in person. who took both my hands in
his and led me into the audience chamber
and to q seat beside him. He is a small,
slight. delicate-looking man. sixty-six
years of age, but he looks much younger.
He is not gray. and has a strong face, with
very kindly eyes. His dress was a long
robe of golden-hued. almost transparent
silk. gathered at the waist by silk girdle,
| with an nelaborately-worked jade clasp 1t
was he who retook Marking from the Tai
| ping irebels twenty-five years ago, and he
| still suffers from wounds received in that
| achievement. His family, learned. is a
! very distinguished one in the civil and mil
| itary annals of China. The interview was
very interesting and pleasant one to
| me. The conversation ranged over a wide
field. exhibiting upon his part thorough
acquaintance of affairs at home and abroad
/ spent four days at Marking, and was
| practically the guest of the Viceroy. who
showed me considerate aud delicate atten-
| tion.
"A civil and military mandarin. with
! their following of orderlies messengers
etc, were sent to take up their quarters al
| the same mission. In order to be near and
| to be of service to me. All this was cum
| brous. IL convenient, and had its incon
veniences. But it is their idea of ceremony
and hospitality. and had to accept it. On
my departure had to conform TO another
custom. no less obligatory. which was t6
] fec everybody, from the two mandarin