The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-11
THIRTY YEARS IN CHINA.
The Impenetrable Country Seen by m
EnCIishman.


Mr.. James Mackey, of Kobe, Japan. arrived at
the Grand hotel last night, on his way from San
Francisco to British Columbia. For thirty-one
years he was in China in the service of the Brit
ish government, but two years ago he retired, and
made his home at Kobe. He is now travelling in
America for health and pleasure.
"Of course l know more about China than
about Japan" he said to PosT-INTELLIGENcER
reporter, "for / have seen about all that a
foreigner ever does see of the country. During
my residence of thirty one years in China there
has really been comparatively little prog
ress, except in the seaports among the
foreigners and those coming directly
into contact with them. China, as a whole,
still presents to the world an impenetrabls wall
of prejudice wall which in spite of all said
and done is apparently mistaken and unbroken.
Biologists tell us that England is rising from
the ocean at the rate of an inch or two each
century. Well, China is making progress at
about the same pace. She may move, but the
movement 10 not perceptible to the naked eye.
"For over thirty years the foreign ministers at
Fekin have been urging the imperial gov
eminent to open up the country by
building railroads. China could get Ali
the foreign capital necessary for the enterprise,
but after all this time there is but one piece of
railroad in all China, q sort of tram road per-
haps 100 miles long, in the northern part 1t
was built to carry coal down from the mines,
and now some passenger cars are run over it.
They say that this road is the forerunner of
railroads throughout the country, but must
see before believe.
'Japan, on the other hand, is full of progress.
European and American language, customs.
dress and commercial usages are obtaining
foothold everywhere. The women of highest
rank are adopting European clothes and learn
to play the piano. The clothes are a great
pity, for I do not think any dress In the world
is more becoming to woman than that of
Japan.
"The men are rather better in the European
garb, and the effect OF the military uniform is
really imposing. Railroads are penetrating
everywhere, and on those little islands over
1900 miles have already been constructed In
short. the japanese are clever and very initiative
AT Kobe there is European and American
colony OF about 40. They preserve their own
social customs in every particular. A fine club
house has been built costing $4,000 and tennis
is In full swing e. $50 every afternoon.
"How about tEs missionaries? Well. about
their WORK ia ysssn ! know nothing. Nv
opinion u that 81 CAana they are doing very
little good They undoubtedly are in earnest
and their wish il father 70 the thought that
they actually Isks converts: but the
people are too impervious for the mis-
sionsries 20 reach them. / am not a
Catholic, but / must say that If
any OF the missionaries really accomplish any
thing the Catholics do. They give up all COM
forts and pleasures, adopt native clothes 90
among the natives, care for them and some
times reach them But the Protestant has his wife
and family in a comfortable home where he
lives apart from the native. Consequently the
native is scarcely influenced by him."