The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-22
WEST TO THE EAST.
George Hyde Preston's Trip to
China and Japan.
A JOURNEY FULL OF INTE REST
He Meets Rndysrd Kipling and Some
Old Acquaintances-Com on
tho Strange Sights He Saw.

George Hyde Preston, the well-known lawyer
OF Seattle, is back from his trip to Japan and
China. He is in excellent health, fine spirits
and is brim full of interesting information con-
corning the curious countries which he visited.
Mr.. Prestons journey was solely for the purpose
years OF arduous attention to his profession, in
which he has attained high rank. Speaking of
his trip yesterday, he said:
TWAS . fine trim both over and return. We
were thirteen days going and eleven days CON-
ward trip were Mr.. and Mrs. Rndyard
kipling The great writer was fairly agreeable,
si,h he and his wife. kept much 10 them.
selves On subjects in which he Is in
terested ne talks originally and we'll.
one evening he spoke Tor an hour
ingly. Another time he read an unpublished
story and poem before assembled company
ana II gave great pleasure.
we saw no ships either going or coming ex-
cept when close to the coast and then they were
thick and plentiful At Hongkong we saw the
lancaster, an American flag ship, and 1t did our
Only one day was spent in Japan when we
nIst reached there for We proceeded at once on
ss nne steamer to HonEkong. The transporting
vessel was q good one, aud the good iare and
nne accommodation astonished ALL
AS soon as Hongkong was reached we found
Inat there were no railroads in Southern China.
there had been a short line built once which
the government had bought for the sole purpose
OF destroying.
Hongkong is finely built city. It's pecuIi-
arity Is its tine residences, which extend up the
SIDE OF mountain 800 feet high. The houses
Iollage The public gardens are large, we'll
arranged and singularly attractive. This city is
the headquarters fos large military and naval
iorce OF England. The harbor is a. fine as can
be found anywhere aud the shipping industry
Is Carried on on a large scale.
From here we proceeded by ship to Canton, a
regular Chinese city. 1t is surrounded by
enty-hye-foot high wall. At $50 in the even
ing the city gates are> closed, and there is
without a special official permit The streets are
very narrow, some ten feet and others not over
seven feet wide: For an American to travel on
loot through these busy thoroughfares is
utter impossibility. The people are exceedingly
curious and watch every motion of an European
or american stranger. We travelled here in
chalrs carried by two strapping coolies. For
TINS they get about 81 per day. The authorities
don't encourage white men of the ordinary kind
70 go into the interior of the country. high
dlgnitary may secure q passport aud guard, but
the ordinary traveller must go at his own risk.
A guide took us into a petty court of justice
ana just as we got into the place, where all
stood up except the judge, culprit was brought
In who was accused of stealing. He had no
lawyer. The public prosecutor took him in hand
and proceeded to examine him. The accused
was grovelling on the floor, his head bowed to
the very ground. He denied his guilt. but being
jacket forcibly torn from him and he was
given fifty hard strokes with the bamboo. This
was considered light punishment. as he was
an OLD onender. A board was also closed around
days.
There are no sidewalks there and one is con.
unuaiiy beset by begEars, though no evidence
OF dire distress was to be observed among the
people. The streets. too, were cleaner than we
people there who live in small two and three
story boats on the water. Their ancestors have
lived there for generations. The women ferry
In the day and the men labor in the town. At
night they get back to their stations They are
set apart from other people and are denied GER
tain Land privileges OF other portions Of the
"A place called McCan, owned by the Portu.
Euese, which Is few hours ride from Hong
company pays the Portuguese government the
sum OF $780, 600 a year for the privilege OF con-
Quoting the alluring game of fan-tan. Great
fortunes are made and continually lost here, and
the place is full of the excitement incident to
the usual run OF gambling helis.
10 pan tb we spent nearly h two
eminent runs the railroads in successful man
ner The English system OF first, second and
great travellers and vast crowds of people patron
lie the railway trains.
The hotels are good and cheap. the best never
costing over yens per day, about g. 60 in Ameri-
can money. The finances of the country are
not in good condition, judging from the fact
rnas ~ cents o, American n money has the
OF fare is arranged by numbers, which we all
touEd an excellent plan
the Grand hotel, I met Hon. John Leary and his
wife. They were happy and were on their way
TO CHINA. They expected to return to Japan
about June 10, and in about q month from that
time to start for SEATTLE. 1t showed how small
the world is. that We should meet in SO distant
q country.
The consul general at Yokohama is W. D.
TIllottson, formerly of Tacoma He proved ex-
ceedingly courteous and uses every exercion to
renoer pleasant the visits of Americans We
secured our pas sports from him. The Japanese
are friendly and they are especially attentive to
Americans. The government keeps exaet.track
OF all persons with passports and q stranger can
get neither lodging nor food without one
We attended the theater at Toxic and saw a
modern play, well staged, bright and clever
Ihey had revolving stage that was q novelty
and highly interesting.
In Japan we were carried through the streets
In jin-rikisha operated by one man, who for
% cents per day thought himself well paid. Ii
you gave him tip greater than 10 cents he
probably would think you a fool
While a. the Grand hotel in Yokohama we ex-