The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-26
Idea OF Chinn's Size.

| Inc longest StTd.SUl illlG tHht N-f' ~
drawn In Chinese territory would be
go miles from northwest to south
west. The greatest breadth OF the en-
| pIre is 210O miles The circuit OF the
whole IL abou, Il coo miles, or consider
ably over one-half OF the circumference
of the globe. The Russia = boundary Is
{, 800 miles. The coast line Is 4,4O0 miles.
The longes line drawn through Russia
would be $500 miles, and the average
breadth OF the cars empire Is about
|. 500 miles. The longest line that can
be drawn in the United States Is 500
miles. while our coast line Is 500. The
actual area OF Russia, including her pos
sessions in the Arctics. which are not
habi.a bic, Is s, 900, 900 square miles. the
area OF China which Is all hab!table. is
| & COO 900 square miles and that or the
United States 1885. .16S square mics.
China. like the United States. and un-
like Russia Is compact. No part or II
Is sepa from the remainder by for
eiEn territory. 1t occupies more than
one-third Of Asia. and stretches from
the Pacific coast to that mysterious
mountain desert in the center of the
continent, which has been impressively
designated as 1.-The roof OF the world"
Every variety OF climate and soil can
be found within its limits and every
useful article known to natural MIS-
tory. II has thousands of square miles
OF arid desert lands, and along the coast
OF the Pacific belt of low plains. which
have been formed by subaerial dust de-
posits and silt brought down from the
mountains during countless ages. rms
plain is believed to be the most pfoduc-
tive agricultural land In the world. Ii
retains and renews Its fertility with.
out the application OF fertilizers. and
has been producing crops for thousands
of years whhout rotation or any arti-
fclal means of enriching 1t.
Carton is In about the same latitude
as New Orleans and St. Augustine.
Shanghai Is about the same as Memphis
or Charleston. Pesin Is about the same
as Philadelphia and Indianapolis, al
though II Is much hoetter in China dur
ing the summer season and much colder
during the winter season than In siml-
lar latitudes In the United States. The
people are an inert mass of humanity.
generally contcr.ed and UNSURPASSED
anywhere else for ignorance, industry.
superstition. ingenuity and skill. As
problem for study our fellow-worms in
China are very interesting. but when
YOU come In actual contact with them
they are very repulsivc.
Where Patriotism Is Unknown.
There is no patriotism among the
Chinese. on the birthday of the en-
peror was In Tlentsin and did not see
a fag or a decoration or a demonstra-
ton or any evidence OF respect. except
the flag that always floats from the
custom house during business hours.
The governor OF the city did not even
notify the consuls. In order tfat they
might make some recognition OF the oc-
cason.
In Janan on the birthday of the en-
peror or the empress every CITY ard
village Is ahlaze with bunting and IL
Illuminated with lanterns and fireworks
at right. Not school nor farmhouse
could be tour1 without decoration, and
flags ard arches of evergreen would be
erected In the fields,
In China ! could not buy flag OF the
country, although ! tried to d. so at
both foreign ard native stores In Snang-
hal. T.entsin and Pekin. The Chinese
ensign Is very ornGmen'al--a yellow
ground hearing blue dragon IL
useful anywhere for decorative pur-
purposes. hut I saw more In Japan
than saw In China, and at every shop
where I tried to buy one they told me
that they never kept them in stock:
could order one at the tailor's II
liked.
There are no schools In China except
to educate men for Office. There Is no
postal system except that conducted
by foreigners under consular jurisdic-
ton between the treaty ports. There Is
no currency except q brass coin called
"cash," Of which 1000, weighing several
pounds, made a dollar. When a man
travels across the country he has to
hire an extra mule to carry his money.
There are no banks outside the foreign
settlements. There are no street lights
or sewers, or sidewalks or water works
or water closets outside the foreign set
Elements in the whole empire. There Is
a telegraph line erected by foreigners
between the principal cities. but 1t costs
"a cents word to send q message from
Pekin to Tientsn. a distance Of eighty
miles. which is nearly twice as much as
the charge between New York and Lon
don or Paris.
There are two railroads in the empire
both intended to connect coal mines
with navlgable water. but only one car.
riee passengers. There was q third
road. eighteen miles long, but II was
purchased and removed by the govern
ment because the rails interfered with
the free movements Of the spirits OF the
dead. There Ii not q stage lbae In
China. You cannot hire q carriage In
Pekin, q city gilmore than milltpn and
10 half population and the carltal OF
the empire There u bar at the