Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-14

attention as'I walk through the streets
Is tho grouping Of the shops. have
seen quite q number of streets, laRge
sections OF which are occupied entirely
with shoc-shops others by clothing shopa.
others stlll by frult-shops and so on. in
definitely. While there are exceptions.
this grouping Is far more general than
In the United States.
TAKING a BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
I recently had good view Of the city
from the building commonly called by
foreigners. The Five-Storied Pagoda-"
but which Is really only one Of the many
barracks built on the city walls. Besides
being itself some fifty feet high, It Is
built on the wall where the later winds
over the hills. which are the commence
ment OF the broken country that stretches
out north Of Canton.
If the reader will stand with me In the
fifth story Of this building 1 will point
out some Of the many things which may
be seen from this eminence Facing
south we see the dull. moss-covered
roofs OF the hundreds OF thousands OF
Chinese houses, an Irregular, unattractive
patchwork with only here and there
some lofty. prominent structures. The
most OF the latter are "pawn-shops' and
storage warehouses; combined. They
are strong. massive, rectangular build
ings, that rise thirty or forty feet above
tho surrounding houses. Clothing espe-
cially is taken In pawn and kept in these
buildings from one season 10 the next.
Here and there arc seen towers 20
or 100 feet high, constructed OF
bamboo, and slrmounted by small house
Of the same material, covered with palm
leaves. These are occupied at night by
men who watch for fires.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral, with
IT'S two lofty spires. Is the most magnih-
cent and prominent building in the city
and, being western IN design, forms a
striking contrast 20 the myriads Of Chi
ncse houses which surround It.
Across the city to the southwest, lying
In Pearl river. is the Island called Sha
Meen, about three quarters OF a mile
long anj one half mile wide This Is the
foreign settlement, and its wide streets,
fine residences, large shade-trees. and
beautiful nower-gardens make 1t very at
tractiye. especially to those Of US who
live I'm n very thickly-settled portion OF
the Chinese city. The various consulates
and the post-ofilce are on this island. /
enjoy going w there occasionally, just
10 look at the Stars and Stripes which
float above the house of the genial gen.
teman. Hon. Charles Seymour. who has
been the representative Of our country
here for about fifteen years
A Walk THROUGH THE STREETS.
There are many other things concern
ing this great and strange city which
should like 10 write. but will defer them
until some future time. ] with TO close
with some Impressions OF a walk through
the streets.
The business streets are nearly always
crowded. and a foreigner Is a great curl
osity If stop 10 buy anything a crowd
fills tho front OF the shop and examine as
carefully as they can everything about
the foreign devil" as ! am often called.
More than a third Of the people L meet
men. women, and children-are bare
footed Their clothing ia Of every hue,
and varies between great extremes, both
as 10 quantity and quality. Most OF the
coolies are clothed in knee-breeches only,
having the upper part OF the body en-
tirely bare All women always most
OF the children, and not n few men, 30
b9reheaded / understand that IN the
hot season hardly any one wears hat
II 1 90 not want 70 be knocked down
/ must DO careful 10 keep TO the rlght'
and watch out for coolies carrying sedan
chairs and all sorts Of burdens. If II IS
early in the morning or late in the eve
ling / am almost suffocated by the doors
and smoke Of the incense-sticks that are
being burned IN the little shrines, which
are built in the wall at one side OF the
entrance to every shop. At all times Of
the dav the odors from the sewers and
from buckets of refuse matter which IL
bein. carried away for fertilizing pur-
poses are trying 70 the sensitive for
eigner. but they do not seem 20 be OBJ
iectionable TO the Chinese. I am always
glad to get back to my own home, which.
together with the adjoining house, be-
longing 20 our mission. has a pleasant
lawn. where can be toleraby free from
the noise Of the crowded Chinese streets,
and can breathe some pure air.
! have written this letter because Of my
interest in Virginia in general, and in
Richmond IN particular, and with the
hope that ! may interest the readers OF
the Dispatch in this great heather city
and country
I take pleasure in acknowledging my
indebtedness 20 Dr. r. II. Graves, who
for forty years has been a missionary OF
the Southern BaRtst Convention In this
city. for criticisms as to matters Of fact,
ana TO our two teachers for much help
mi information. r. p. CHAMBERS
Canton. China, April -. 1896