The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-06-14

like there is no good in them and every
thing that might be evil. dislike to dwell
upon that disgraceful trip, where the odors
from the drinking canal and food shops
made me ill. and l Immediately said thai
/ did not want to go to another place In
China except Hong Kong. as l had seen
enough. Some of the shops had attractive
articles In them. but besides the beauti-
full silks we did not find anything as pref
ty as the japanese art goods. The native
and foreign settlement are two distinct
cities within stones throw of each other
and yet so vast the contrast that | did not
wonder at her decision when an English
lady told me she had lived in Shanghai
twenty years and never yet had been ia
the native quarter.
Our stay In Shanghai was exceedingly
pleasant and from the people 10 whom we
had letters of Introduction we received the
most gracious courteses. Mrs. Anderson,
a Chinese lady who married an English
man. entertained us at lunch and proved
herself n harming hostess. She and her
sisters We're educated in England and
America. speak English perfectly, have
adopted foreign customs entirely and do
great good among their country women,
uplifting them from their ignorant servi-
tude.
While in Shanghai we heard of the bu-
bonic plague in Bombay and considered the
matter quite while before proceeding to
India This disease had wrought such raw
ages in Hong Kong two years before that
We naturally felt uneasy about going into
il. However a cablegram from the Amer
lean consul in Bombay In answer to our
inquiry assured us that it not serious.
and We determined to start taking tickets
through 70 London on the famous PENN
sular and Oriental line steamers.
Friends told that we had seen very
that We take a trip up the river and go
into the interior to see a typical Chinese
village: but | had seen enough of Chinese
people and felt that seeing the English part
of Hong Kong would satisfy me. ! had no
desire to see the great wall at Picking. the
palace of III" emperor anything else
Chinese and felt glad We had not Joined a
party of friends who had started on the
months journey to the capital.
This was the time of year for typhoons
along the China coast. and We weCe a little
anxious as we went TO sea again in a small
one-engine steamer. Three days were pass
ri in safety. when In the middle of the
night We were attacked suddenly by n most
furious storm. l never heard such crashes
and was very fearful lest the machinery
should break down. Then some one cried
out there was danger of the cargo shifting.
and ! never spent such terrible night.
We had only three first cabin passengers.
and while being tossed about there IN far
distant waters found our companion
was from Alabama and thus we represent
ed three different states. Georgia. Alabama
and Mississippi
The next morning the sea was somewhat
more calm. and We were in sight OF Hong
Kong. but SO furious still was the wind
that we had to anchor twcnty-four hours
out At sea. as II would have been unsafe
to 70 into uong Kong harbor. That was n
such pleasant companion I'm Colonel Court
ney Hixon. our consul toFuchau. We would
have lonced for home. Mr.. HiXon being
from Alabama We found that we had
many mutual friends. and he entertained
Us. too by telling of his life IN China the
past three years.
The second morning we went ashore. glad
10 be on land again after our exciting eX-
perioEce
Hong Kong is really the name of tho
island ON which Victoria Is situated, but
the people insist upon calling the city the
former name. II is built on the side of
mountain. and from the summit can be
had one of the finest views in the world.
Here it is impossible to use carriages, but
instead every one owns his sedan chair
aud has two or four coolies to carry him.
TIE natives ride IN the queercst little
Whtclbarrows with large wheel in the mid
die. while they sit on the sides with feet
dangling.
The importance of Hong Kong has grown
from the time the English occupied il.
and 1t IS their chief c1aling station in the
far east. and is strongly fortified. The
military reservation is well kept up, and
the police force is composed of large. fine
looking East Indians. The handsome
statue 10 the queen and the sea wall. and
the fine business houses and residences
speak of the prosperity of the little govern
mcnt. and the Hong Kong and Shanghai
Banking Con pany. which has its head
quarters hero, is the largest establishment
in the east. and / suppose is second only
10 the BanL of England. IL occupies mag
nihcent quarters. and over the offices are
apartments for the employees. The Mexi-
can dollar Is the unit of currency. and
each piece has a picture of the queen on
one side and Chinese characters on the
other. Hong Kong was the first British
possession we visited. and from there 10
Rrindise we sailed under the British nng.
and We're in those colonies on which the
sun never sets.
JOSEPHINE INNTAN RICHARDSON.