The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-12-25
A VANISHED NIGHTMARE.

Some years ago the dreamer oi
dreams were specializing wildly
upon the probable destiny %
China, with its I0O,O0o,0O0 OF
people.
One fayorite prediction Of the &
prophets was that as the Celestia
Empire was thrown open to tn,
influences of civilization its dead y
engines of warfare would be adop
ted and improved upon by the
shrewd and ingenious Chinese, and
that the teeming myriads OF the
Ocient would eventually over.
whelm0d Europe as the Gotl4
oyerran Italy, France and Spain
in the days Of Roman decadence.
Wonderfully narrowing fancy pic
| lures were drawn, showing the
probable progress of the victorious
Chinese through the proud CAPT
tails of western civilization; and
the seers of sorrow seemed to look
forward with gloating expeeta-
ton to the realization of McCau-
ley's fantastic idea of the New
Zealand Tourist sltetchino the ruins
of st. Paul's.
China, unknown, isolate d
and full of mystery, was
viewed by the civilized world
with a mixture Of interest
and awe: and when, little more
than a year ago, the pretty little
toy kingdom of Japan declared
war against the vast inert lethar-
gic bulk, Europe and America
stood breathleSs with establishment |
at its temerity. 1t was as if toy |
terrier had attacked a Newfound-
land, to use an unworthy similo.
But when the worlds astonish-
ment had been brought to q climax
by the complete triumph of Japan
and the utter route and demorali-
zation Of her huge enemy, admira-
lion and surprise gave place to
jealousy and envy. The victory
If the gallant little kingdom was
'obbed of almost all its reward,
md for a time it looked as if the
eatherweight champion would
ave to do BATTLE with the COM !
lined powers Of Furope-a task
rom which Japan in no wise
hrmk. But what Europe had !
onged to do but dared not, Japan t
accomplished, and China's knell as
nation sounded in the booming of
he cannons in the sea fight off
Port Arthur. I
Russia has seized VladivostoGk l
nd Port Arthur. England has :
ong held possession of Hong !,
Kong, and is watching eagerly for r
ther prey Germany, with an t
udacity which has startled the a
oval pirates of Europe, has taken :
of one of the finest .
Dorts on the Chinese coast, with t
ut a shadow of warrant, France il
nd Italy, always struggling des- u
erately to keep up with the race, y :,
re skirmishing wildly along the {
hinese boarder, in dread of being "
'owded away from the prey. In IL
ice Of this startling condition, the n
lst unwieldy bulk of China lies =
elpless, deyoured alive and G
.ecemeal by her ravenous foes, e,
ithout the power to move in self K
,fense. Even the snarIing of the :,
ons, the tigers and Jackals over l.
e carcass of Africa has ceased in II
cir conflict over this new and far b,
Ter quarry. The greed and jeal- ii
lsy of the great beasts of prey az
whetted to the highest pitch, r.
d China may yet be revenged dc
a death struggle among her de- al
'oyers. The predictions of uni
rsal warfare with China as the an
ief object appear to be destined ~
realization, but with the great wi
npire of the East in an entirely th
ferent role from that prophe- le'
d. 81
INTERESTING DECISION. Cal