The National tribune., 1899-08-17
CHlNA'S GREAT WALL.
Dowagsr Empress. Win Haze 1t Demolished 10 Euid
Modern Cities.
.Sqn Frnncisco Eramincr.

It took 100000 men working for 10
years TO build the great wall Of China.
Even then many parts oJ the wall were
already there for the men to link together.
The carrier sections were built 3 3,3322 wears
before the birth of Christ The final wall
was completed III POI g. G..
Now, more than 1000 years later. the
wall is to be blown up BY dynamite to
suit the modern idea of progress. II will
be destroyed in twinkling-it was built
in 30 centuries.
An interesting and striking object les
son IN China'S whimsical transition in a
few years from superstitious stagnation
to practical advancement is furnished in
the proposition to blow the old wall into
RUNS. The proposition emanates from the
new ruler OF China, the Dowager En-
press She Is a remarkable old woman,
this Dowager Empress. TO have been
evolved by a country like China. The
wall has been the pride of the Mongolians
all their lives. They have been reared on
it from childhood. 1t has been a part of
their religion. Up to two years ago the
bare idea of removing it would have
stricken the little yellow people dumb
with indignant horror. Even now had
the suggestion come from foreigner they
probably would have cried out for the
white devils blood and called upon the
Empress to Danish all unbeiieving dogs
from the walls protection. But it came
from the great Empress herself who could
cut oil the heads of a thousand or two of the
poor little chaps if they dared to raise so
much as their eyes in dissent; and so the
beloved wall must come down. with all its
precious traditions and sacred charms cling
ing around it,
IL will be like pulling the old empire
out by the roots and building a new order
OF things on the ruins
For the old wall is to be made into new
cities. 1t contains enough material to
make 100 cities as large as Pekinp. II
VIII be torn down by modern appliances
by dynamite and drills-which will be in
Keeping with the idea of completely trans
forming the China of yesterday into an
up-to-date commonwealth.
IL was the very essence of Oriental primi-
tiveness that inspired the building of a
wall around China to keep out hostile
tribes The wall itself was utterly useless
Tor the purpose for which it was built,
and was revered by the superstitious Ce-
| lestIals mainly for its magnitude as a work
| OF the hands, and eventually for its great
age and Its distinction as peculiar land
| mark OF the empire. IL was stupendous
enough merely as a piece of physical labor
| 70 hold the awe of the simple-minded. In
these days. as viewed through eyes that
revere antiquity and find a mystic charm
| IN things whose origin is d, u ltfuI and
whose construction must have been matters
of centuries and the work of millions of
hardS, the wall IS an object of awe even to
1
marvel at in itself. Imagine a wall reach
ing from here almost to Chicago; imagine
stret' of masonry 5000 years old
in which contained enough rock with
which to build another New York, Chicago,
Boston, Philadelphia, Washington and
San Francisco
The Empress sees that the old China
can never hope to survive the ravages of
civilization. The powers are encroaching
upon her her realm and are snarling ever the
feast like dogs shifting a pen of rabbits,
certain that the prey cannot escape them
and each bent on securing the largest
portion for himself when the inevitable
raid shall come
So she resolves with wisdom that mod
ern workmen will do the constructing;
modern architects will do the designing;
modern people will do the business in the
buildings after they have taken their
places in the line of progress and become
a part OF the new Chinese civilization which
the fall of the great wall will represent.