The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-07-18
LEXINGTON, S. c., WEDNESDAY, JULY IS, 1900

sisting chiefly in study and contem-
plation of the teachings and works
of the ancients. Buddhism and Tao
ism both have elaborate and splendid
ceremonials. Taoism is the older.
Buddhism having made its appear
ance in China about 1900 years ago.
It is now the religion OF almost eight
tenths of the people. In the north
east and southwest there are 30, ,0OO,-
600 Mohammedans. The Roman
Catholics have more than 1000, 600
adherents and support twenty-nine
bishoprics. The converts Of all the
protestant churches are estimated to
number not more than $4,000. Back
in the remote interior of the kingdom
the hill tribes are still nature
worshipers or heather.
At grand dinner the Chinese be-
gin with sweetmeats and conclude
with soup. They sit sometimes at
table for FIVE or six hours, with a
midway interval or recess, during
which bowls are brought in and the
members of the party wash their
hands and heads in hot water.
Fricaseed dog is favorite dish,
special breed of poodles being raised
for eating purposes. Stewed rat is
another delicscy, and the Chinese
are also fond of eggs when they
have passed the point where even
the cold storage man could call them
fresh. Sharks fms, bird nests, pea
cocks livers, green ginger, cocks
combs, and fowls hearts and brains
are dishes which might be found on
the menu Of a high-class Chinese
banquet.
During the year 1898 China i'm
ported from all foreign nations
goods valued at ,$l46,0C0,O00 Dur
ing the same year the exports Of
China amounted to S118,000,O00.
As an evidence of which nation has
the greatest interest in China so far
as trade and commerce 60 it may be
stated that of the total of Chinese
imports Great Britain and its colo
MES supply goods to the amount of
Sill, 100000, while of the exports it
buys about S6O.000,00O, or more
than one~half. Most of the English
trade with China is transacted |
through the British crown colony of
Hongkong, which was ceded to Great
Britain by China in 1871. During
the same year the United States i'm
ported goods from China to the value
of Sl3,0OO,O00 and sent back in re-
turn American goods valued at a
little more than s9,O00,00O.
If the Chinese themselves are to
be believed, the Chinese empire has
been in existence for more than 100,-
600 years. Other students say that
it was founded $500 years before
Christ, and by some Fohi, supposed
to be the Noah of the Bible, is con.
sidered the founder. The great wall
of China, p,ftions of which are still!
in evidence, was completed 2l' B.
G. Printing is said to have been
known in China as early as 2G2 B G.
10 1917 A. D the first Europeans ar
rived in China. 10 1915 Jesuit mis-.
sionaries were sent to China from
Rome Ia 1862 general earth
quake shook the empire and more
than 100000 people were killed at
Pekin alone. Commercial relations
between China and Russia began in
17l9.
The policemen Of Pekin are, or, at
least, were, armed chiefly with small
drums, which they beat loudly in
order, it is presumed, to let burglars
and other marauders know that they
are coming. All night long the
watchmen beat their way around the
streets, and as natural cons' quence
are said to make few arrests.
The pigeons Of Pekin have each
light whistle tied to their tails,
which gives forth loud sound as
they fly. Sometimes five OR six
whistles of different tones are at
tached, and the result is more or
less melodious confusion of sounds.
The blind, and in Pekin blind men
and women are numerous, also use
drums to announce their coming and
warn other people to get out of their
way. By the difference in the sound
as it is reflected back from walls CT
pavements it is said that the blind |
Cinnamon can always locate them
selves exactly, so that they need no
guide.
The beggars of Pekin are another
peculiar institution. They are Or
gauized and have ruler of their
own, whose orders they are quick to