The age-herald., 1900-08-05

B. C. 246-221. this wall still stands, the greatest monument ever raised by human hands, triumph of human industry. Be- ginning at Shanhakwan 0he sea and mountain gate), about 200 miles east of Pekin, where the mountains come down
 to the sea- it follows the range westerly,
 circling the plain about Pekin until it reaches point about thlrty-fiye miles north of the capital. Here 1t branches, one
 line of the wall running northwest and
 west along the northern borders of Shansi
 and Shensi, crossing the upper stretches of
 the Hoangho into Kansuh, a distance of
 10eO miles as the crow flies. The other line
 runs southwest around Pekin until it
 reaches the western boundary of the prov
 ince of Pechili. then follows the boundary
 line south over 300 miles until 1t reaches
 the valley of the Yellow river, making, all
 told, continuous line for over 2,000 miles.
 It was made by the great emperor as a
 protection from the raids of the fierce Mon-
 gol tribes of the north, who would come
 down through the mountain passes on their
 swift ponies. with their trains of camels, make sudden attack upon the rich cities In the plain below burning killing and piliaging, until their camels were loaded with plunder and then retire as quickly as they came Instead of following the easy
 ways, the great wall rises up the moun- tain sides. climbs the steepest ways runs along the sharpest ridges and seeks the highest peaks, proving itself a triumph of l:engineering skill, says Leslie's Weekly The
 wall averages about thirty feet in height
 and about twenty-five feet in thickness and It's. top Is paved with broad flags to afford an easy passage for troops to and from | the fortified posts, which are built at fre- qusnt intervals along it's line.
 The outer edge of the top of the wall Is protected with embellishments rising higher
 than man. while along the inner edge | n O<.
 thus pass from post to post along the top or the wall without being exposed In the least 10 an enemy. The embellishments are
 built with loop holes below. while above are spaces to which the archers and cross boy men could step to discharge their weapons after having prepared them be- | hind shelter.
 Chinese tradition says that while the wall was being built the Mongols planned a raid near spot where the wall was still un- completed. The Mongols were near when the Chinese first learned of the threatened
 invasion The wall was their only defense, ut night interfered with their work, so
 the emperor, in his extremity commanded
 the sun to stand still, which it did for
 seventy hours while his men piled up brick and mortar until the wall was completed Then, as the Chinese tell it. The graciously
 permitted 1t to set" The Mongols. com ing up the next day and finding finished
 wall across their path gave up the expedi- ton and turned back in disgust.
 It Is said that the men became wearied during the long stretch of day and that
 the emperor, to keep them at their work,
 ordered that all who went to sleep at their work should not be disturbed but walled In Where they slept. Whether the tale be true or not, the Chinese guards will show you peculiar cavities in the wall said to
 have once been occupied by those who fell asleep at their work during that ,ens day.