Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-16

fnsulted in some form. The official class in
the island empire-magistratesp police and
others-are faultless in their behavior. but
the rowdy classes are often very annoying
No doubt in some of the great Chinese
ports, Hankow in particular (where the for
eign traders often treat their Chinese serv-
ants like dogs, there is frequently dis
played a suppressed but bitter enmity to-
ward all classes OF foreigners. but had |
been told before going to China that of all
races the Chinese were the most kindly
disposed and respectful toward visitors
fro m other nations, l witnessed nothing
curing my brief stay among them to belle
that statement. To be sure. they call us
foreign devils. but on the lips of the average
Chinaman 1t is scarcely a term of even
mild reproach. A street beggar will fail
down on his knees in front OF one and saw:
oreisn devil VIII you please give me
cash without the least sense of incongru-
lily. The rapacious official class and the
common scoundrels hate the foreigner but
the best, and especially the more inteIli-
gent, people of China do not. Well-disposed
Chinamen may become grossly deceived
and for time frenzied. Some missionaries
ana large number of native Christians
nave been cruelty massacred, but believe
TINS terrible uprising will soon spend lis
force The missionaries and the merchants
VII! go back to their old resorts The dinl,-
mats VIII provide ample safeguards against
repetition of the folly, and a decidedly
better feeling will pervade the millions ~
Nhina toward the foreign peoples and esp.-
clally toward America and Americans.
w uouDt me chinese crafty.
Ioupt uuplclty is one of their worst traits
Their studied politeness is very enchanting
put dreadfully hollow. Arthur Smith in
ms dehghtful Chinese Characteristics
cushion-there is nothing in it: Vet IL helms
wonderfully to get over the jolts with.
Will Listen to Reason.
There Is one especially good thing about
the Chlnamen-they are remarkably amen
able to reason. / was told that the best
way to quell mob while 1t is in a threat
ening attitude and before It has reached
the frenzy stage is to spy out the leaders
press your way through the surging mass
close up to them and begin to reason with
them Very likely they will be convinced
calm down and dismiss their followers
One OF our lady missionaries once Quoted
mob that had gathered about the COM
pound in the absence of her husband by
boldly going out of her front gate into its
midst and expostulating with the leader
who saw the reasonableness Of her appeal
and dispelled the gathering storm.
Except In the time of racial upheayal
like the present the lives and property of
foreigners are remarkably safe in China
L believe, as a rule, the magistrates high
and low. honestly try to protect foreigners
in their treaty rights Their duties are
often very trying and difficult. In seeking
to protect us they are sometimes treated
with indignity by the rude class. In por-
tiois VI inc country Wntre Sedit1OuS secret
societies are numerous the life of a man
DARN who is disposed to be vigorously Just
Is often endangered. The country is In
Tested with outlaws who are the enemies
alike of native and foreigner. and vet the
TACT remains. to the everlasting credit OF
the Chinese race and their loosely iointed
government, that large numbers of mis-
sionartes are scattered all over this vast
empire, in great cities and small villages
travelling in sedan chairs. Even lone and
defenseless women travel through the open
country and often after nightfall their only
defenders the four men-perhaps heather
Chinamen-who carry them in their chair
over many weary mile. and Vet without
danger except from the possible attacks of
professional highwaymen"