New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-25

about her is Of value, If it happens also to
be well written and TO give graphic aud sym
pathetic account Of nature ana native life and
character it is douby welcome, To books Of
this class the first three in the above list Ger
tainy belong. Their authors are acute and
trained observers fitted To understand the
things they see and possessed Of literary skill
to describe them. There are. in fact, few WORKS
on Chinese travel and Chinese life that are bet
ter worth reading.
That Mrs Bishop is a bold traveller and i
clever writer is known TO ali readers II her
earlier works. and these volumes will add 70
her reputation in both particulars. the greater
part Of her journey TO the far western province
of SEE Chuan was made along the great river
highway Of Central China upon which foreign
now travel without fear Of moestation
But when she turned her back upon the Yang
tse tat Wan Hsem and struck out alone through
the heart of the province on land journey of
twelve hundred miles she subjected herself To
a test of fortitude and courage which few of her
sex we imagine would be able to bear. Even
a ''foreig y devil" of the male sex would have
need If a stout heart to carry him through such
trip; but for woman, travelling in open
chair-an abUmination to the Chinese-the risk
many times greater In fact, she sew
eraI times matreated by mobs suffering serious
with her life. Scarcely less trying to nerves and
temper We're the dreadful waysde inns. reekinS
with filth indescribabIe, and the thousand and
one annOyanCes encountered by traveller in
land where privacy and cleanliness are both
known. OF these amenities of travel in Sc
Chuan the following account of inn of the
better class in San Tsan Pu will convey a sug-
gestion:
The room was long and narrow and boarded
off from others by partitions with remarkably
open chnks, To which many pairs of soping
eyes were diligently applied; but able To
battle curiosity by lacking up cambria curtains
brought for the purpose. The roof high at
one side and low at the other. and fortunately
the wall did not come up to within two feet of
IT, though the air admitted could not by any Gu
phemism be called fresh. The floor was a damn
and irregular one of mud, partly over a cess
pool. and with strong tendency To puddles
On the other side of the outer boarding was a
plgSty, which was well occupied, Judging from
the many voices. bass and treble There were
two rough bedsteads on which were mats COW
cred with old straw. in which coolies Law dawn
on wadded quilts and sleep four or more in
bed. 1t is needless to say that these beds are
literally SWarminS with Vermin of the worst
Sorts. The walls were black and shiny with the
dirt ana damp OF many years the papers with
which the rafters had once been covered were
hanging from them in tatters, and when the
candle was lit beetles, Skaters" cockroaches
and other abominabe things crawled over the
walls and dropped from the rafters. one pink
heshy thing dropping upon and putting out the
candlc
Upon the perils of the way and these, daily
and nightly annoyances however Mrs Rishop
does not enlarge unduIy. The STABLE of the
book consists of very charming descriptions of
the generally beautiful and often grand scenery
through which her journey ran sympathetir
and instructive comments upon Chinese ch,-