The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-28

course. 1t is rather significant that the
diplomats of England who have come
most in contact with Asiatic peoples,
are as a unit in advocating a forceful
and definite policy in dealing with China.
The present writer is no exception to the
rule. He does not believe that modera-
ton, gentleness, and magnanimi:y are
things which the Chinese will understand.
AS in the book of Mr.. Colquhoun. which
appeared some time ago, the main i'm
preston which one gets of the city of
Pekin is the extreme and varied forms of
filthiness which prevail there. Naturally.
the book is mainly devoted to descrip-
tions. The author saw, among other
things, a Chinese execution. The record
of this is not exactly 4 chapter of horrors,
but it is not pleasant reading. Another
peculiarly Chinese transaction which he
saw was the selling of little slave girl.
This is the bill of sale:
This is deed of sale. Wan Cheng, of the
village of Wan Ping, has child the offspring
of his body, being his second daughter and his
seventh child, aged eight years. Because his
house is poor, cold. and hungry, relying on what
has passed between third person and his wife,
he has determined to sell his daughter 10 one
named Ma. lie sells her for SIS. every dollar
to be worth seven taos and half The money
has been paid over in full under the pen ii. e.
at this time of writing). The girl IS to obey
tenance. In the event OF any difficulties or doubts
arising on the part Of the girls family, the seller
alone is .sponsible, it does not regard the buyer
1t is to be apprehended that calamities may
occur 10 the child but that is according as
heaven shall decree; her master is not respon-
sibe. None hencefnrwafd may cross the door
to meddle in her affairs. This agreement has
been made openly face 10 face. In case OF any
enquiries being made this document is to serve
as proof.
he nd fhof ha
seemed to be simply in fever Of delight
at leaving her parents"
All through the book there are notes OF
one queer thing or another, and one has
the feeling of having been to China when
the volume is finished. One of the curious
items is that smallpox is known to the
Chinese as the heavenly flowers"
The humor of the letters is one Of their
most striking characteristics, and out of
his most uncomfortable experience Mr..
Milford managed to get good deal of fun.
He spent time not only in Pekin, but in
the provinces. and an incident of his travels
was as follows:
At one ford one of the mule filters broke
down and was smashed to pieces. No great
damage was done, and the mule litter was
patched together with bits Of string and an old
nail or two. The way in which the muleteer
abused his blasts for the mishap was very funny
Treating the mule as if it had been human
creature he proceeded in his wrath to take away
its younger sisters character. Be Ii man or mule,
horse or pig, or what not, that sins against
Chinese, he Immediately tramples on the TAR
fame of the younger sister of the offender, heap
ing upon her every foul abuse that he can lay
his tongue to. Mingled with his reviiings the
muleteer addressed the most humble petition
to me not TO dock his pay. passing from prayer
TO abuse with wondrous facility. II that mules
younger sister guilty OF one-haf the enor-
mites ascribed to her. the punishment has not
vet been devised which would be equal 10 the
occasion. The list of her crimes is not fit for
publication
The book is without illustrations though
there is a map of Pekin at the end, and it
is completely indexed. New York: The
Macmillan Company. So