The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
Marrrv FOR TIE suNpAr rrr,rBrIc.

Nye1TTEV FOR THE HCNDAT ESPJBLlC.
AT the present time China is the center
Of interest for the civilized world and the
apparent awakening Of her people is now
attracting the attention OF every military
Power. This awakening. II such It is. has
taken 30 violent form that many alarm
lists are dwelling on the Old predictions con-
corning the yellow peril" forgetting that
the peril in the present case is caused by the
overwhelming numbers OF the Chinese as
opposed TO comparative handful Of for
eign troops,
The curious sides Of Chinese character
and diplomacy which the Boxer rebellion
has revealed. however. have stirred w great
interes, in the most curious people in the
world The crafty diplomacy and the sbil-
fty shown In the leadership OF the Chinese
forcss have revealed the fact that the decay
of China has not been 20 thorough as was
supposed and that the intellectual decay Of
many Of the people has not robbed the ma
ton OF all Its leaders.
The country itself Is diversified that #
would be Impossible TO give a complete de-
scription OF #. Speaking 10 a general way
the area Is over 4,cy0, 90 square miles and
<the population over four hundred millions,
or five and one-haf times greater than that
of the United States. China proper may he
described siop!ng from the mountainous
regions OF Tibet and kepal toward the Pa
otfc Ocean on the east ana south The
principal physical feature OF thu country IL
the extensive southern spur OF the Hima-
layas, which extends from the west bound
airy OF the Empire to the ocean and cuts OF
Southeastern China from the rest OF the
country. North OF this range the country Is
generally mountainous. while 10 the east
and south extends the Great Plain. which
includes five Provinces, an area OF 10000
square miles and population Of l71.cs5'0co
souls. The chief rivers flow from the west
to the east or southeast. and the two largest
are the Ho or Hoang-Ho, and the Chang,
,,,fg r1ad Nar CT q
have course OF over $3.50 miles. Among
the artificial features OF the country which
compare with the physical are the Great
Wall in the north and the Grand Canal.
which extends from Pekin 20 Hang-CEaC,
q distance OF COO miles.
The history of a country whose records
extended over 400 years can only be briefly
touched on. 1t is sufficient 10 say that its
starting point WAS in 1851 3. C. this being
the end Of the first period OF sixty years
into which Chinese chronology is divided IN
stead OF centuries. The reputed ruler at that
time was Hwang-Ti. but the names prior
to q few hundred years before Christ can
not be relied upon. At that time the Da-
ton consisted of many tribes and clans and
the collection Of these under one ruler was
not accomplished until zoo B. G, the feudal
system prevailing until that time. From
the last date until the present time the
Government has been in the form OF an
empire.
The most interesting feature Of the coun-
try, however, IL its people and their curious
habits and customs Every one is familiar
with the appearance of the Chinese. the SIM
ilarity between the members of the race al
ways calling forth comments from Eu-
ropeans. although there are really as many
different faces, judged from a Chinese
standpoint, as there are among Caucasians.
The contour of the faces IL the same, how
ever throughout the Empire. the same round
faces with yellow compilations, high cheek
bones coarse, black hair and oblique eyes
Prevailing in all parts OF the country.