The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-21
TEE OUTLOOK FOR CHINA
American Woman Declares That 1t
Is Very Gloomy.
Little Hope for Permanent Peace
with the Observation-Disclosures of
the PeI<in siege-Changes ia the
Character OF shanghai-chrysan-
themum seasOn-CeIestiaI wedding

BALTIMORE. Dec. 2I.-The following
letter concerning the situation in China
has been received from Mrs A W VIII
son. under date Of Shanghai. November 10:
Shanghai is becoming a foreign city.
The native city is here of course, and
like all the large cities of China is sur
rounded by a high wall with four gates,
all OF which are closed at night. AS many,
or most as many. Chinese live in the for
eign concessions as in the walled city, and
some wealthy Cinnamon are now building
their houses after the English and Ame-i-
can fashion. was here twelve years ago
and I observe many changes. The num-
Der of new buildings is large and what
was at that time unoccupied space is now
filed with business houses or with fine
residences.
The mode Of iocomotion is in the jim
riksha, though, OF course. We see horses
and carriages. These. however. are ex-
pensive Iuxuries, and hence are not gen
orally used, so that the 'riksha' thkes tire
place of street railways.
Shanghai is IN Central China, which is
a network of canals. From this city into
the interior, as well as TO the north and
boats may be owned or. rented, though
for safety from various annoyances it is
better to own and use ones OWL house
boat, which can be made quite comfort
able. Bedding and provisions must always
be carried by the traveller whether the
journey be long or short
Travelling in a WheeIBarrow.
Chinese wheelbarrows are not alto
gether unbearable They can accommo-
date a passenger for miles along the tow
paths of the canals with some degree of
ease. but. as with a jiGriksha. if the trip
be long mere than one cooiie is neeessa-
Ty- [ did not years ago OBJECT TO a short
ride into the interior towns near by IN a
wheelbarrow, although I prefer q jim
rikSha. After some experience I think il
IS much to be able to say that I have
had but one tumble from the little one
nan shay. Then I was thrown three or
four feet beyond my coolie. who was go
ing very fast and stumped his toe. He
was more frightened than l. and neither
Of rs was injured.
Il write in the middle of November. The
sun shines. but It is frosty The Chinese
are appearing upon the streets in their
Wadded garments. AS they do not use
fires n their dwellings, business places.
schoolrooms, churches, or any place of
gather all the winter, they add their cold
and colder coats as frost gees into ice
until at last some OF them are as broad
as they are long-eertainly the children
are. Wealthy men wear elegant furs
down TO their feet, and the well-to-do are
clad in top coats OF comfortable cloth.
The poor, who are in the majority by
many millions, wear cotton padded with
cotton and have more or fewer of these
gowns according TO financial ability.
Many Of them are very poorly clad and
fed through the winter. 1t is the same
old story the world over. except that
here lives, suffers. and dies larger pop
uIation than elsewhere
4 few days ago I went to a large
Roman Catholic industrial institution near
this city. We saw most of the work. both
IN the male and female departments. I
suppose the boys are trained according to
their gifts. There are carpenters. print
ers, bookbinders, architects (students. |
mean, and workers in the various fine
arts. We went into the schooIroons
where the younger boys were at spelling.
reading, writing, arithmetic, etc. and /