The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-10
DR.. r. E. JENKINS
is NOW IN MANILA
His Last Letter from Pekin-What
He Thinks of the Chinese
= Theater.

, Mrs. r. r.. jenkins has received an
other letter in diary form from hVr
hr.h,nd Aot,p, Surgeon Jenkins. jT
- ,,.,,, q, ,vitb tho Ninth infantry
y. - ,,,.,,a, 90 a., ,,..vayes
Rt fekiil. ~ hu'''oei Vi N' ...,,'.,
m general interest we aie
IT, give to our readers To-Day:
pckin, China Sept. II.
Ninth Infantry Camp.
4 al, In my tent in my camp chair and as
n,i,r I can raise nv ewes and see the immense
rn,c and wall which mark the entrance to the
Forbidden CITY, wherein lies the imperial palace.
!, soI,rd is in front Of it; the gate Is closed
,,d no one ;s allowed to enter Very few have
h,on ins,dc the movers having agreed to keep
,,,
p,k;n il surrounded by an immense wall,
;,sidc NJ which IL the Chinese city, again inside
81 ,bot ;s another wall. inside of which is the
Tartar city, then another wall inside OF which
1. the Imncrial city aud still another wall and
the Torbtllen CITY. Had the Chinese not been
.,,rod TO death no human power could have
,.kcu this oitv The walls are Of mud and brick
,nd are sixty to seyenty.fivc feet high and vide
enough for fourteen horscmcn to ride abreast
The gateways are immense structures OF the same
material s,irmountcd with great pagodas. which
ire arsenals. The one near us is filled with bows
and arrows by the million. the arrows are spears
timed with iron. The arscnals OF China all
seem to be filled with obsolete arms and equip
ments which probably have been here for hun
,lteds OF wears
sertcmbcr 26-I am commencing to look out
for sonic mail and | hear we are soon to have
a full equipped postoicc. We are living little
better here and now have lots of eggs and occa-
.ionally some fresh beef and mutton. and are
also able to get pears and apples. / have re.
ceivcd a letter conmenlatory of the part T took
in the relief of burned British soldiers, very
good letter to possess. Have been on
the move again. On the morning of Oct. our
marines who were acting as provost guards (that
il. n policc) moved on their way out of the
country. and battalion OF the Ninth infantry
Was ordered to take their station. which is in
Inc Tartar City in the estate OF the eighth
rrincc I was ordered with them as medical Off
Ger and have spent the last two days getting
moved and TO work again.
October 1o.--I am probably the happiest man
in tho whole outfit th, morning, because yes.
tcrday received twcnty.ciyht letters which rep.
resent INV mail up to July 27 Yesterday at
tended with all other United States officers, the
presentation of Chinese umbrellas to Generals
rhaffce and Wilson, It is the custom among the
Chinese to present umbrellas to people whom
,bov wish to honor. These umbrellas are made
~ six with hanrinrs. and are covered with Chi.
nese characters rhc party was accompanied by
\ Chinese band and spcechcs were made. It was
\ s,rious affair TO them, ludicrous to u.s.
October 1o--Last evening the officers OF the
Nirtb ;nf,n,rv ooyc an entertainment to the
oairors a, tbe Fourteenth at the Canton club
house in the Chinese city. We had a theatrical
r,rto,r,roo b,. , frst class Chinese thcater com,
ronv and afterwards a concert by the -Four
,ecnth infantry band. and a spread with lots to
cat and drink. The Chinese performance was 4
-vnicol Chinese affair and. of course, was the
.irnt Of A life time. It mostly consisted OF
rant;np around the stage in eytravagant cos
tunes. which however were elegantly gotten up,
with the faces painted horribly in all colors,
including gold and silver. and every actor yelled
a, tho ton Of his voice as in fact, most every
thinomon does when he talks. All the while the
orchestra. consisting mostly OF drums, cyn,lals.
,Curokv fddlcs and horns, kent up the most in.
f,rnol din. There was. however. quite a won.
dcrful acrobatic performance, which relieved the
monotorv of the affair. Nothing else has hap.
ncncd eXccpt that I have had moro work allotted
to mo ,e surcoon .or tho nroyost marshall no,ro