Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-16
BISHOPS VIEW OF CHINA
PROMINENT MINISTER OF VI. F..
CHURCH RELATES EXPERIENCES.
No Evidence of Dislike of StranRers-
"FOreiSn Devil' Scarcely Term
of ReprOach.

Bishop W. X Ninde of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, who has been a frequent
visitor to Washington, and has served for Il
number of years as president of the general
executive board of the Epworth League,
IN a letter received here In part says public
interest In the recent outbreak in China
has revived many memories of his brief
visit to the empire in 1894. The visit oc-
CURED during the war with Japan and the
country was in an excited and disturbed
condition.
Il spent a number of days in Tien Tsin, -
he said and later held the North China
conference in Pekin. No outbreak occurred
in either place, yet the safety of foreigners
was by no means assured. The good inten-
lions of the authorities were never doubted.
but their ability to quell mob violence,
should a serious riot occur, was much cues
toned.
After landing in China 1 never felt n
quoting sense of safety, from Pekin on the
north to FoochOw on the south outside the
foreign settlement in Shanghai Our reli-
ance there was a fine battalion of Young
Europeans. most of them clerks admira bly
drilled and armed and who, it was felt.
would prove fully able to suppress any out
break among the natives. The time when /
was most concerned for my safety was dur
ing the twelve days in Pekin 1t seemed
at one time If l might become a perma :
nent resident of that unattractive capital
of the Chinese empire from the impossi-
bll1ty of getting transportation down the
Peiho, the house boats being impressed into
tn" government service to take troops to
Taku. Happily, when the time came to
| make the journey the difficulties had disap-
peared.
Visits the Legations.
Il well remember while in Pekin making
repeated visits to our legation and also to
the British legation, which has become so
famous. The latter was formerly a noble
| mans palace and was presented some years
ago by the Chinese to the British govern
ment. The principal building is spacious
and the rooms are lofty, and as / remem-
Der them, elegant with rich carvings BY
native artisans. The grounds were also
ample and pleasant. 1t was arranged that
In case of trouble the foreigners should
leave their residences and seek an asylum
In the large legations. 1 recall an evening
when DIR. Lowry and myself went to the
British legation to hear Mrs. Isabella Bird
Bishop, the noted traveller, lecture on her
visit to Thibet. At the close of the recep-
ton which followed the lecture We walked
back to the missionary compound, along
Legation street, at very late hour my
friend carrying a lantern to help out the
dim street lamps. We met police officer
beating gong as he hurried along to rouse
up the watchmen who lay along The side Of
the street fast asleep
DR.. Ninde said notwithstanding his fears
he never observed any symptoms on the
Gets that indicated unkind feelings
toward strangers. One day, he added, he
was again with DR.. Lowry. walking along
the top of the wall. Squads of soldiers
were getting out some rusty iron field
pieces from the balconies, and, with the
rest, an immense wooden cannon, perhaps
fourteen feet in length, painted black and
having large iron rings around the breecn
and muzZle. They stopped and watched
the men at their work, standing quite near
them without divertng their attention. DR..
Lowry remarked, they moved away, that
had the soldiers really felt any ill-feeling
toward foreigners they would have received
evidence of it as they walked along the
wall.
Greatly Overdrawn.
II believe the hatred Of the Chinese peo-
pie, taken as whole, has been greatly
overdrawn," continued Bishop Ninde. Il
have been in all parts of some of the largest
cities. l have visited scores of small VIII
lagos back from the treaty ports. l have
been surrounded by men, women and chill
dren, and yet / felt assured of their
kindly feeling that j never cared to glance
behind me from my sedan chair to see IL
any face wore a sinister look. OF course,
If foreign ladies were in the company they
would attract curious attention. but never
annoyance or disrespect. 1 have gone IN
procession of native Christians with BAN
ners, band music and firecrackers through
the principal streets of a provincial capital,
crowded with people, lamps and torches
lighting up their forms and faces. yet all
maintained the most respectful quiet
II can remember no single instance in
China where was made to feel myself an
object Of derision or dislike, while in Japan
always avoided the crowds lest might be