The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-10-27

of the East, they nave so Varleu tuelF no"
and course that the bridges often cross only
the driest and stoniest of beds. In circum-
ference the city walls enclose vast tracts OF
country, but that does not in the least i'm
ply that the cities they contain are of any
great size or importance. 1t Is only ac-
cording to the quaint specific Of Chinese
military science that for effective resistance
it is advisable to extend your lines OF de-
fence to the greatest possible length. On
the high road of internal trade these cities
are a mass of inns and stables, and Chi
nese inn has marked peculiarities Of It's own.
Entering by narrow gate over wooden
pedestal, you find yourself in the first OF a
series of square yards, on two sides OF which
are rough sheds for the accommodation OF
the animals, whilst on the other two are
the guest rooms. tagged with brick or
stone, and ending in a platform for the
bedding of the travellers. Underneath the
platforms are the kSngs, or closed stoves,
for heating the chambers, and particularly
the sleeping places; but, however cold 1t
NAV be. it must never be forgotten that to
heat the stones means also to call into alb
normal and mischievous activity the insect
population. which the winter may have
lulled into comatose condition beneath
the felt covering. A less dangerous way
of obtaining warmth is to get hold of an
open brazier and place it in the fore part
of the room. 1t is doubtful whether any
body could truthfully assert that "life' = best
welcome is in Chinese inn.
In the far distance, from the gate OF
Pekin itself, is to be seen the range of
mountains to the northwest, which goes by
the name of Nankau, the city at the en-
trance to the Pass Burnt and blown to
tawny color, in their sharpness, their
barrenness and their utter want OF human
occupation, these mountains remind one OF
the foothills of the northwest frontier OF
India by the Kaiber aud kohat Passes.
Nature could not provide nation with
grander barrier to the incursions Of the
alien. and, without the vestige of wall, a
hundred opportunities are given for an im 70
pregnable series of defensive works No
such read has been made to assist an III
vading army as now pierces the Malakand'
and the traditional caravan route Is mere
stony track, winding in and out, up aud
down with the ramifcations of the passage
Curses, loud and deep, in many dialects
accompany the slithering and struggling OF
countless beasts of burden going to and fro
From Fankau City to the actual wall Is, a.
| have said. some fifteen miles in distance,
and along the oyerhangng hills runs the
line of telegraph posts that crosses the COBB
desert to the frontier port of kiakta- and
81 on by the Russian line of commnnIc'-
tons
THE SQUARE WATCH TOWERS
About third Of the way up one cou'c>
to a veritable rock gate, on the S'des OF
which are mounted two small JOSS
houses. where travellers can make their
peace with the gods before they enter on
the perils Of the Mougol road. Above
them, on the higher crags, were built ages
ago the first Of the square watch towers,
which stretch in unbroken regularity to the
furthest points of the old wall just a. on
the borderland of Scotland and along the
marches of Wales beacon fires were wont
To be carried FROM point to point 81 A. "a
give warning of the approach Of the foe.
aud difficult task il must have been T.
force passage through these fortified de.
files even after the walls were surmonutcd.
Twisting about the bills are other walle'i
/ enclosures meant to be used A. auxiliary
forts to the main lines. At last, after
many fancied recognition, you come ~
sight Of the Great Wall itself For one'
in a way world famous wonder i no dls
appointment The dreary yellow Of the
/ encircline mountains, the sharp cut dis
| tinction of the country face and the WILD
aridity Of the desert beyond, sill lend en-
ehantment To the view, the enchantmenI
| of the savage tracts which bred the con
| auering nations Of the modern world
I From Mongolia came the Goth and Ih'
/ Hun, the Tartar and the Turk, IN fact, &c
cording 10 the ethnologisi, all the world !
energy and force must have been genera'eI
upon thi. barren table land From th'
great gate of the Great Wall you hook Of
/ to Mongolia, though it is not 50 called uniI
you pass Kal.an. and YOU do not marve
that the mighty races Mongolia has hFe'
have the grit Il pugnacity driven into then
bones. A troop of English cavalry in hn'
could pass along its ramparts for the whol'
| of its extent. and one Of its bricks weigh
as much as fourteen pounds Every hull
crest carries it to its topmost point, and n
slope Is too PERCEPTIONS for it to descend
whilst To make the permanent way goo
going for men on the march the aocliviiie
are broken into the steps Of an easy stair
case, still sound enough for all to traverse
Once seen, the Great Wall Of China cat
never fade from memory.