Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-07-29
China's Great Wall.

Built by the great Chung, or Shin
Hwang-ti, as he was better known, who
reigned B. c. 246-221, this wall still stands,
the grea est monument ever raised by
human sands IA triumph of human indus
try. beginning at Shanhaikwan (the sea
and @fnountain gate, about 200 miles east
ofAPekin, where the mountains come down
% the sea- it follows the range westerly,
rfrcling the plain about Pe<in until it
Teaches a point about thirty-five miles
north of the capital. Here it branches
one line of the wall running northwest
and west along the northern borders of
Shansi and Shensi, crossing the upper
stretches of the Hoangho into Kansuh, a
distance of LOCO miles as the crow flies
The other line runs southwest around
Pekin until it reaches the western boun-
dairy of the province of Pechili, then fol-
lows the boundary line south over 300
miles until it reaches the valley of the
Yellow river, making, all told, contin-
uous line for over 2J10 miles
| 1t was first made by the great emperor
as a protection from the raids of the fierce
Mongol tribes of the north, who would
come down through the mountain passes
on their swift ponies, and with their
upon the rich cities in the plain below,
burning, killing and pillaging, until their
camels were loaded with plumber and
then retire as quickly as they came In
| stead of following the easy ways the
great wall rises up the mountain sides.
climbs the steepest ways, runs along the
sharpest ridges and seeks the highest
peaks, proving itself triumph of engin-
eering skill says Leslie's Weekly. The
wall averages about thirty feet in height
and about twenty-five feet in thickness.
and its top is paved with broad flags to
afford an easy passage for troops to and
from the fortified posts, which are built
at frequent intervals along its line
The outer edge of the top of the wall
is protected with embellishments rising
higher than man, while along the inner
edge runs a lower guard rail Troops
could thus pass from post to post along
the top of the wall without being ex-
posed in the least to an enemy. The en-
battlements are built with loop holes be-
low, while above are spaces to which the
arehers and crossbowmen could step to
discharge their weapons after having pre-
pared them behind shelter.
Chinese tradition says that while the
wall was being built the Mongols plan
ned a raid near a spot where the wall
was still uncompleted. The MongoIs were
near when the Chinese first heard of the
threatened invasion. The wall was their
only defense but night interfered with
their work, so the emperor, in his ex
tremity, commanded the sun to stand
still, which it did for seventy hours. while
his men piled up brick and mortar till
the wall was completed. Then. as the
Chinese tell it, "he gracously permitted
it to set" The Mongols, coming up the
next day, and finding a finished wall
across their path, gave up the expedition
and turned back in disgust
1t is said that the men became wearied
during the long stretch of day and that
the emperor TO keep them at their work
ordered that all who went to sleep at
their work should not be disturbed but
walled in where they slept. Whether the
tale be true or not, the Chinese guards
VIII show you peculiar cavities in the
wall said to have been once occupied by
those who fell asleep at their work dur
ing that long day.