Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-05-23
HUGE CHINESE CITY
SHANGHAI AND ITS ODD MIXTURE
OF NATIVES AND FOREIGNERS.
EXTREMES OF THE CLASSES
Queer Superstitions and Traditions
That Have Come Down From An.
Gent Times-Missionarie Suffered
Women Whose Feet Are so Small
They Cannot Stand Unsupported.

walled city and, like other Chinese
| cities, is filthy, writes Mrs. A. w. Will
son to the Baltimore Sun. The native
neither sees nor knows it, and it mat
tiers not to him what the foreigner
| thinks
Well-to-do people live very little bet
ter than the poor neighbor. The very
wealthy often live luxuriously, accord
ing to their ideals. Their dishes at
table may please, and do please, the
foreign taste l have eaten of many
of their soups, stews and sweets and |
find their culinary art is often appetiz-
ing. It is difficult to use chop sticks,
but at a wedding feast last week I
found l had improved somewhat in
handling them.
Silks and satins, however. look in
congruous upon floor that was never
scrubbed-no, not since the house was
built
The streets are very narrow, rarely
wider than three or four feet. have
not seen ''riksha" in the native city;
always dismissing mine at the gates.
Pedestrians stand aside in the ma row
way while the coolie goes by with his
heavy load suspended from his
shoulder-which load is often so Of
fensive as to be sickening. There is
no possibility OF escaping to the other
side, for the coolie occupies the en-
tire space. And yet, passing along is
the Chinese dandy in his handsome
robes, or a fine-looking boy, whom you
turn to see for a second time.
In the Foreign City.
The foreign city is outside the wall.
Part of this is no cleaner than the
other. The temples in neither are
cared for. They, as all the rest Of
the celestial empire, have been with
out broom or scrubbing brush since
the foundations were laid. But the
largest part of this outside Shanghai
represents the energy of the west.
There are rows Of European houses,
and those facing the river are hand
some, whether used for business Or as
residences. Electric lights, carriages
coming and going, hundreds of jinrik-
steam launches, ocean vessels and
warships in the harbor, make a beau
tiful picture as one traverses the Bund.
There are few churches in Shanghai,
but China has no Sunday. The mis-
sionaries and their followers Or con-
verts KEEP the day, as well as other
foreigners who were we'll taught at
home, but Chinese business houses
are open On Sunday, and everywhere
can be seen the coolie bearing his
burden, as at other times. The truth
is that many millions of these people
have but one day Of rest in the year
their new years day. To cease work
for "a hours. Therefore, in Shanghai
shops are open and business continues
on Sunday as On Monday.
There are foreign stores on the
Bund, the Marking road and in other
parts of the city, where almost any
thing to be found in New York Or Bal
timore can be purchased, and at prices
not much greater. To be sure, when
started out to look up Christmas pres
ents | scarcely found thing which
was upon nay list, especially in the
line of books. 1 remembered the pref
ty little stories furnished us at home
during the past half dozen years, but
neither they nor substitutes. were in
Shanghai.
There are not fewer than forty fac
tories in and about the city, giving en-
ployment to hundreds of men and wo-
men.
The native population Of the foreign
city increases rapidly. John China
man jostles the European at every
turn, Notwithstanding that many
streets are wide. Chinese women are
in the wheelbarrow and "riksha"
which winds in and out through the
crowds, with only an occasional upset.
Carriages and bicycles increase the
| confusion. but somehow order is
brought out of chaos. The English
concession-where / have been all
winter-has a police force Of Sikhs, a
body of fine looking men from India
They wear dark blue uniform OF
English cut, with a handsome red tur-
ban.
Guardian of Chinese Shops.
| There are streets that are altogeth
| er Chinese-narro and built up &C
cording to their own plans. The shop
fronts are guarded by representa-
ton Of an animal that no longer exists
1t seems he was greedy and thought
he must have all he saw. One day he
was determined to have the sun, and
seeing the reflection in one of the ca
nails he jumped in and was drowned
He is hideous ard well able to scare
away the wicked. Hence he is gildeC
and stands in front of the shops
These are decorated after the Chinese
fashion, and the signs, instead @.
being over the entrance, are often sus
pended across the street.
Shanghai has race course, crickei
grounds, recreation grounds on otheI
lines, clubs, Y NJ. G. A. hall and pub
lie gardens, where the bands play il
warm weather. The public garden:
by the river are very beautiful. The!
are not so extensive as at Singapore
and on the Island of Ceylon, but the,
are delightful in sweet odors, as the!
are to the eye. The ferns are lovely
altogether beyond my powers Of de
scription. The palms, magnolias AM
oleanders are handsome, while tn,
flowers are of all hues and scents.
have not seen the roses, but am toll
they cannot be eXcelled. can speal
for last autumn's chrysanthemums
which were of all colors, sizes an,
sorts; for the camellias and gorgeou
t.1li1,r- little 1rialots-