The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-25
IAe ADVERTISERS
 A HOME STUDY CIRCLE

, dox is that everything depends on the point of view. As you approach the city it's appearanee is quite impressive; the high massive walls stretching as far as the eye can reach, the gloomy gateways with heavy stone arches. the strong bastians frequently protecting from the walls and the immense square towers overlapping all at the corners. and other important points. Along the top of the wall runs narrow serrated coping, the towers are full of windows for marksmen, and the whole effect is picturesque and fearful to the last de- gree. Tn front is moat from which the earth was taken to form the inter- for of the wall.
 But this earth is not visible. The whole wall is faced inside and out with massive bricks SO pounds each, and is carried to the height of 50 feet, with a total thickness of 40 feet at the top. It might be supposed that this fortifica- ton, being so ancient. could be easily reduced by modern artillery, and so it could be if 1t were all stone or brick, But 1t is in fact huge earth work, the only kind of structure which can with stand modern guns. and it would be impossible to batter it down beyond the brick facing.
 The vulnerable points are the gates, and of these there are 16 in all. It Is quite possible to break in one or more gates with explosives or heavy shell fire and then rush the entrance while the fire of the defenders on the Walls is kept down by well-directed rapid- fire guns. But what would happen if the Chinese were also well supplied with machine guns, and used them skillfuIly? They could so place them as to pour a steady fire of bullets through the long narrow tunnel of the gateway. and no man would be able to get through alive. But fortunately for the rest of the world, China is not yet ready.
 Let us go in by one of the eastern gates. the same by which the allied troops entered, being nearest to the foreign legations. If we mount at once to the top of the wall. a magnificent view is spread out beneath us and it will be easily believed that Pekin Is entitled to all the heavenly and endear- ing names which the Chinese love to lavish upon 1t. Remember we are now 50 feet above the city. with an un- obstructed view in all directions.
 From this point of vantage we per- ceive that Pekin is not one city, but three. The wall on which we stand forms great square. 14 miles around, and almost in the center is another en- closure. surrounded by a lower wall than the one on which we are standing. This latter is the imperial city, and within this. like a Chinese puzzle, lies the forbidden or purple city. This is the forbidden city where the Son of Heaven lives with all his harem and royal relatives, the Chinee holy of holies. into which no foreign devil is allowed to enter on any pretext. The imperial city is about two and one fourth miles around. and is occupied by the royal palace and other fine buildings. From this distance it looks like bit of fairly land, a chapter from the Arabian Nights. Its palaces ap- pear embowered in trees, through whose abundant foliage the yellow DOT celain tiles of the roof gleam like gold.
 The outer city. on the wall of which we are standing, is called the imperial or Tartar city. Within are barracks for troops. government buildings, tenn ples. gardens small lake, and many private residences of the wealthy. These latter were originally all Tartars or Manchus. for they were the ancient eonquerors of the country and have been for centuries the hereditary aris- tocracy. But. during the 250 years of their supremacy many of the wealthy Chinese have succeeded in gradually insinuating themselves within the charmed circle of yellow exclusiveness, and now have their residences also in the Tartar city.
 Here. too, the view gives no hint of filth and squalor. Treees and gardens seem to be everywhere and if we leave