The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-13
CHINESE SIMPLICITY.
rFrom az I-ondon News.I

When Gen. Chaffee and his STAFF officers
went to the gate that had been discovered
passed through it and along the inside Of
the outer wall. 1 accompanied them. None
of the party felt in the mood for levity
and / remember that I. for one. was la
boring under very strong realization Of
discovered that the gate had but ad-
mitted us to an outer wall and an inner
one of equal dimensions Consequently
we had gained nothing in matter OF posi-
ton by finding the gate.
Before we had discovered all this, how
niorine the court those in advance came
der. so suddenly to cause them to
wonder If ne had not sprung from the
ground. His proximity at the moment of
the discovery of his existence. the fact
that he was apparently unarmed, and the
broad and trustfu1 grin which Illuminated
his countenance were all partly RESPONSE
BILE for his escape from death. Had he
been first seen at any distance. or had he
attempted to escape. he would certainly
have been shot. Under the existing cir
to the presence of the American com
AS the Americans advanced he present
ed a small wooden tablet. upon Which
were several Chinese characters his evil
dent anxiety that we should not overlook
this bit of unintelligibly inscribed wood
caused US at once TO jump to the conclu-
from the city within the city within the
city" In other words we thought, here
is a man with a message from the Em-
press Dowager, or even the Emperor him
At that moment I saw the interpreter of
the French general approaching. Know
ing that he could speak Chinese, mas
come to ask Gen. Chaffee if the French
artillery might shell the Imperial City
towers from the Tartar city wall, firing
over the heads of the American troops
Chaffee refused to entertain such a propo-
sition for a moment. but. Of course. that
didn't stop the French. In fact, Chaffee
had to use all his well known bluntness
and even employ discourteOus and profane
language before the French shells ceased
bursting within few yards of the Amer
H. Tfrrf fc hpr cf0
The French interpreter was as eager as
I to see what was on the placard: He,
and myself formed an anxious knot
the Frenchman scanned the queer hie-o-
he had finished. but he did not have an
opportunity to speak before the Chinese
commenced earnest and emphatic
harangUe to the new conner. OF course.
the Adongolian had tried the same thing
was understood. As he finished. or rather
slowed down after the first squirt, Gen.
why. SIR said the interpreter, with a
siclzly smile, this is q Chinese soldier.
and in addition tells who he is and to
what body of troops he is attached He
says he was on duty guarding that gate
in the outer wall. and left his post but for
soldiers had entered in his absence He
is very anxiouS that I should ask you to
go outside the gate at once, for he says no
one is allowed in here. and if his COM
mander discovers that he has neglected
post
be severely punished. He also says that
If you win allow him to return to the gate
he will show you the order which fOrbids
anyone to enter it,
Welt we all laughed One or two of the
younger ones fairly howIed- We didn't
any Of us feel gay, but no one could keep
a straight face in the presence of such
a-rs-zinSs simplicity. Even the general
smiled and grunted. which is near as
he ever comes to a laugh There was that
innocent idiot of q Chinese soldier actual
" asking his enemies who were even
then undecided whether to put
end to him or to march him to
the rear as a prisoner to go out of the
Imperial City because his comma nding Of
ficer would punish him for letting us in
And when one thinks of the American
casualties that were piled up before that
dav was over. and the Chinese dead that
were scattered over that stubbornly con-