The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-05
OPEN SESAME TO CHINA.
Prince GhinE's card Made All Things Easy
for an American Traveller.

A little piece Of paper was able 10 carry
Francis H. Nichols Of this city unscathe,l
through many hundreds Of miles in inner
China during his recent journey, Il was
the card Of Prince Ching. who next to
the Dowager Empress is to-day he foremost
A yire in the Chinese Government
He is an uncle of the Emperor and Of
course n Manchu The card. simply Inscribed
with the three characters Of his name. was
about ten inches long, three wide and red
in color; if any one had picked it up in
our streets he would have thought it noth-
ing but a Chinese laundry ticket
As he handed the card 70 Mr.. Nichols
Prince Ching told him that he would need
nothing else to obtain ample protection
and assistance anywhere in China This
proved to be exactly true.
The card was an open sesame TO all China
II had more potency for the travellers
protection than thousands Of soldiers might
have Afforded.
Mr. Nichols has told in Through Hidden
Shensi- how invaluable this biz of red paper
was to him II was his creole It ials II
meant much more than that the various
mandarns were TO provide him with an
escort and guard him through their terri
tory
There was never a minute Of his Jour.
ney that some officer was not respon-
sible for his safely. A. many mules and
carts az he required were provided he was
protected from incivilny or insult, and the
PURPOSES of his journey were rthered in
every way In fact the card was through
bill Of ladng by means Of which the traveller
passed safely from place to place.
Whenever Mr. Nichols produced Prince
Chings card the effect was magical The
kow-tow with which he was then honored
was very low and respectful. When
he handed the card TO one Of the mandarins
of Shensi, where the anti-foreign feeling
has been very bitter the official made
short speech telling Of his unbounded re-
gard for the visitor; he swore by Confucius
that he would protect him with his life.
In floating down the Han River Mr..
Nichols now and then overlook fleets Of
boats stuck in the mud. but his canoes
we're always able 10 squeeze through,
special privileges on the han, az else
where in China There were plenty of
volunteers from the other boats to push
his canoes through the jam and speed
them on their way.
the Han to prevent smuggling and sup
press the river pirates. who now and then
steal out at night to rob the freight boats
at anchor Because Mr., Nichols pos
sessed a piece Of red paper Inscribed with
Prince Chings name he was accompanied
down the river by a number Of war junks,
which prevented him from being moested
by any of the criminals in that region.
At one Of the towns the captain Of the
steamer on which Mr. Nichols embarked
for the Journey down the lower Han was
Obliged to go ashore to pay the usual likin,
He told his white passenger that he was
afraid he would be detained for two or
three hours because the official who col
lected the likin ma mean man, who did
not like the idea OF steamboats, supplantiug
hunks in the carrying trade. and, there
fore, usually kept him waiting two or
three hours before he would receive the
MIR. Nichols gave him Prince thing's
card to show to the official. Ten minutes
after he had left the boat the. captain came
running down the path and gave orders
to heavc anchor and start at once.
when | showed Prince Ching,s card
to the mean man. he said he asked me
where | had obtained II. / replied that
il belonged 10 q passenger on the steamer.
II YOU DO ntx 1.art within fifteen minutes
said the mean man to me, I will have you
bambooed Have you not sense enough
not Ia delay man who carries his High
ness's card' Get out quick and don't
stand around here,
MIR Nichols was an agent for the dis
trbution of a fund that had been raised
for the relief of the starving people in
northwest China. This is the reason that
he received the unusual favor Of the per
sonal card Of the highest officer In the
Government 10 help him on his way.
Il seldom give my card TO any one"
said Prince Ching and It is only because
of the interest which Americans have
taken in our starving people that present
IL TO YOU.