The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-12-11
TRAINS AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Why Eccentric George Francis
Writes His Life Story.
WANTS MESSAGE" UNDERSTOOD.

hepFOsacnHuA OF Kate Because He Is
Not Apprecjated--Dictat to a Ste
nographer at Rapid Rate-His Re.
markabIe Memory - Experierce
With Lii Hung Chang.
AS he sits in his quiet little room in
the Mills hotel George Francis Train
now in his seventyfifth year, is more
or less reproachful of fate for not al
lowing him to be understood, says the
New York Times. He hopes, however
that his forthcoming book, My Life
In Many States and In Foreign Lands,
may prove in way q vehicle through
which his message may be compre
hended. He has great faith in this
message, but he says that he has
learned to modify his expressions
through experience. He has discarded
psychic telepathy and other extraordi
nary ideas, but he believes that wheth
er or not his message will be evident tt
all he will at least have produced al
entertaining book dealing with really
remarkable career.
Mr.. Train has been debating his an
TOPOGRAPHY to a stenographer sent by
his publisher. The author has rarely
been obliged to turn to book Of refer
ence. The confirmation Of his dates
and historical facts by the stenogra.
pher has revealed a most wonderful
memory on. the part of Train. Once he
quoted half a page from Emerson
read in volume that he had not seen
for forty years. A comparison with
the original revealed one mistake-the
substitution of and" for but.
A reporter of the Times accompanied
the stenographer the other morning on
his visit to Train. He found him in a
corner room near the top Of the Bleeck-
er street building, busily engaged In
his correspondence. The walls OF the
room are covered with clippings from
newspapers. Train at once began his
dictation where hefhad left off on the
preceding day. This is what the re-
porter heard.
When / was ready to start for ia
pan. had made up my mind to visit
Shanghai on the way and was about
to start when Canton merchants, ma
tive and foreign, tried to dissuade me.
They told me that 1t would be terribly
disappointing and that would regret
wasting any time there. They did not
know my nature and that this sort Of
thing merely stimulated my curiosity
and hardened ny determination.
/ took passage In the P. and o boat
Erin, Captain Jameson, and supposed.
of COURSE that l should have state
room. But was to meet with anoth-
er Chinese surprise. A great Chinese
mandarin, going from Hongkong to
Shanghai, had engaged the whole cab
In. l was very anxious to see this
great parsonage and soon had the op-
portunity. 1t Is my practice when at
sea to take exercise by walking rapid
ly up and down the deck, thus cover
ing many miles day. was taking
my daily exercise the day when the
mandarin boarded the ship, and every
time passed the cabin noticed that
he followed me with his eyes. And so
we kept up for some time, walking
as unconcernedly as L could and the
great mandarin watching my move
ments as curiously as if I were some
strange animal
After awhile he called the first Off
Ger and asked what I was doing.
Walking up and down the deck he
was told. But why does he do it? Is
he paid for it," The officer told him it
was. for exercise. what is that?'
asked the Chinese great man. This
was explained to him, but he could not
understand why any one wanted to
walk up and down and do so much I'M
necessary work. The Chinese are not
averse to work. Indeed they are about
the most Industrious people on the face
of the earth, but they do not do unnec-
essary work. having. | infer, to do
about as much necessary work as Is
good for them. And this great digni-
tary pointed to me with scorn and
said, mo. / foola." hardly need ex-
plain that No. throughout the east
means the superlative degree.
This mandarin was the great Ii Hung
Chang, who had been summoned by
his emperor to save the country from
the terrible TAPPING rebellion. He was
on his way from Canton to Shanghai
He had called in the splendid services
of three great foreigners-the French
man, Bougeyine: the American, Ward,
and the Englishman, Chinese" Cor
don. But it was largely and chiefly
due to the stubhornness and genius of
Ii that the empire was saved to the
Mantchoos at a cost, it is estimated, Of
millions Of lives.