Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-01-23

ing implements.
On Monday, March 8, at 10 O'Clock n. M.
| W. A. F0gle will sell on the Franklin Mills
farm, hor1es, cattle, hogs and farming I'm
plements.
| On Tuesday. March 4, at 10 O'Clock, q. m ,
V. M. Michael will sell at Jimtown, on
the CresgerstOwn road, horses. cattle and
farming implements.
On Thursday, March IS, at 10 O'Clock n. m.
on the Rocky Ridge road near Logs. j..
Allen BETTER will sell horses, cattle, farming
implements and household goods.
rs much as your life was worth to hold on to
your travelling case. In sheer desperation
we divioed our worldly goods among them
giving each as little to carry as possible, TO
try and make our small belongings 60 round;
but the next trouble was to keep ones
eye on them. but fortunately We gathered all
together, paid each one the small amount of
cash" 1890 Cash equal TO one Mexican
dollarl necessary, had ourselves and traps
piled in rckshaws and were soon going at a
fast rate through the most dusty city we hat
vet been in, but the swift motion, the gay
shops with most of their wares on the street
combined with ponies, wagons, rickshaws,
camcls, palanquins, horses with sleigh bells
on, made truly oriental scene. After 30
minutes of dust we were landed with grand
flourish at our hotel. Here we had fight
With the coolies who wanted to over charge
US but we were wise by walking into the
hotel and asking the manager TO pay the
men and charge the amount in our bill,which
was about half that we were willing to pay
them Our hotel had been Chinese palace
but it was by no means comfortable; all
rooms on the ground floor enclosed in wall
and our bedroom doors were 80 bad We could
hardly get them closed; the floor Of stone
with pieces of carpet on it that you fell over
at every step and kicked up lot OF dust. A
bath was necessity but they made that
convenient by having the tub in your room
but you had to supply your own soap. We
made call at once on Mr.. Conger, our Min.
lister: he was very kind in giving us some
valuable information IN regard to the siege
as we'll as to tell us the things most desirable
to see.
The Legation suffered considerably but
nothing like the Dutch. which is next; 1t Is
completely wrecked. not wall ten feet high
remaining, but the utter havoc and destruc-
ton of property is best seen from the walls
back of the English and American Legations
The Boxers at one time got possession of
the wall directly back Of the U. g. Legation
but they we're ousted by an unexpected at
tack Of the combined forces a. that time in
the English Legation. Had they continued
TO hold it for one day there would not have
been one left TO tell the tale. Little has been
done toward rebuilding with the exception
Of making the walls and barracks within the
Legations stronger. The Germans have
built barrack back of their compound and
on the wall above it building a fort which
when mounted with guns can lombard the
Forbidden City as well as the city proper.
Some think it unwse for the Germans to SO
fortifying themselves, but possibly i, is better
to be on the safe side and he prepared.
The shops and people interested us very
much but the Temple of Agriculture which
was still occupied by our troops was full of
interest There are many acres enclosed by
very high and thick wall. At one place is
magnificent platform possibly 800 feet in
circumference, approached by many pure
white marble steps. carved balustrades 10
serpents. coats Of arms and other strange
characters which we did not understand.
The Emperor at given times in the year
comes to pray for rain, ind each spring before
the planting season, comes and plows, with
collie pillow. a furrow as an example to his
subjects to be industrious. Two or three
temples which are very handsome are In the
enclosure as well rs some curious guns. One
of the temples was used as a barrack and the
other for reading room and the Y.M.CA.
The Temple Of Heaven. which Is opposite,
has still handsome grounds within an i'm
mense wall; it was occupied by the English
hut through the kindness Of the officers in
charge Of the Temple Of Agriculture. had a
note which allowed us 10 enter. The chief
temple, dedicated to the worship Of tn. sun,
is the most beautiful! IN shape and coloring
of any temple in China. Before the siege
and ooting it was filed with beautiful shr;ues
but all have been carried away. There are
also smaller temples and raised platform Of
pure Italian marble 100 feet in diameter, its
centre round stone; it is called the "Centre
of the Universe" here at given times the
Emperor comes before the rising of the sun
to offer sacrifices. Both OF these places have
never before been open and we're closed n
few days after we left never again to be
opened to the foreigner.
The loctng Of the Forbidden City was
without stint. l Twas able to get table cover
of terra Gotta colored satin embroidered in
blue silk aud gold thresd which came out of
the apartments of the dowager Empress;also
mandarin belt buckle which is quito curio.
The Forbidden City was closed but we
were able to gain admi.tance to Ceal Hill
which Is now part OF the imperial garden.
The hill being very high we we're able to
overlook the city with its six miles of walls +.
The lakes and the celebrated marble bridge
are also in the garden.
HENRY G. CROFT.
Nov. lst, 1901