Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-13
LIKE A MODERN CITY
Peking Improved Since the
Boxer Troubles.
THE NEW LEGATIONS
DIFFERENCE Dr. xp1N1oN RE-
GARDING FUTURE UPRIsINGs.
2----E
a.
Expectation Among High Officials That
the Imperial Household Will
Abandon the City.
BY WILLIAM q. CURTIS.

SnltdSo heCotu-f1eTalu
AT SEA, August -, 1904
There have been many improvements at
Picking since the Boxer troubles, and it is
becoming something like a modern city
Three railways now enter the venerable
walls which have been cut for that pur-
pose. New stations, warehouses and busi-
ness offices have been built on modern
plans which form striking contrast to the
ancient structures that surround them
Nearly all Of the European powers have
erected new legations upon an extensive
scale, which make up modern colony at
one corner of the ancient city surrounded
by massive walls and deep meats, which
are intended as a protection In case of an
other siege. ~
There are barracks for military guards
connected with each of the legations, and at
present about LOO soldiers. representing
all Of the great powers, furnish what some
people think is a necessary protection. The
United States has about 150 infantrymen,-
who, by their Intelligence education and
manly appearance offer a. striking contrast
to the troops of other nations. One never
realize the moral and. Intellectual supe-:
riority of the rank and file of the United
States army. until it is placed beside the
conscripts of Europe. ;2a.s..
The American legation . is > slowly. APP
preaching completion. The architect, Mr..
Nealys of, Washington has. had a. variety of,
difficulties tomeet and obstacleS to overcome. ;.
but has done his work we'll, and, although.
the new buildings are by no means appro-s
pirate to the dignity Of the United States
and the magnitude of the Interests, repre-
scented. they are a decided Improvement
over the old ones. We may be-a great: and,
powerful nation. We may be the. richest peo-
pie on fhe glober but no one would, suspect
1t from the manner in which our ministers
and consuls in foreign countries are;
housed Ever Belgium has much more i'm
posing legation buildings than the United:
States, but I.4suppose We can rest easy on
the theory that handsome Is as handsome
does; - &C.,. -
Another Uprising Predicted.
! There is a Difference of opinien as to the
probabilities in Picking, There Is no lack of
prophets Jefemiahs and Jobs are plentiful,
and they take most doleful view of the
situation. They tell YOU that another anti:
foreign uprising isdlikein,to occur at any
time. and that we ought to have 2.UOO SOL.
diers there inste ad of a couple of small COM
panies They predict that an attempt will
be soon made to -extermipate the entire for;
egni population that. the plans are COM
plete, that preparations have been going on
for two years, and that. the cordial atten-,
Ftions and extraordinary concessions Of the:
empress dowager toward the people of the
wool over their eyRs AID throw them off;
their guard. The massacre is to take place
at the first FAVORABLE opportunity.
Other. wiseacrss VIII tell you that the
trouble will begip when the empress. dow
ager dies; that There will be a struggle be-
tween the ChineSe and the Manchus. and
among the numerous clans for the. control
.cietfesssyill lake 'a5vahtage. ~; the econfu-
sion to massacre all of the jpha bitants Of
Legation street and all the missionaries.
There is not che slightest: danger that
either of these predictions will be fulfilled.
II China should become involved in the war !;
or If the Russian army should become des-
perate and Shoot lot Of Chinese officials
In Manchuria or elsewhere, an attempt
might possibly be made to retaliate upon the
foreign colony, because the Chinese coolies
do not distinguish between the subjects
Of the several nations Every foreigner Is
a foreigner, and. regardless of the disposi-
tons Of their governments toward the Chi
nese, he hates one as much as another.
|. Almost anything Is likely to happen IN
case OF the death of the empress dowager
It is easy to conjecture, and the extraordi-
nary situation furnishes abundant material
But the unexpected usually happens, ana
when the autocratic will of that dimfnutive
woman, not larger in stature than a girl OF
eight or, ten years. is paralyzed by death
or illness. rival leaders will possibly seek to
snatch the seepter from her hand
The Most Likely Event.
1t is more likely, however. that the gov
eminent will go right along just as 1t has
been going without the slightest Interrupt
ton except to pay the distinguished honors
to which the empress Is entitled. she Is a
most extraordinary woman-the most re-
markable woman of her time-and few or
the many women who nave sat upon
thrones have ever equaled her IN ampltion,
in strength of character, in determination
|. and other qualities which enable one human
being to control millions of others. She Is
mixture of Queen Elizabeth, Catherine the
Great and Lucretia BOrgia.
Har ma ipSty has granted amnesty TO all
| of the so-called reformers who were IN
yolyed in what is now known as the coup
d'etat of 1898, with three exceptions one
| Is Kang Yu Wei, the leader, who as l
wrote you from Hongkong, Is hopeless
| wanderer on the face of the earth, ana mas
recently been compelled to fee to Australia
to escape the grasp OF her mlehl3 arm
LANG Chi-tsao. formerly the editor OF a
progressive paper In Picking and afterward
| in Shanghai is another to whom she VIII
show no mercy reward OF Io,oV taels
| has been offered for him, and although ne
| is known to be living in Yokohama, DUSTY
| engaged in writing pamphlets and news
| paper articles upon Chinese reform no one
has ever betrayed him.
! Some Changes in Picking.
| The Ketteler memorial, monument
| which has been erected by the Chinese gov
| eminent upon the spot where the German
| minister was murdered by mob. Is al
| most completed and will forever stand as
| a warning to the people of China to Keep
| their hands off the representatives OF for
| eign governments. A new hotel OF mod
| ern design and convenienees Is almost com
| pleted. There are several other notable
| new buildings mint for the Imperial
| Bank of China. and the headquarters OF
| the imperial customs and postal service.
| Modern schools are springing up every
| where throughout the city, at which Eng
| lish, French. German and the modern sci
| ences are taught. Several streets are now
| lighted with kerosene lamps. which, curl
ousiy enough, bear on the glass the familiar
| Chinese character which signifies longev-
| ity Why the municipal officials selected
| 1t to ornament the street lamps mas not
been explained Nearly all the principal
| streets have been macadamiZad. They were
always bad, either muddy or dusty and
| during the military occupation OF Pekins
were ruined by the heavy traffic of the ar
| miles, The old yamens. and palaces OF
| the princes and wealthy mandarins that
| were destroyed during the siege have been
| replaced by modern buildings.
The ancient Observation. the most inter-
| esting object in Picking to tourists. Is now
| mass of ruins, and the curious OLD brass
| and copper instruments that were used by
| court astronomers and the astroiogers for
| thousands of years were stolen by the Ger
| man army and sent to Berlin. There has
h