The Washington times., 1904-09-11
Washington Man Show
ing Them How Build
ingS Are Put Up.
"Sid" Nealy, Sent From
Supervising Archi-
tect'S Office.
Work in Hand Is Con-
Struction of New Lee
cation Buildings.

r N the earl days. when travelling was
slow and difficult, and travellers
were few. the man who had roamed
far from his native heath, and gone
strange countries for to see was
looked upon with something akin TO
distrust. and his stories Of unknown
lands were listened to with interest, but
with scant belief as 10 their truth.
Especially was this true OF "far-oft
Cathay," Of xhich so little was known
that the traveller who had penetrated 70
that portion Of the world and returned
to relate his experiences and observa-
tons. was generally regarded as TO
mancer. His tales we're fascinating. but
few people thought OF believing them
This reluctance on the part Of the pub
lie to believe actual facts. when given to
them. often led the willy traveller to en-
large uponNllis theme; for since they ex-
pected marvellous untruths, why not add
a little and make the stories better?
Thus It was for many. many years
that our actual knowledge Of China
amounted 20 very little and that little
was so involved in a network of fable
that the searcher after Information had
great difficulty In separating fact from
fiction.
WIDER INFORMATION.
In these days, when the facilities for
travel have increased so wonderfully as
TO make il possible 20 traverse vast dis
tances in a comparatively short space OF
time. tourists are multitudinOus and OF
writing many books there Is no end"
Our knowledge of China and the Chi
nese has therefore increased, until we
may be said to have a bowling acquaint-
ance with these most curious people
But II we have learned more of the
yellow man-who was once regarded by
those who had not seen him as almost
a mythical being-we have by no means
fathoTned the complexities Of his Asiatic
character. Scores OF books have enlight-
ened us as TO his religion. his customs,
dress, and manners. but we have yet so
much to learn concerning him that he is
stiII partially yelled with the mysteri-
Gus charm which hangs over the Orient
. and the Orier tai
We have not wholly surrendered our
lurking distrust Of our distant yellow
cousin: we are far from approving his
oblique eyes. his sallow skin, his alb
surd queue. or his conservative adher-
ence TO the ways Of his ancestors. but
we pay him the tribute of genuine in
terest and curioy,isy concerning his Gus
toms and himself. We read eagerly all
that IS published about him. and we
revel in each new discovery about his
peculiarities. but we are loath to credit
him with the superior intelligence we
ourselves possess.
We argue his inferiority from his dis
similarity TO our own kind. or course
we know, in a general way. that his
ancestors dined OF OF exqui5itely deco
rated porcelain. while ours ate from
wooden trenches and pewter platters;
that his forefatbers knew that the
earth was spherical. while ours were
afraid to travel far lest they should
fall from the edge Of the disc where
they were supposed to dwell; that his
predecessors were clad IN silks and
crepes. while ours wore cotton garments
that his people were luxuriously and
comfortably housed while ours tented
Il OF lived IN shaclks; yet we cherish the
deIusion that he is only a heather. after
all. and OF a lower order Of mankind.
because he is so different. in every way
from our highly civilized and superior
selves.
To the credit Of the yellow mans ndel-
fly 10 his race. be It said that he recip-
rocates our contempt with interest. and
has never altogether relinquished his
old claim that we are all outside bar
barians." and in proof Of our bad quail
ties he points TO his devils OF tradition
who are white.
Unfagging Interest.
But II there abides mutual scorn and
distrust betwixt US, there also remains
on our part at ieast-an unfailing. mex
haustible fund OF curiosity. which Is
never fully satisfied. His very oddly
constitutes his chief attraction, even
while we decry It. We do not want to
permanently abide In his land, nor dc
we take him TO our hearts, but he APP
peals TO US through his complex charac-
ter, his picturesque dress, and the con-
trariety OF his methods, all Of which
sharply contrast with our own prosaic