The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-12-16

Richard H. Little, the capable cor
respondent of the Chicago Daily News
i'm the Far East, thus writes about the
Chinese administration of affairs in
Manchuria:
The empress of China has babe her
loyal subjects in Manchuria say moth
ing to anybody and go right on paying
particular attention 10 their own per-
sonal affairs during the unpleasantness
between the Russians and the Japan
csc. The loyal subjects have tried to
the best of their ability to obey this
wise mandate.
Reports in Mukden are to the effect
that the Japanese seem to think they
must personally conduct and supervise
everything the individual Chinaman
does. There is no one in the world who
has greater respect for his own wisdom
and his own way of living and doing
things than has a Chinaman, and he
| resents deeply the attempt OF anyone
else to interfere. 1t was on this rea-
son. probably, that Viceroy Alexieff,
who understands the Chinese as well
as any other statesman in the world,
was so insistent on his policy of non
interference, endeavoring to teach by
contact and example and trusting to
time to bring about reform in many of
the customs and institutions that are
abhorrent to Europeans.
The Criminal court of Mukden is
most interesting place. After calling
there once or twice we got to be very
friendly with the judge and he would
invite us up on the woolsack with him.
1t was not exactly soothing to the
nerves to sit there. Various individu-
ais who had offended were kneeling or
standing all around, receiving their
punishments. For all punishments in
Manchuria are administered in the
presence of the judge who presided at
the trial. The courtroom in most re-
spects reminded one of an American
court. There was a bailiff who pounded
on a table and bawled for order when
any of the witnesses dared to move or
whisper. The judge and his clerks sat
and chatted pleasantly and whenever
the judge told a funny story or made
a witty remark the clerks roared with
mirth.
outside the door in the sun, not fif-
teen feet from us. a man was hanging
by his thumbs. He was in a kneeling
position, his bare knees just touching
a great coil of chains. Special Gle
mency had been shown this lucky man.
He was not obliged 20 hang all day by
| the thumbs, as another man few feet
away was doing. Neither did he have
to kneel for ten hours on a coil Of
chains, as a man right in front of the
door was doing. The lucky man had
his choice. When he grew tired of
swinging by his thumbs he could rest
by kneeling on the chains. When the
chains began to cut in too deep he
could change back and swing by his
thumbs, into which the cords did not
cut any deeper than the bone.
A man was brought in by two guards
and knelt down on the floor in front of
the Judge. Then he kotowed with such
enthusiasm that he received quite a
bruse on the forehead. court Off
cial stood over him and read to him a
long document which the man appar-
emily agreed to and signed by smear
ing his right fore finger with ink and
then making an impression at the end
OF the record. We supposed from the
manner in which the man before the
judge kotowed and from the long lee
ture read to him that he must be some
sort of Chinese bandit, but the Inter
prefer explained that the man was
merely respected citizen of Mukden
who had come to sign the record of
testimony he had previously given
against a burglar.
This matter finished, the judge turn
ed to us and lighted his pipe. He ac-
cepted a cigarette, as did the clerks
and officials. Everybody smoked and
talked happily. The man hanging by
his thumbs, who had been as silent as
though he had long since exhausted
his capacity to suffer, suddenly gave "A
low wailng groan. The balliT went out
and pulled on the ropes by which the
man was swinging by his thumbs. That
made the man stop groanng. Then the
| bailff brought tea for everybody. We
slipped our tea and told the judge of
American courts and punishments. The
| judge combined business with pleasure
for a while we were aiTily ConVersing
| he gave a signal and pr soner so weak
he could not walk, even if the tremend-
Gus shackles on his feet and permitted
| i'm and made to kneel down i'm front of
the door. He was terribly emaciated.
/ He was clothed only i'm coat and
cloth that was tied aaround his waist.
| He was very dirty and MS hair hung
matted over eyes. A soldier came up
with a great paddle and began spank
| ing the wretch. He screamed and groan
ed until finally we had to give up talk
| ing altogether Then the judge indin-
nantly ordered the man to be taken
away. We found out that this prisoner
was of a most stubborn and stiff-neck-
ed generation. He had been arrested
VERY IMPORTANT.
1t is very important that women
should avoid constipation. 1t predis-
poses and aggravates every symptom