The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1904-10-05
The LeXin gton Dispatch
Wednesday, October 5. 1904.
a Descr:rtion Of Lakden.

= Description e1 &axce1.
Nlukdep, the city to which Genersl
Kuropstkin's army fed after the
great battle of Liao Yang, and around
which both the Russians and the
Japanese are msnouveriag, is city
of many names.
Il was known as Tsingchou By the
Chinese 1880 years ago. and it hsd
several other names before it received
IN 1880 O-the Manchu name of Mukden.
'sprosperity.' The Chinese called 1t
Shengking or Shenysng, and its ctn.
cial Chinese name is Fengtien, SO
thst it has today~5our names.
En- 1920 it was very prosperous
Chinese city with we'll armed garri-
SOD OF 10000 men, Notwithstanding
whom the half savage Msnchu took
il by strstegem in 1921, all efforts BY
the Chinese to recaptureis it being un-
successful. Mspchu influence spread
rapidly and within few years they
occupied the places with which the
present war has made Us familiar,
Lao Yang, Hal Chepg, Kin Chou,
Kai Ping, etc.
Magnificent palaces resembling
those of Pekin, though On smaller
scale. sheltered the Msnchu chiefs.
Along the we'll laid out streets, paved
with stones, there we're numerous and
splendid shops, in which Chinese
silks, the finest furs, valuable gems,
and other rich treasures were placed
before the opulentpasserby. Beauti-
ful gardens, temples and cemeteries
surrounded the city and on the west
ern side q Lama temple was con-
structed in 1888, on the decoration
of which much gold and silver were
lavished. In this the idol, Makhshsla,
the defender of the faith, found fit
ing home.
Mukden remained very dear to the
hearts of the brave Manchus though
they were now established in Pekin.
There were the historical associations
recalling the days of their struggle
for recognition. But more dear to
them was the tomb of the founder of
sheir dynasty, which was located only
q few miles from tho city walls, now
;n the midst of a beautiful grove
Of giant pines, in one Of the most
peaceful spots ever dedicated to the
dead.
The Mukden of today is an ordi-
nary north China town, a little dirt
ier, perhaps, than some Msnchurian
towns, far inferior to Lila Yang in its
streets, shops and sanitary arrange
ments. The beauty of the Manchu
tombs, however, seems to make up
for the sordiness of the city; the city
wall and towers are imposing, only
excelled by those of Pekin. Some
OF the palaces, too, in the imperial
city are still handsome, but many Of
them have collapsed and are still COL
.lspsing from age and neglect.
Especially notable are the imperial
storehouses, which contain thousands
of pieces of imperial porcelain,
bronzes, embroideries, and other
treasures sent from Pekin 10 be taken
care of. No one is supposed to see
or touch or appreciate these treasures,
which are destined some day to meet
utter destruction by the fall of the
wretched building, which is as old
as several completely ruined 'struc.
lures nearby.
Mukden has been losing much OF
it's trade of late years, having been
cut out by the more energetic and
less heavily taxed citizens Of kuan-
chengtse and Tiehling.
But it is splendidly situated, with
excellent facilities for communication
by rosd, river and rail. It is the
capital of one of the most fertile
districts in the world, and if it is
made free to the trade of the world,
and the open door in Manchuris
maintained, it will again become a