The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-09
The Consul General in Shanghai.

The Consul General in Shanghai.
When one thinks of Shanghai the
imagination probably conjures up a
Chinese city, quaint, puzzling, mys-
FERROUS; the narrow streets blinded
by thousands Of bright signs. Well
there is a Chinese city OF just this
description. it is the old city which
has not changed for centuries. How
ever it is not this city that figures
in diplomatic or commercial centers.
The Shanghai of to-day is the Euro
pean concession, traVerSed by broad
avenues, which lead from stately
building to stately building, from the
busy harbor to the country clubs and
cricket fields.
1t is in this city, of course, that the
American consulate is to be formed.
1t accords strictly with our original
American ideas Of simplicity. / had
to wait but a very few minutes after
presenting my letter to our consul
general, John Goodnow, whom many
Minneapolis people know so we'll. He
was dressed in a frock coat, which
we'll suited his height and bearing.
We had an extremely pleasant half
hour. He told several Chinese anec
dotes and explained what was most
interesting in Shanghai.
He suddenly happened to remember
neral that day, the procession to start
at IL o'clock. 1t was rare chance,
and, thanking him, we took a rather
hasty leave, called rickshaWs and
started. The streets by this time
were crowded with Chinese of all
classes, and it seemed impossible to
crowd thru, but our rickshaw boys
pushed on undisturbed, and we tried
to look unconscious when our shafts
| ~r, t,0o ID, 1yv,n n1y ~ ~
side. At last we found an advan-
tageous corner, stopped, and waited.
The congested streets seemed totally
| unable to contain another Chinaman.
In fact, not only were they to the
left, right and on all sides, but they
were also above us on the house tops
and below us under our wheels.
Remarkable Street Picture.
We learned that it was to be the
| funeral of the wife of the Chinese
minister to England. In truth, it was
one of the largest ever held in Shang-
hal. Presently the advance guard
came pushing thru the street, their
way being cleared by the wonderful
Sikh Gndian) police. Thru the OPEN
ing troop after troop of Chinese SOL
diers marched four abreast. There
were 5000 in all. The uniforms,
| scarcely deserving the name, were
| dirty and ragged. Some of the SOL
diers had straw hats, some had none.
By the side of muskets that were
Anticipated thirty years ago could be
seen the latest improvements in arms.
| The thought naturally arose, "How
could China, with such motley ar
ray, seek to oppose Russia or any
other nation?"
All thru the ranks were carried
| a ~ "a ell 4
banners, some ornaments and some
probably extolling the virtues of the
deceased wife. Back of the soldiers
came servants bearing palanquins
which contained slain animals, sheep
pigs, hens. In the rear of this con
glomeration were wonderful contri.
vances calculated to scare away devils
and evil spirits; there were hideous
| forms and faces flashing with all sorts
of bright colors.s Probably the mos
terrifying, according to the Chinese
mind, was huge dragon. It hac
seven folds in it's huge length, mar
under each fold. In the rear a huge
tail swung back and forth in the face:
of the crowd and in front was raised
high a CHASTITY head with rolling
tongue and wide, open jaws. At {
little distance behind came more ban
ners covered with Chinese character!
and in the midst were the chairs anC
pony carriages bearing the mourners
After that the deluge. Pretty soon W.
found our way to a side alley and tool
a short cut home.
| An Auto in Shanghai.
In the afternoon Mr.. White, con
nected with the consulate and a for
mer Minneapolis man, very kindly
took us for a ride in his automobile
However much excitement there ma,
a. n q ie for
passed when it comes to a run thru
| a Chinese city. In fact, you are thu
king of the road. The rickshaw boy
and pedestrians look around CASUAL,
when they hear the hoise and the1
s they suddenly jump as far as pos
sible. In every shop you can see tn,
Workmen drop their tools and crow(
over each other to see the devil
Our road first lay thru the French
concession and then thru the Japan
csc. 1t was a great pleasure to Sc,
the bright, pleasant Japanese girl
after having become partly accus
toned to the duller faces of tn,
Chinese.
1t was but short distance from
there to the mixed courts prison. TIL
trials were all over but we could SCI
the prisoners, some of them with hug
wooden blocks around their necks. T,
most of the Chinese a year in prison
is a QeclQed felleI from responsibility
However, they are not allowed to ge
off that easy, a liberal allowance o
bambooing being also supplied.
On the Way to Manila.
, A navy or army officer may per
;, haps have some idea of what hi
future duties may be when he i
r ordered to some jumping off place o.
; this globe. But if any one should de
sire to see q total and necessary tr11s
, in Providence he has only to trave
: from San Francisco to Manila with
= NOVEL INVENTION