Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-09
BY WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.

u WILLIAM T. Z
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
ohicago Record Herald.
AT SEA, August 8, 1904.
While no radical changes have occurred
in China since the Boxer troubles there
has been gradual, steady progress in ma
ter1al development, in education and in the
adoption of modern ideas and methods
both by the government and the people
Inc postal service, recently organized I'M
DER the direction of Sir Robert Hart and
the customs commissioners now reaches
ABOUT 1,zVo cities and towns and Is being
fapioiy extended. Nearly one-fourth of the
population Is reached by a daily, semi
weekly. or weekly mail On the rivers it
IS carried by steamers and by junks, wher-
ever tnere is railroad it is sent by trains
ana elsewhere 1t is carried in carts or by
mounted cour1ers. according to bulk and
"eisht. The carts are distinguished by
pelng painted the imperial yellow color and
pS carrying dragon flag. The couriers
wear sashes of yellow cotton cloth and
i ri'o trimmed with yellow braid
mus Tar there has been no Interference
with or interruption of the mails althonsb
.heJ are not yet considered entirely trust
worthy by the natives who have secrets to
anninnt cate or valuabes to convey. The
mas prevailed in China for twentv-fiya can-
turles, mas not yet been altogether ahan-
doned. but is being gradually developed into
an express service for the transmission of
merchandise in small packages. Until re-
Gently, as you know, certain menchan ts
maintained private organizations of con-
riers, patronized by persons having mack
ages or letters they wished forwarded to
otner parts of the country who maid snail
Zee, but very much more than tho reo,Iar
rates OF postage. The system was Drac-
oically the same as that used in the United
S pe1ore the organization of our Post
once department. Private postal systems
developed into express companies with nc
ds tney Will probably do In China
ms Improvement is one of the most i'm
portant and one of the most notable that
mas occurred. because 1t enables newsnaners
to obtain a circulation outside of the I'M,
Ineolate vicinity of the publication office
"hlch has been impossible before And as
consequence, the Importance and influence
OF the local press has been increa sed anor
niousiy. Nearly every newspaper in China
Is an advocate of progress and recommends
the adoption of foreign ideas and customs.
NO newspaper can do otherwise The print
ing press is itself so recent an ACQUISITION
that IL mas not yet ceased to be an object
lesson. 'Gs
Foreigners Now Welcome.
1here nave been no disturbances in China
since the Boxer troubles, except in 1902
"hen TWO English missionaries were killed
IN the province of Human. For some rea-
son that is not clear the people rose
against them and threatened their lives
Ihey fled to the governor for protection
He refused to admit them to his yamen
ana showed his sympathy with the mob SO
PLAINLY as to increase its violence. The
missionaries were murdered He was called
to account and decap ftated-an example
which has been very effective in every part
OF China, for travellers, both merchants and
missionaries. may now go into any part of
the empire even into those localities where
no white man dared appear three years ago
without the slightest fear of molestation.
l am told that they are actually welcomed
by the common people, while the officials
keenly sensitive to changes of policy and
temper at Picking, now receive foreign tray
elers with a cordial welcome, entertain
them at their yamens and furnish them
guides, guards and means of transporta-
ton wherever they wish to CO.
A gentleman who has just returned from
tour of missionary investigation into the
very center of the most conservative of the
provinces, where his life would not have
been safe for moment before the Boxer
uprising tells me that he was met on every
side with cordial greetings and hospitality,
and that mules, chairs. filters and other ma
tive means of transportation were pressed
upon him everywhere by officials, who re-
fused to accept compensation He was at
tended by military escort as long as he
remained in the province He suspects
that the soldiers were spies as well as
guards, for he knows that everything he
did and almost every word he said was
promptly reported at headquarters.
The unexplored territory of the interior is
now being visited by mineralogists, engi-
neers and other.p rOspectors from European
syndicates, and occasionally one FROM the
United States although our people are TAX
ing very small interest In chinese affalrs
These prospectors are being encouraged by
the official element, who naturally desire to
share whatever information they are able
to obtain.