Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-03-17

the resident population and large
amounts for shipment to less favored
districts.
To a large extent Mukden has been
Russianized since the date OF Its oc-
cupation by the czar's forces at the
close Of the war between China and
Japan. Previous to that time the city
was notoriously filthy and a place to
be avoided by the traveller. After the
Russians took possession they began
to clean the streets, to install a system
of sewerage and reconstruct certain
portions of the city. Today Mukden'
in the language Of an American war
correspondent, 'is known as the clean
est town of the many where the filthy
Chinese have predominated In the
past"
Fifteen hundred years after Christ
was born, when Mukden was one OF
the most important trading points OF
the north, Nurhachu, the great an
cestor of the Manchus, had his seat
of government south Of the Long
White mountains, about 100 miles east
of Mukden. In 1916 he took to him.
self the title of heaven decreed' and
declared war on China. An army OF
200, 900 was sent against him, and the
Chinese historians relate that none re-
turned.
Nurhachu assembled a tremendous
army before the gates Of Mukden, and
in 1921 the city was captured after an
awful loss Of life, far exceeding that
which marked the battle between the
Japanese and Russians, If one must
believe the ancient chroniclers. Ac-
cording to their accounts all prisoners
were promptly beheaded.
In 1914 the Manchus marched into
China and placed one of their number
on the throne and Manchu has ruled
there ever since.
In the center of Mukden Is walled
inclosure, within which is a small
palace, the holy of holies Of the peo-
pie. It is said to contain some inter-
esting relics of Nurhachu. This man,
according to legend, was supernatural
ly born, and throughout his career dis
played all the attributes Of divine or
igin. Another legend has 1t that the
great ancestor Of the Manchus was Of
humble birth and paid his first visit
to Mukden in the character Of a ped
dler with a pack on his back. This
pack and the boots worn by Nurhachu
are supposed to be preserved as sacred
relics within the walls of the palace.
But the peddlers pack and boots are
not the only objects supposed to be
guarded in the palace. Since the es-
tablishment Of the present dynasty 1t
has been the custom Of the court to
send every year to Mukden 5000, 900
taels to be stored there. Calculating
at this rate, the treasure must by this
time have reached the enormous sum
of 1900, 100000 taels, for the reign of
the present dynasty over vast terri
tory of 400 provinces dates back 200
years
Nurhachus tomb Is four or five
miles east of the city and must have
been a conspicuous object during the
terrible fighting Of the last two weeks
between the Russians and Japanese.
1t Is situated in a pine grove, which Is
deemed even more sacred than the city
itself. So sacred is the inclosure sur
rounding this tomb that death Is the
punishment of any one entering VINO
is not of the same race as the great
ance stor. The tomb of Nurhachu's son
and successor, Tai Tsung, lies In a
grove of cedars north Of the city, and
is equally magnificent in its design.
Evidences Of missionary activity are
to be seen in Mukden. The Roman
Catholics have a pretty church and an
orphanage. There is medical mission
which combines preaching the gospel
with healing the sick, a boarding
school for daughters Of members OF
the Presbyterian church, a hospital
for women and schools for boys and
girls. Many mosques are to be seen
In Mukden as evidence that the Man.
churians are followers Of Islam. The
temples of the Buddhists, the Shintos
and the Taoists are also numerous
those Of the Buddhists predominating.
rbioo oo Pecord- Herald