New-York tribune., 1907-03-17
HEARTRENDING SCENES.

Il this were a properly symmetrical article
Il would have dealt at the outset with the sum
rner rains and foods which inundated this great
ulain OF Central China destroying the crops
ard. IN thousands Of cases, washing away tho
mud homes of the peasants II would likewise
have exploited the culpable inefficiency OF the
Chinese government for not having instituted
system OF relief before the people began to drop
from starvation. Also it would have pointed
out the many public works right at hand upon
which the famine sufferers could be employed,
thus saving their self-respect well their
lives But for the life Of me / cannot write
anything but the haunting. narrowing. inesca-
pable facts before my eyes If could for an
hour shake of those thin trembling hands that
clutch my coat I pass through the famine
camps could shut out the CRYING or the chill
dren whose bitterest wailing brings them no
bread. OF the sight of the mothers and widows
wang over their dead ! might write a famine
report that would satisfy the reader with scien-
ttlc bumps on his head.
Once 1 thought China cOlorless country with
its vast stretches OF brown, treeless plains. its
low mud villages and its countless array OF
grave mounds on every side Now, close 70
barred human nature. ! see the people in the
strong crude colors OF primitive art. fam
ine death here is not like deathbed in Chris
tendon II is roadside matter with the curl
Gus spectators, uncaring and unhelping. looking
on unmoVed at the last convulsions with which
spirit leaves body, and hearing almost an
amusement the death rattle in the throat A
try. three perishing from hunger by the way.
In the city where / write the father succumbed
and fell beside his dying child in the gutter He
expired as my friend looked. The crowd let him
die and lie in the gutter; my friend being Il
missionary doctor. saved the life Of the child,
and cared for the remainder Of the family.
Yesterday I witnessed two tragedies which
seerced not TO command more than passing
glance from the highway along which they were
enacted The first was at one corner of an en-
campment OF straw mats. tiny. temporary huts
not big enough to house COW, and yet contain
ing whole families A child had died and its
body had been wrapped in piece OF straw mat
ting since the death rate IS too high for the
authorities 10 supply even the cheapest collins
for any but adults The mat which enshrouded
the corpse had been it's only shelter while Iiv-
ing: and now the greWsOme bundle leaned
against the family's few possessions. Beside IL
mute, with face buried IN his knees. sat a big
boy Over Il bent the mother her wailiags as
sailing the ears Of everybody within a furlong
But she Wept alone. unheeded. In a few hours
the soldiers would cart away the body and she
and her son would be driven back into the coun-
try 70 face slow death for themselves
A few hundred yards further on came 20 a
newly made grave. evidently OF son and hus-
hand. u was one OF many recent graves alone
the main highway 90 Peking. On one side OF h
crouched a WFinkied bent and tattered old
mother, with scarcely sufficient vitality 20 make
her mourning heard. After a time she arose
and with her bare hands heaped clods OF earfh
upon the cOnical grave mound The widow
~Ae couic afford no mourning Earb except q