Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-05
Frank {! jackson, Globe
TFetlsl, Nome Again.
Calls on Augusta Friends Al.
TOT Flys Years. Absence.


Frank +. jackson of Winthrop
Names best known globe-trotter, is
home again from another five years
tour OF the Old Void and was in AT
gusta yesterday greeting some Of his
many old friends here. Mr.. Jackson
arrived only last Saturday, coming di-
rectly from the Far East where he has
been spending a large part Of his time
during his absence. For the, last
third Of century Mr.. Jackson has
spent most of his travel in foreign
travel, exploring almost every out-of-
the-way nook on the face Of the earth,
getting acquainted with the customs of
many lands and races and having
strange adventures enough to fill i Ii
araTy of books.
He left home on his last trip just be-
fore the coronati ton of Edward VII in
1902, and was in London to witness the
imposing ceremonies attending that af-
fair, witnessing also the great naval
review 1T SpitheaJ where more great
warships wore gathered than were
ever before in any other place in the
history Of tn: world. Mr.. Jackson
was in England only few weeks and
thence to India and Burmah where he
remained many months, going later to
the Philippians. Japan and all through
the great Chinese Empire. In South
Africa, Burmah, the Philippines and
China, Mr.. jackson devoted himself to
getting out large, Illustrated books re-
lating to leading men of those respec-
tive regions of the world. the books
containing pictures and sketches OF
the men, also photographs of their
palaces, etc.
In each instance he was successful.
both financially and otherwise, and the
work gave him an opportunity to meet
men of power and fame and thus to see
a side of life in those countries which
the average tourist never gets familiar
with. He attempted to get out SINH
lar book in Japan but met with a cold
reception there. partly because the
people are not disposed to spend any
more money than is absolutely neces-
sary for existence and partly because
of feeling against Americans which
NJ. Jackson declares is stronger in the
Japanees Empire than We have any
realization Of. Mr.. Jackson brought
home many photographs and souvenirs
from the strange lands visited. and
also a great store of "reminiscences and
impressions which make him decid-
cdly entertaining man to meet.
He has great faith in the future of
China and declares that the country is
rapidly awakening from the lethargy
in which it has slumbered for ages and
that it will surprise the world by its
progress and power. The Reform party
which. by the way. does much to fos-
ter the boycott against American goods
and the hatred of the Americans, IS
trying to give the land universal Ian
guage in place Of the many dialects
now spoken. a school system. railroads
which are easily built as the country is
very level, a better organized army,
etc.
incidentally, the Chinese of today are
cutting off their pigtails and ceasing to
deform the feet of the women. The
masses live in filth and poverty incom-
prehensible to the American mind and
the corruption with which government
affairs are managed arc beyond the
imagination of Tammany politicians. In
spite of this prevailing political corrup-
ton and the general chaos which pre-
walls SO that the life of a foreigner is
not safe anywhere outside of the large
cities. there Is nevertheless much
wealth in China and Mr.. Jackson says
that the rulers of some of the provinces
whom he visited lived in magnificent
palaces and entertained him in style
that was lavish and royal. The Chinese
are the financiers of the East and have
more business honor and integrity than
the Japanese.
One of the serious curses of China is
the ancestor worship. For miles and
miles along the leading rivers the whole
country is covered with mounds. the
graves OF their ancestors which are
kept sacred and are worshiped in great
reverence. While at Pekin Mr.. Jackson
saw Japanese army of 100000 we'll
drilled soldiers engaged in mancuvcrs.
and says that the empire could put in
TO the field an army of $4,000. 900 men.
The Chinese are great imitators of the
Japanese and are copying their pro-
grcssivc methods in every way possi-
bic. There are 10000 young Chinese now
studying in TOXIC.
One feature of Chinese life which
specially impressed Mr.. jackson was
the variety and the fiendish ingenuity
of the methods of Furnishing criminals.
They have more than a dozen ways of
putting condemned criminals to death,
most Of them being methods of slow
torture such as one would hardly ex-
pect to met in the most debascd saw
age tribes. In a public square in Pekin
he saw 10 men strangled to death, not
hung, but slowly strangled by the
twisting of a cord about their necks.
In some respects, however, Mr.. jack
son rates the Japanese as less salts
factory race to deal with than the Chi
nese. To be sure, they are cleanly
race, always courteous. full Of energy
and without a hegger in the whole en-
pire, but underneath their smiles and
politeness he declares there are many
mean and treacherous traits. In bust,
ness they are commercial pirates and
by stealing foreign inventions and us
ing cheap labor they are fast driving
all American and European COMPETE
ton out Of the East They already have
control of the commerce of the island:
they are arrogant, selfish ard vain to
the last degree. and since their victory
over Russia are convinced that they
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