Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-10-18


Owing to Mrs. Smiths III III, e +
January we took a few weeks leave ana
visited China and the old Portuguese
colony Of Macao, the Holy City" and the
Gem of the Orient" Monte Carlo of the
ORIENT, in the Kwong Tong province
This is a most charming spot and retains
all the ancient features that it possessed
in the time Of Camoens, the great Portu-
guese poet, the author of the 'Lusiad."
Macao Is situated on a peninsula about
three miles long and is Joined to the main
land of the Chinese empire by a low,
narrow strip of sand. The appearance OF
the waterfront on the outside of the
peninsula is not Unlike the shore of the
bay of Naples, while the inside, between
the crook and the mainland, forms a Sc
cure harbor. The part OF the peninsula
on which the city is built is hilly, the
highest part of the place rising to an
elevation of some 800 feet Upon these
hills are erected the homes of the leading
officials clergy, churches, and many of
the public buildings. Camoens's gar
dens and grotto are upon this slightly
elevation, and are delightful points to
visit on a warm afternoon. Upon several
of the highest hills are old style fortifi-
cations with their ancient artillery over
| looking the beautiful hillsides, with their
! terraced houses. and the charming Praya
| Grande promenade and drive) which
| runs all along the shore on all sides OF
! the city. This entire community is sup
ported by the revenues derived from the
many gambling houses that are found
| everywhere in the city. These gambling
| houses are built in very attractive styles,
! with stained glass windows, fancy cary
| ings, paintings, etc.
We were greatly interested In old Can
ton and the pretty little island of Sha-
| meen, near the city. On this island live
| all the Europeans who have business in
Canton Canton never sleeps, ner people
seem to work night and day. l have read
some very interesting stories of how dan
gerous it is for an American to travel
| through Canton unescorted, etc, but /
| can say that Mrs. Smith Artisan and
myself did the whole city in our sedan
chairs, visiting all the points OF interest,
temples, tombs, pagodas, courthouse, the
| execution grounds and many other places,
accompanied only by our carriers and
guide. We visited several of the dry
goods shops and other business places
and found that plenty of all kinds of
American goods could be found on the
counters and shelves Of the stores of any
Importance. Wherever we went about
that wonderful city we were pleasantly
received by the officials, merchants, and
the common people We must have
struck tnem in "happy mood"
The ride up and down the Pearl river
to and from Canton is interesting Just
below the city are the fine buildings of
the mission colleges and other public in
stitutions. noble work is being done
by all the missionary societies in this
part Of China and the men and women
who have given up their lives to this
work look to be self sacrificing
representatives of Gods noblemen.
Every church represented around Can
ton can rest assured that its mission
aries are doing a great and glorious work
for the Master AS our steamer glided
down the river the scenery was one
great panorama of quaint native homes,
villages, temples, pagodas, beautiful gar
dens and rice fields. We passed fleet af-
: | ter fleet OF the native junks going and
coming to and from their labors on the
deep. The Cinnamon are good sailors
with their own ships; they take very long
cruises in their rakish little junks,
! Honglkong is practically an English
city. When this hilly island was handed
over to John Bull little did the people of
the Orient or of the world at large dream
that 1t would become such a thrifty mart
and so powerful a watchdog Of the far
East; the combined navies OF the world
would have an interesting time trying to
take this city. AS you enter the harbor
! the city, built upon the steep side hill,
has the appearance of a huge wall, tower
ing from the sea to an elevation of more
; than 1900 feet. But as the ship nears
: the shore and the mist and smoke clear
away you begin to make out the outlines
! OF the houses closely terraced one above
' the other Through the glasses can be
seen some of the high batteries, and
> along the shore can be seen many very
[ mysterious little tunnels that are not used
) for sewer purposes-they are submarine
torpedo stations. We found the people
of Hongkong, both military and civil, very
) friendly toward the Americans. Replying
to a talk that / gave, a very prominent
4 gentleman said: "Englishmen are glad tc
have the Stars and Stripes so near to then
. in the Orient Blood and language form
4 a tie that is not easily broken. We hope
D you are to be with us for many years
. to come" While in the city we exper'
4 fenced one of the typical typhoons, during
a which several hundred lives We're los
: | among the Chinese boatmen Thousand;
2 of the population of HonglSong live II
s their sampans and junks. These water
5 men are born, live, marry and die OF
their little crafts, never mingling with the