New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-19

discretion and vigor that q temporary spooint-
nent became a lifelong engagement. and under
succession Of ministers he continued to act
as secretary and virtually to shape the conduct
OF the legation until briefly before his DEATH
sumo thirty years afterward. Characteristic
note from General Gordon was sent from the
o0uoan In June 1877. It runs as follows:
this ,i r9r Personal comfort for me- it is over In
b fy Il, never could have SO fair a field as
i cn to the world not wish tb 1ne y enDuf o
re own you here instead Of China for though
ide neeo a1d conservative people to receive new
terafe5 "ii Ne tnese people are much more unadul-
opiIlloh TO get here
ana mere 1t is proper to quote from letter
u an american consul long resident IN China,
WHICH accounts for some Of the influence of that
singular and erratic personality: 81 think for
elsners owe more than they imagine to the mere
moral force of Gordons character in impressng
Id ana other eminent Chinese with q lasting
ieelihg OF respect for the good qualities OF mind
ana heaTt foreigners are really capable of-not-
"iIhstanolng the strong doubts to the contrary
OF the native official class" The work OF the
legation was as that OF other legations. At first
there were inciviHties and indignities due to the
strange garments Of the Oriental visitors. Street
urchlns. moved by uncomfortable sense of hu-
contributed TO their comfort by pleasant re-
marks. Later the novelty wore off and Chinese
costumes could pass unnoticed in the streets At
Inc time Of the imbroglio between France and
CHINA in regard 10 the formers sphere of in
huence in the Far East. Mccartney took a
prominent part in bringing about a settlement
as Gordon said. his forte lay in making peace
As has been indicated. Mccartney was the
cipient Of many interesting letters frcm people
Of note, and IL It be good for the soul to
selves as others see u.s. the following letter from
& Chinese secretary, dating from 1880. may not
have been written in vain:
haoiteo by colored people, as when you go
OUT you can see them everywhere My i'm
quieter than New York, and the inhabitants are
Celestial strangers by the natives appears to be
better than what we received in New York AT
talty Sometimes have been regaIed with
i 1ooo' when vas served up under the I'M
clal penchant for rats. None OF us have ever been
Ing been nfored bg tRe neiisent vance Who
passes US in the street that we are addicted to
formation i is impossible TO say, but I confess
at their restaurants fancy there must be some
thing in their remarks. You have been in China
eat rats, even in a nightmaTe3
toEe n cites are not to be compared with
with this land OF freedom has Disseminated me
them Their estimate of themselves scars beyond
my appreciation; England. Paris and Berlin have
spout me for Yankeeland- had the slight
est unpeasantness during my sojourn IN those
places always say TO my friends that England
and France are the civilized countries in the
whole world, and admire them very much.
America may be a wonderful country regards
its material prosperity commercial enterprise and
the snartness OF it's citizens, but II the word CIV
culture and noratF. F then fnk that s MmeTc
should take her place among uncivilized powers.
This life OF useful public servant is carefully
written, devoid Of exaggeration, and is beauti-
fully printed and illustrated