Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-06
i'm MODERN CHINA
XVII-The Modern City of Picking
By Frederic j. HaSkin

electricity, the modern system of water
works is nearing completion, a tele-
phone system is being installed and
western architecture is being adopted
in the business section of the Chinese
city.
The original plan of Picking was an
admirable one as the foundation
| scheme of a City Beautiful, and 1t will
not be many years until it will come
into its own. From the top of the
ancient Drum tower In the heart of the
| Tartar city one commands the mag
nificent Vistas OF the broad, tree
flanked avenues, each leading to some
monument well worthy of the setting.
The substantial beauty of the temples
and palaces of Peking is 50 impressive
that one is inclined to regret the advent
of western methods of building, despite
the advantages of the Occidental sys-
TENS Of architecture In point of con-
venience. But the Chinese, even the
most conservative among them, are not
deferred by any such sentiment.
The government recently erected
modern office building in Peking for the
use of the Waiwupi, the foreign affairs
office. 1t is equal to governmental Of
flee buildings in any country, and is
| far superior to any other in the orient.
Japan has not yet aspired so high, and
other oriental countries cannot afford
it. Following the Peking custom, the
building is set inside a broad COM
pound which is surrounded by a wall.
An American, c. d. Jameson, was in
charge of the construction, and he
erected the building according to his
own ideas. The Chinese government
was delighted with it. When the ques-
tion of planning the great gate for the
wall was reached Mr.. Jameson had no
idea that the conservative gentlemen
of the court would consider anything
except the traditional and even sacred
Chinese portal. He drew his plans ac-
cordingly and took them to Ma Tung,
the old Manchu gentleman at the head
of the Walwupu. That dignitary ex-
ploded with indignation. Have Chi
nese gate, a common, ordinary Chinese
gate to this fine house! Not much, he
wanted a European gate, gate like the
legations have, with a f1agpole on top
of 1t and all the latest improvements
and fandangles. Mr.. Jameson was
given to understand that the govern
ment had ordered an up-to-date Ameri-
can building, and he must deliver the
goods or quit American buildings are
not usually provided with high walls
and ornate gate, but the American
legation in Peking has such appurte-
nances. Mr.. Jameson, Of course, fur
nished the foreign gate, but an ugly
substitute for the Chinese one which
he had originally planned.
ln6S6 are llllle tlluBS, uO oOuptt
things which would hardly be worthy
of account in a western capital, but in
Peking they mean much. This is the
same Peking in which, less than ten
years ago, the Chinese imperial govern
ment, secluded in the then inViolate
Forbidden city, issued orders COM
manding the murder of all foreigners
in the empire. In the streets of this
city was murdered the German minister
accredited to this court, and the spot
is now marked by an imposing Chinese
arch The effect of the monument, by
the way, is not quite clear, as the peo-
pie are said to believe that it was
erected to celebrate" the murder of
Baron Won Ketteler.
This is the same Peking, a capital
city, in which less than ten years ago
the imperial government with a degree
of treachery and breach of obligation
unmatched in modern history, laid
siege to the legations Of the various ma
tions of the world. 1t is less than ten
years of actual time since the Boxer
war, the siege of the legations, the cap
ture of Peking by the allies and the
violation and sacking Of the Forbidden
city, but in progress and change 1t Is
more than a century for Peking.
The uniforms of score of nations are
seen in the streets, and the powers
maintain a garrison against the, pos
sible recurrence of the horrors of 1900
But everybody knows, or believes he
knows that there is no such possibility.
The capture of Picking in 1900 was the
beginning of a new era in China. The
change has been felt in all parts of the
empire, and has manifested itself in
many ways, but in ancient and con-
servative Picking the tangible progress
is most marked.
The modern city of Peking still suf-
fers the meets and bounds of the
ancient city, with it's thirty-mile wall
inclosing the Tartar city and Chinese
city, and inside the former, the
Forbidden city. But the spirit of the
new city knows not the meets and
bounds of the older day 1t is glaringly
new, and it smells of fresh varnish per-
haps, but it's very existence is fact
of tremendous importance. 1t proves
that China has awakened.
Tomorrow--In Modern China-XVIH; The
City Of Shanghai.
BabyVilIe Grateful
The rain came lust IN time to save milk