The Washington herald., 1910-07-17

ances OF this kind that have taken place,
either the bridegroom has been diplo-
matte or consular dignitary. OF else the
ceremony has taken place in the pres
ence Of Chinese diplomatic or consular
representatives, the fraud perpetrated
on the misguided bride constitutes a
scandal which Is not calculated to pro-
mote the belief abroad in china's much
Wanted and highly-prized reputation for
Official and commercial honor.
That is why the Prince Regent has pro-
mulgated MS recent decree forbidding
all marriages between Cinnamon and
white women. either in China or abroad.
and both the edict and the reasons which
have led TO it's issue should be made
known in every city, town, and village
OF the United States and Europe, so that
no public officer or minister Of any
religious denomination may render him
self a party to what is virtually crime
by officiating and endowing with what he
believes to be legal sanction to mar
riage between one of his countrywomen
and a Mongolisn.
Nearly every white man who has re-
sided in China has been called upon to
contribute TO the passage home Of IN
fortunate American and European women
who. having married In their own eoun-
try a Chinaman OF more or less rank,
found on accompanying him to the ORR
ent that their position there was not
only false, but altogether intolerable;
and remember in particular the sad
story of a young girl of Newcastle-on-
Tyne who had accepted an offer Of mar
rage from a young Chinese naval officer
named Ling. who had been sent to Great
Britain to study gunnery and TO supervise
the construction of Chinese ordnance
az Lord Armstrong; great iron works
Of Ellswick.
All opposition on the part of her parents
was silenced by the apparent sincerity of
HIS professions of attachment, and by the
fact that he claimed 10 be a Christian.
His mansion in China was most impress
sively described. and the girls parents
were asked TO picture her lI:ing in the
most fairylike OF Oriental luxury, amid
orange groves and plants Of exquisite
beauty The infatuated girl cast in her
lot with the Celestial and started with
him for China. Letters Of a reassuring
character continued TO come from the
couple on the outward voyage But after
the arrival at Shanghai the communion
tons became mysterious and soon ceased
altogether. At length. however, a letter
was received at Newcastle, from the chief
OF one Of the missionary stations near
Nankin, stating that the girl or arriving
in China had found herself consigned To
the role OF deputy wife. and OF hand
maiden to the hancee; that is 10 say, the
real wife. whom Commander Ling had
left at home
She had revoited against this. and sub
| jected TO neglect. abuse. and iil-treat
ment: had finally been turned out oi
| doors. in a destitute condition. 70 seeH
refuge at the mission hospital. where she
gave birth TO her child. Perhaps IL is Just
as Rell that the latter did not live more
than a few days. and when the letter
reached Newcastle she was already OF
! the way back to England, completely
ufOhcn ID HSdllA anu SpiIllS, Is wei a,
| disgraced IN her own eyes. the expense:
OF her voyage having been paid by a few
English people whose sympathies had
been invoked in her behalf.
This is no isolated instance. Number:
of them have been published in the Amer,
lean and European press Four years age
the Paris 'IlIastratioa" published a mum.
Der Of photographs portraying the wed
ding ceremonies in the French capital Of
young Chinese diplomat and of a very
pretty girl, whose father was head Of q
division in one of the great government
departments on the banks of the Seine
Two years later the girl returned home
from China 10 her parents. with much
the same story TO tell as that Of the
Newcastle girl. which I have related
above. People read them and forget them
Perhaps Prince Chun's recent edict will
help them TO remember
II is a great mistake to believe that
China is the only Oriental power that
objects to marriages of its citizens to