The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-15

tied the Lii Hung Chang memorial-at
with gardens and courts and temples,
in which towering statue of the IA
nous old Chinaman seemed to DE the
presiding spirit. Our coachman stopped
before the gate with an air of fnality,
as though the matter was decided in
his own mind that we were to get out
and go in. We both longed to remain
cuddled in the carriage robe. and avoid
any and everything that would prolong
our cold drive, but we were ashamed
to confess this to each other, and we
also recognized the fatality of argu-
ment with our coachman, SO we fol-
lowed the line of least resistance, which
led US through labyrinth of gardens,
courts and interiors. of a very gorgeous
and beautiful character.
We were under the guidance of a giant
Cbinaman, whose strides were long and
rapid, SO we ran along. like patient chill
| dien wherever he led us; painting fol
breath and full of curiosity, but unable
to get our questions answered or under
stood. Madge was interested enough tc
verify our surmises, later on, with q
guide book, so that we had the satisfac
ton of finding that our guesses were
pretty nearly correct in most Of the de-
tails. f
But Chinese architecture and art ap-
pears at first to be almost a repetition
OF what one has already seen in Japan
In lighter vein. OF course, the Japanese
forms are mostly notifications and adap-
tations Of the original Chinese creations
but they are full of grace, daintiness and
simple and delicate suggestions, while, In
China, you seem to come right upon the
fundamental dignity AMI solid base of
all of 1t. Color is more crowded and
cloying; designs are more compact and
definite and proportions are more ma
jestic.
Cold as it was, the romantic sugges-
tons that the ring OF the words, "Bub-
bling Well Road called to our minds,
could not be frozen out; So we contin-
ued our drive after leaving the Lii Hung
Chang memorial.
Confidentially, think Madge was hon.
ing to find some fairies or old witches.
out OF her nursery books, hanging about
the bubbling we'll waiting for us, but
she did not give voice to her notions. /
only got them telepathicaly.
Such pleasing anticipations, however,
were driven completely out of my mind
by hunger and cold. and long ere the
romantic well was reached my thoughts
we're busy with a hot lunch and all the
comforts of little hotel. For this rea-
son / took an unworthy pleasure in see
irg~ Madge come suddenly out of her
faEcies to face the foolish looking reali-
~, which some hooking genius had
named The Bubbing Well Road.
Wo aroused ourselves once more from
the warm rugs of our carriage to peer
over the low. round wall which sur
rounded the well, and what we saw was
a greenish and greasy pool. in the center
OF which one or two lazy bubbles would
occasionally arise. l am sure it grieved
Madge, though she was game about it:
but, as 1t somewhat resembled a pot of
slowly simmering soup, my own impress
sons of 1t were altogether displeasing.
Needless to say we did not find any
great difficulty in tearing ourselves away
from the well. and returned briskly to
luncheon at the hotel; where the widow,
the prophet" and the other men were
awaiting us. The widow had spent the
morning buying furs. as that is one of
the things people buy In Shanghai-and
generally throw away afterwards
THE prophet" seemed to be rather of
the key, in "our crowd" as he does not
yield to the widow the usual alteration
SIZE comma nds, and demands of the stern
sex, and insists on training the CONVEX
sation away from personalities. onto ma
tional and political subjects.
As / happened to be seated on one side
of him at luncheon, and Madge on the
other, he completely cut us out of the
surrounding conversation, and kept our
attention on an article which someone in
Shanghai had given him. 1t was let
ter from the Philippine Islands, published
III German paper, and as he Would
first cough and splutter out the German
TO us, and then give us the English
translation, you may imagine what a dis
tufbance he created in the circle
The widow felt personally affronted at
having her audience SO impertinently di-
unfinished, and was so unnerved by 1t that
she could scarcely keep things going
from her own end of the table: from
whence she sent us the most indignant
and outraged stare. Madge and found
time enougls-while the~ German was go
ing onto take note Of the furious looks
CT the widow, and we very nearly came
to disgrace. wIth( glggles.
At the same tilhe we were deeply in
terested in our prophets discourse, as it
seemed to shed little more light on the
Asiatic situation of our own country.
I'he German writer pictured the situa-
serious indecision resulting in only half
measures" which he said, was to be
found at every step
go long as the Panama canal Is not
opened" he said, 1.-The American east
remains defenseless. FOR some time, to be
sure, Manila bay has been equipped with
& foating dock and 90 me heavy guns;
hut the entire garrison Of the islands.
the white and the colored regiments to-
gether, amount only to 1900 men, and