The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-08-04

LOO miles over mountain
and valley, is doomed. 1t is
said that under the rule of the
new regent, Prince Chun, progress
siveness will be carried to point
where not only will the old order of
government see it's downfall, but all
that physically recalls the past will
also be destroyed.
Tradition Is the yoke that binds
China. 1t Is the obstacle that has kept
that country of marvellous resources
back. Prince Chun knows this, and
1t is said that in his desire to effect
reform he will not content himself
with merely establishing new methods
In his systems of government, but Will
actually wipe out the physical relics
which keep the face of China turned
to the past rather than to the future.
Of all these survivals, the Chinese
wall is the most famous and the most
wonderful. The countries of power in
the world today were unknown when
this structure was~built to keep out
the invader. In cataloguing the won
ders of the world, 1t has never been
possible to make a classification that
omitted the Chinese wall. 1t was ZOO
years old when Christ came to earth.
but even then 1t was not the work OF
young nation, for China has his
tory that can be traced back for 5000
years.
The project for tearing down the
Chinese wall originated some years
ago, and 1t is said that the late en-
press and her son, whose deaths COM
Ing to close together so suddenly
changed the whole aspect of the fu-
ture for China. had consented to abol-
Ish the wall, and had even signed the
contracts for it's removal when super.
stitious fear seized them and the order
was revoked.
Descended as they both were from
the Tsin dynasty that built the great
barrier, and having that worship of
ancestry that is deeply ingrained IN
the beliefs of the Monaghan, they
feared at the last moment to commit
this sacrilege on the masterwork OF
the dead.
But Prince Chun, who as regent for
the two-year-old baby emperor, Is pos
sessed of full authority, has no such
scruples. He Is not the offspring OF
emperors and there is nothing to hold
him In check. He Is known to have
strongly advanced ideas and to be es
pecially independent and scornful
where the old ideas of the past are
concerned. Therefore, 1t is probable
that he will carry the work Of demop
ton to a finish.
The interest in whether he does SO
goes farther than the mere question
OF the wall. It has to do indirectly
with the future of the immense hordes
who people the country. The wall is
the symbol of the ancient that holds
the country in check. If he be brought
down the modernists will take 1t as q
sign that the new ruler will during
his stay as regent enforce the new
ideals. If in spite Of his impulses he
is wont to let the great wall stay
China will settle back lazily and com
fortably and decide that nothing rad
ical will occur under the present
regime.
This Is the situation that now gives
such an extraordinary interest to the
cid line of Notifications. Modern ar
tfllery would speedily reduce the last
vestige of the ancient barrier, but II
was not built to withstand this kind
of attack. and in the days when II
reared its head over the landscape, II
was an impossible stronghold.
Mans Great Piece of Work.
The visitor who gazes at this stu
pendous construction Is made to feel
very modest as to the skill of the mod
ern engineer. Experts of all nations
have named It as the most astounding
piece of work ever performed by man
Even over the pyramids and the
sphinx it is given the credit.
In imagination the spectator IL
moved back 20 centuries to the times
that Shi-Hoangti, the greatest of Chi
nese heroes, reigned. China then led
the world in wealth and culture and
the nation had a great literature
Rich rewards Of conquest constantly
inspired the Mongols, wild tribes who
lived in the country now called Mon
golia, to make forays. They had in
vaded the country on the northern
part, and were encroaching further
toward Pekin and the provinces OF
the south. 1t was in this crisis that
Shi-Hoangti performed the feats Of
valor that made his name forever
famous in Chinese song and poem. AS
sembling mighty army, he threw
himself on the Mongolian hordes
fought them, defeated them, and sent
them flying back from Chinese terri
tory.
But it was not enough to have
downed the enemy. The Mongols al
ways came back They had per.
tinacfty that made them the most dan
gerous of foes. Therefore, 1t became
necessary to construct a barrier that
would unfailingly perform its duty.
Everything had to be done by hand
for the great engineering devices that
today accomplish the work of SOC
men had not then been invented. But
fortunately labor was plenty In this