The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-10-21
MISSIONARY TELLS.
OF FAR OFF China
Letter to "Folks at Home" Written
From Summer Palace, Picking,
-lnteresting Descriptions
5000 MILES OF STONE WALL
Visit at American Indemnity School,
Supported by Money for DAM
age in Boxer Trouble.
Summer Palace, Picking.
Aug. %. 1914.

Summer Palace, Picking.
Aug. 25, 1914.
My Dearest Ones at Home:
AS we rest from the heat Of the
monday in the ''stOne boat" overlook
ing a beautiful lotus studded lake,
want to begin my letter to you. The
stone boat is really a tea house ris-
ing out of the water on a massive
stone foundation in the form of ship.
1t is cool, pleasant place, fitted out
with tables, where one may have the
privilege of drinking tea, as much and
as long as one likes, for the sum of
fifteen cents. We have just had a
plentiful, but rather unsubstantial
lunch Of Chinese cakes, apples and
pears and will soon continue our ram
blings through this beautiful part,
where the late empress dowager was
wont to spend her summers and on
which she spent millions of dollars,
which might better have gone into
Strengthening China's navy, or into
the education of her youth. The build
ings, Of which there are hundreds, are
not especially massive or substantial,
but they are very gorgeous with their
roof tiles of the imperial yellow,
which glisten in the sun like gold. |
suppose few such tiles are made now
adays. They are as hard as flint and
covered with glazing that ought to
resist any ravages of time or weather.
The lake is an artificial one about
three miles in circumference and is
skirted for at least third of the way
by a covered avenue, the overhead
beams of which are decorated with the
best art of the Manchu dynasty. In
the midst of the lake is a small ISL
and ON which are situated the offices
where the work of administration was
carried on in the summer months
These are locked and sealed, but
through tho windows one gets
glimpses OF magnificent mahogany
turiture inlaid with marble or moth
er OF pearl. One may make the cross
ing to the island in little boat or
walk across on beautiful marble
bridge. We preferred the latter as
I'VE can have boat rides at home"
August 29th:-This has been a
busy. busy week. Wednesday morn
ing as soon as breakfast was over we
were off to see the Nung tombs and
the great wall. This trip takes two
days. 1t begins with an hours ride
across the city to the railroad station
in ricsha. The train takes us to
Nang Kow, where we found a semi
foreign inn, had a good Chinese din
ner and hired donkeys for our twenty
one mile ride. Donkeys ride much
better than horses, but even then l
was thoroughly tired, while the two
Chinese ladies with me were quite
spent, it being their first ride.
The general plan of the tombs is
the same as at Nan King, but is on
much larger scale as there are thir-
teen tombs here and only one at Nang
King. BY the way, Nan" means
southern and "Pek" northern and the
suliix King" capital. Nang King is
or was the southern capital of China
and Picking the northern. We only
visited one tomb-the largest. The
other twelve are scattered over a
large area, miles apart. We could
see most of them in the distance. All
are beautiful for situation; most Of
them OH hill or mountainside, each
one protected by large enclosure
filled with beautiful old trees, and
each with it's series of temples. One
of the temples in the enclosure we
visited had in it fifty pillars. Each
was tree not less than twelve feet
in circumference. and as they were
located in perfect symmetry with no
effect OF being close together. you can
imagine something of the size of the
structure.
1t was hot trip out. but very pleas
ant as we went back in the cool of
the evening. 1t was quite dark when
we got back to the inn. Each donkey
has man who goes with it, SO of
course We were perfectly safe. We
were more than glad to get back and
the hot rice and well seasoned 'poui"
did taste good.
The next morning at O'Clock we
were up again and at s we were of
on the little train that runs up to the
great wall. 1t is a mixed" train.
Only one passenger coach and that
on the end so that we could stand on
the platform and enjoy the scenery.
What a trip that was up the narrow
mountain pass. told the girls they
surely ought to love their country.
Such a country, so wide and so mar
,elous in it's natural beauty sang
to myself as we went and thought of
my ain Countrie:"
Il love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and tempted hills,
My heart with rapure thrills,
Like that above"
Finally we came in sight of the
great wall, catching glimpses of it
as it here and there caps some high
er peak. Then We crossed it where
the railroad has with wanton sacri-
lcge torn yards OF it away to effect a
passage that might just as well have
been done in a way that would not
have married this wonderful monu-
ment to the patience. persistence and
endurance OF the Chinese nation. We
then left the train and walked for a
couple of miles to the point marked
in the card ! am sending you. The
dcy was delightfully."- cool and we were
mt. hurried, so we had time to sub