Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-10-13
CAPTURED BY west
GREAT CITY OF HANGCHOW,
CHINA, is MoDERNIZED.
Completely Transformed, Largely by
the Advent of American Busi-
ness Firms-Dsnqer Of Its Co
ing Ahead Too Quickly.

The visitor to Hangchow 600 years
ago could well have been surprised.
Silk-clad gentry rode through the
paved streets in magnificent carriages,
drawn by the finest of horses, or float
ed on the placid waters of beautiful
West lake In great barges, with beau
tiful singers and graceful dancers to
while away the hours, and silver and
choice papery on tables to which were
brought the delicacies of the known
world. Thousands OF bridges crossed
myriad canals and the emperor's pal
ace was the grandest in the world.
Three thousand baths, accommodating
a quarter million of people, catered to
the desire for cleanliness.
Paper money passed freely, the
births of children were recorded by
the state, dead bodies were cremated,
and the wealthy visitor, on arriving
at his hotel, was compelled to register
his name before being shown to his
luxuriously upholstered bedroom. A
census of the entire city was kept by
the painting of the names over the
house doors.
Today the Office of a great sewing
machine company occupies a place on
the once famous Great street; British
American tobacco has taken the place
of opium since 5000 opium pipes were
burned in a single bonfire; and the
Standard Oil company is preparing to
sell motor spirit instead of kerosene,
after a short but decisive battle with
the Mazda globe.
l saw the first carriage that modern
residents have ever seen in Hangchow.
1t was very popular for several weeks,
but 1t was almost Immediately pushed
into second place by the advent of an
automobile. From ricksha to carriage,
and from carriage to motor car was
the change of single month. Both
carriage and motor car were shipped
In by rail or canal, for although one
can go from Hangchow to Shanghai in
30-mile-an-hour express, he cannot
drive in a carriage between the two
cities under any circumstances.
Foreign goods are appearing in
shops, once the finest in the world
Many of the men are already wearing
western dress and even a few Of the
women occasionally wear new world
fashions. With its loss of oriental
character, Hangchow is gaining in
wealth and Importance. The great
fan shop, patronized by pilgrims from
the four corners of China's ynst do
main, bears on its walls certificates OF
excellence from the expositions Of Eu
rope and America. The simple bu
keen-minded Chinese are coming int
constant contact with the foreigner
Last spring l watched the progress O.
a party of wealthy foreigners from
Shanghai down the newly paved stree
into the newly built hotel district. On,
of the ladies not only attracted m,
attention, but that of many of the pc
lite Chinese as well. Her carmine,
lips held Il cigarette and her crosse,
legs displayed the latest style Of shee
hose.
The Chinaman knows his place. II
never presumes. But many of then
already prefer foreign wives t
women from their own race. Western
culture is pervading this beautiful city
which has so far only been influence
by the missionary class. Hangchow'
beauty threatens to spoil her.-May
nayd Owen Williams in World Gu
ture.