The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-10-04
The
Safeguard
By PETER c.. TIsDALE

Iue news CHule tnaC the CllneSe people
Were vibrating between a monarchy
and a republic. Emerson was a cler-
gyman and had done ten years mis-
siOnary work among the Celestials. l
asked him if in his opinion the Chinese
were fitted for free government.
NO people," he replied, ARE fitted
for free government except those
who have reached a high degree Of In
telligence. There are a few Chinese
who are up to the standard Of our
western civilization, but there are mil
lions Of them who are sunk In the most
abject superstition. When first went
to China I had a good deal to learn
about the people there. l was soon in
itiated. Do you see that paper?
He pointed to a scrap Of paper about
8 by 10 inches in size hanging on the
wall. On it were written Chinese char
acters.
That paper he continued, "ac-
counts for my being here at this mo-
ment Without it 1 would not have
been here. Soon after entering upon
my work in China l fell in with very
intelligent mandarin who seemed TO
take liking to me. l believed that If
l could make a Christian of him he
would influence others, and set about
the work of his conversion. He APP
peared to be very much interested in
what l said to him, but l could not
bring him to the point Of declaring
himself a Christian. l believed. how
ever, that it was because by doing 80
he would bring down upon himself the
anathemas of his people.
zone day he called halt on our con-
versations. Something was IN the
wind. but could not tell what it was
In bidding adieu to me he handed me
that slip Of paper you see hanging or
the wall telling me that if | got into
trouble with his people to produce it
and it would protect me from harm.
Being new to the country, did not I'M
dcrstGnd what was written on it. I
folded 1t and put II in my pocket.
1T was not LONG after this that tie
Chinese common people gave vent 10
their hatred Of the foreign devils in one
OF those massarIcs which from time .
time have occurred in that boniehtcd
land. One n0ruiug I was Mortified by
one Of my converts telling mo with
fear and trembling that in a distant
village the heatlcn he'd killed ali the
foreigners ana hundreds of converts.
THAT day all the converts At the st1-
ton went away, knew not whore bu.
l perceived they were hiding from r.a.
wrath to come, for it was not Iike'v
that the massacre of which we had
heard would be the last OF the move.
ment.
Mrs. Emerson and ! had been mar.
red only just previous to our dppartua
from America. ana none of our little
ones had then come to US. The quos-
ton was whether we should renal,
whore We We're or g1 elsewhere. We
decided that we We're as safe where W.
Were as i'll any other location Our
station might not be attacked, while
another to which we would fee Nigh.
90 down under the mob Of Infatuated
fiends, 50 We concluded to remain.
Every day, at last every hour. We
heard Of massacres nearer and nedrce
to US. But when the storm came il
broke all at once. One morning
heard distant din. and very soon o
bowling mob came down the street.
The mind Is a queer working bodily
implement. and since what it did for
me on that cventful morning l have
felt sure that there is a lot about il
that we don't understand. l had put
the paper the mandarin had Given me
in a tin box where I kept other docu-
ments and had forgotten all about it.
Suddenly as l heard those ye)ls and
shriekS it popped into my head. l re
membered its donor had told me that
il got into trouble with his people to
produce it,
Il went to the tin box that contained
it, took it out and unfolded it. You see
that it is large enough to be read from
some distance. The point with me was
how to enable the mob to see it ana
what it was before they murdered me.
We were on the lower floor. Ny wife
was as white as a sheet, and confess
| was no more self possessed Nv
hands trcmbled 50 that could scarce
ly hold the paper ran to the window
II