The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-12-06

lOuuu NduklnS the richest III
historical interest, says DR..
A. Il. Leavelle In an account
or his travels in China, published In
the Los Angeles Times. 1t is 205 miles
inland on the banks Of that wonderful
waterway, the YangtZe river. It's his
tory dates back, under different names.
several centuries before Christ, and 1t
has served under a number Of dynas-
ties as the capital city. Marking is
very advantageously situated for de-
Tense and has the vantage point striv-
en- for by many Of the leaders of Chi.
mas numerous rebellions. 1t was here
that DR.. Sun Vat Sen lived and took
his oath of Office as president Of the
Republic of China in 1912. During our
stay in this city we were entertained
In that great yamen, formerly owned
by Ii Hung Chang, ex-minister to
America.
The present walls of Marking are
among the finest in China, being 90
feet high, 40 feet thick and % miles
long. In their construction no fewer
than 100000 w9kmen were employ
ed. These walls have now been built
more than 1000 years and, though
moss cover most of the brick, are well
preserved.
The past glories of this city are indi-
Gated by arched bridges of carved
stone; by the ruins Of the wOrld-fa-
nous porcelain pagoda; the examina.
ton halls containing cells for 10000
students, the nearby ancient Confuci.
an temples; the drum tower, and the
precious stone tea houses. The cele.
brated mausoleum of Hung WI, the
humble founder Of the Ming dynasty,
we saw just outside the city walls.
For miles 1t is surrounded by huge
carved granite figures of animals and
solid stone images, known as the Ming
tombs. This is one of the most pic
turesque places known to history.
Purple Mountain That Mas Chained.
All is o~vershadowed by Purple
mountain, where the greatest battle Of
Chinese history was fought. The wife
Of n Of the emperors declared she
could see this moutain move, and to
relieve his people of their terror he set
forth with 100000 coolies and con.
structed a huge iron chain about it's
base. Since that day 1t has not moved.
Taking a stern-wheeler we proceeded
I'D the world-famous West river right
through China's present theater Of
war.
Our good captain, having a big con
signment Of silver aboard, was sure
fall placed "Big Doc" (my brother)
and me In a private cabin adjoining
his on the bridge, all Of which was
enclosed in iron grating with locked
doors. We had 800 Chinese herded
below on the deck which had no beds,
as they preferred the floor. / was glad
Of the chance to see them at their eve
ming meal Of rice, bamboo sprouts and
chopped duck, served before them as
they reclined, a half-dozen or more
eating with chopsticks out Of the same
large bowl. 1t certainly was a great
sight. Then they passed around the
community water pipe, which after q
few puffs would lay them out to sleep.
Oh, say, did you ever see a duck
boat? Well, all along here you see
these peculiar boats with o~verhanging
sides equipped to accommodate some
thing like 1000 ducks. They land at
q new grazing place each day, throw
down q bamboo gangplank and herd
them like sheep-a call will bring back
any straying drake. In the afternoon
when the call Is given 'all aboard"
you never saw such q scrambling and
falling into the water to get up that
gangway, for the last half-dozen get
a sound thrashing for being late. 1t
looked like a crush at a theater fire.
~ Flood al Wicklow.
We finally reached Vuchow, the ''Big
Doc" and his charming wife, formerly
Qf the blue grass. showed me the most
Nesting ten days OF my life. I could
0prths Of 1t all and still
to write q book. ]