Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-11-04

j
ker Hill Of China.
The Chinese say that he
who has not lived in Canton
knows not luxury. Equally true is ii
that tie American of lowlest estate
who has not seen Canton knows not
poverty. In contrast to ancient tenn
pies, and paiatial homes surrounded
with park-llke gardens. are the beg
garp at thsr gates, covered with
sores and whining for plttance; the
leaden-eyed porters, straining under
their burden of humanity or baggage;
women haggling for pigeon-egg-si sized
lump of bean curd, half dozen pea
nuts. dozen roasted beans or strip
Of meat the size Of rasher Of bacon
as a special luxury for the family din
ner
A five and ten-cent store would be
Ti:fany's for many well-to-do Can
ton families. The cent, now sort
Of war tax annoyance to us, would
have to be suhdivided for the China
man. His smallest coin, the cash, nor
lean cent, was too large in some
places, and bamboo tokens are rec
pgnized by tradesmen as worth half
8 cash.
Yet there is luxury, expressed not
only in homes, commerce., and bust
ness structures, but in products which
make Canton the art center OF China.
Its lacquer and sandalwOod articles
are unique, its ivory carving unsur-
passed. its pottery, gem setting. and
fans, from the palm leaves we buy
for few pennies to the ivory-handled
feather ones the tourist bargains for
1T S25 or s35 are world famous.
Revolutionary Center Of China.
Periodically Canton has several
points of contact with the American.
Most likely the firecrackers which dis
turbed Cur early-morning slumbers on
tie Fourth of July came from there,
as we'll as the fan we carried to the
community demonstration later Can
ton was the birthplace of the revolu-
lion In 1911 that ended the Manchu
dynasty, and has been HE storm cen
Ter of other rcvolulpnal'y activities
since.
Except for - few newer streets, it
still is true that Canton is II city of
million without Il wheel M beast
of burden Strangely ancient in some
respects. Canton long has practiced
some of lllu eXpelient> which are be-
.ng nrge,l as experiments in western
ands.
SO far as her business district is
concerned. the city is thoroughly
"Zoned'' The shopper may find prac-
dcally all the city has to offer in wood
carving on one street. in silks and en-
broideries on another, In Jewels and
precious stones on another During
tlie coal shortage In our eastern states
in recent winters, efforts We're made to
10 cooking at central kitchens and
serve food ready to eat" at homes in
the neighborhood. Long has the fuel
| shortage been acute in Canton, driv-
| Ing the housewife to chaff, twigs, lit
| ter, for her cooking, and making cook
| Ing and vending ON the streets re-
course of the poor rather than fad
with the rich. The Chinese "hot dog
man. has a greater variety, but small
ar portions, than our own. and he is
| not to be recommended from the
| standpoint of sanitation.
Fighting the Plague.
Human life inevitably becomes
cheaper in the midst of congestion,
suffering and poverty. Early efforts
to fight the bubonic plague were grave
~ met with the argument that there
We're too many mouths to feed, any
way, in Canton, and the plague. like
the typhoons, We're providential for
| those who escaped.
Humane science finally won the day,
and the tin boxes on street corners
are not to be mistaken for trash re-
aeptacles They are for dead rats,
which are collected and burned. The
tornadoes wreak peculiar havoc be-
cause of the peculiar dwelling place
Of some $4,000 of Canton's inhabi-
tants-on houseboats These boat
: iwellers, the Tan-min, are social
/ pariahs. Their women formerly fur.
aished the singing girls" on the flow
sr boats" floating haunts Of the under.
world. which were burned several
gears ago. Their men engage in the
river traffic that is an essential fea
tire of Canton's commercial life.