Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-08-26

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety Washington, D. c.
~ ANTON is the Paris and Bun
ker Hill of China.
The Chinese say that he
who has not lived in Canton
knows not luxury. Equally true is it
that the American of lowliest estate
who has not seen Canton knows not
poverty. In contrast to ancient tenn
pies, and palatial homes surrounded
with park-like gardens, are the beg
CARS at their gates, covered with
sores and whining for a pittance; the
leaden-eyed porters, straining under
their burden of humanity or baggage;
women haggling for a pigeon-e gg-sized
lump of bean curd, half dozen pea
nuts, a dozen roasted beans, or a strip
of meat the size of a rasher of bacon
as a special luxury for the family din
ner.
A five and ten-cent store would be
a Tiffany's for many well-to-do Can
ton families. The cent, now a sort
Of war tax annoyance to us, would
have to be subdivided for the China
man. His smallest coin, the cash, nor
mally worth one-twentieth of an Amer
lean cent, was too large in some
places, and bamboo tokens are rec
Ognized by tradesmen as worth half
a 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.
It's 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
at $25 or $35, 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
the Fourth of July came from there,
as well as the fan we carried to the
community demonstration later. Can
ton in 1911 that ended the Manchu
dynasty, and has been the storm cen
ter of other revolutionary activities
since.
Except for a few newer streets, it
still is true that Canton is "city of
a million without wheel or a beast
Of burden" Strangely ancient in some
respects, Canton long has practiced
some of the expedients which are be-
ing urged as experiments in western
lands.
So far as her business district is
the city is thoroughly
'zoned." The shopper may find prac-
tically 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
the coal shortage in our eastern states
in recent winters, efforts were made to
do 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- |
ng the housewife to chaff, twigs, lit |
-er, for her cooking, and making cook
ng and vending on the streets a re-
curse of the poor rather than fad |
With the rich. The Chinese "hot dog |
nan" has a greater variety, but small
r portions, than our own, and he is |
lot to be recommended from the |
tandpoint of sanitation.
Fighting the Plague.
Human life inevitably becomes
heaper in the midst of congestion,
and poverty. Early efforts
0 fight the bubonic plague were grave
= met with the argument that there
'ere too many mouths to feed, any
'ay in Canton, and the plague, like
he typhOons, were providential for
hose who escaped.
Humane science finally won the day,
nd the tin boxes on street corners
re not to be mistaken for trash re-
eptacles. They are for dead rats.
hich are collected and burned. The
wreak peculiar havoc be-
ause of the peculiar dwelling place
some 125,000 of Canton's inhabi-
lnts-On Households. These boat
wellers, the Tan-min, are social
ariahs. Their women formerly fur
lshed the Singing girls" on the flow
boats, " floating haunts of the under
ord, which were burned several
ears ago. Their men engage in the
yer traffic that is an essential fea-
Ire Of CantOn's commercial life.