Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-20
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN


WASHINGTON, d. c.. Feb. It's
tho door in China really opening?
Are her youth movement. her contest
over foreign spheres of influence, hcr
new culture movement Turing her
down the ladder OF centuries to an oc-
cidcntal landing?
This seems to be indicated by her
new policies. Walls OF old cities are
torn down: conEested districts are be.
ing transformed into broad streets and
parks: education 10 changing TO SUIT
tho demand for a new culture IN
which what is best ir western Thought
IL to be freely adopted" Ancient sup
crstitions and tho gods of Yesterday
arc rapidly being dtscarded under
broadening educational inhuences-
chiefly American. China within the
walls was stepped IN mystery. buried
in orientalism. Tho 'F1owery Repuo.
lie" today stands on tho remnants OF
Its walls and looks back at old China
ms tho ancient customs change ana
progressive China emerses
From city to city tho wall Destroy
ing move has travelled until II has ~
last reached Canton. Nowhere are
changes more ssrikingly apparent
than in this, the ancient metropolis
Of south China. the second largest
non Christian city in tho world:
Known as Yang Chin-the City OF
RAms-Canton IL from q commercial
standpoint tho New York OF China.
ono OF tho chief manufacturing cities
| of tho country. hundreds OF articles OF
| merchandise are turned out: silks
cmbroideries. jade. blackwood furni-
turc. carved ivory. cloissonne. LACQUER
wnre, idols. incense and fans. Pot
terry manufactured In Canton IL ex-
ported to nearly every county IN tho
world. Exquisite small ornaments
arc made from tho brilliant feathers
of tho kingfishcr bird. rich brocAdes
are woven into oriental patterns BY
tho hand loom. Tho majority Of the
Industries arc carried ON by tradc
| guilds some OF which have whole
| districts devoted 10 the production
of their respective wares Ono most
Interesting section for visitors Is the
Factory district whcre the bIaekwood-
cutters guild is located. Hero are
fashioned for occidental cyes. tables
and chairs of teak wood carved In
beautiful and strange designs. Tho
| carver is proud of tho fact that his
ancestors worked In tho same shop
| with the same tools. long before the
foreign devils" thought OF coming 10 10
| China. Near tho chair carver VIII
sometimes sit an Idol carver putting
the finishing touches on his image.
| preparing II for its coating of gilt.
| Yet, side by side with this ancient
handiwork may now be seen some OF
tho modern machinery OF the
twentieth century. Thus Canton be-
comes "A sample OF China's sharp con-
| trasts: "A constant forging ahcnd of
tho now over the old. the first step
in tho march Of progress being the
destruction OF tho restricting walls.
INFLUENCING PUBLIC SPIRIT
As tho grca. mass OF Cinnamon are
totally lacking in what Americans
know ~ public spirit. and arc closely
bound together by family tics and
traditions. tho progressive modern Of
ficials had to prepare public sentiment
for tho physical changes such as tho
destruction of these ancient walls and
the straightcning OF streets. The lat
ter was a tremendous undertaking.
Old Canton Is made up OF hundreds OF
small streets or Rllcywsys each darker
than the other, allowing only tho pass
ing of a sedan chair. Tiny and crook
ed they were made Mt this time in
order that evil spirits in pursuit could
no. travel In n straight line but must
zigLag around corners. High above
i these .ix-foot streets a inerc strip OF
sky shows between overlapping bal
Il comic. and signs. and through the mar
I row psseageway bsbeiinE humanity
/ flows Through IL floats the odor OF
burning fish and sewerage, smouler-
ing Joss sticks. the bouquet of ancient
remains OF skinned dogs and rats of
fered for sale. The visitors notes the
| fatuous titles OF the streets through
which he has passed: the Street OF
Il Refreshing Broczcs. and the street OF
| Ninc-Fold Brightness The Street OF
Ten Thousand Crandsons Is more apt
1y named.
i Against this ingrowinE spirit of dc
/ votion to old methods. ways and
places. the moro progressive Of the
controlling powers have at last made