The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-12-19

prepared by the National Geographic Sc
ciety. Warrington. D. CO.
China's famous Great Wall Is til
only man-made feature Of the eartf
80 say astronomers, that could be see
from the moon. Western peoples hav
dug their Panama and Suez canals, in
finitely more useful, and have bull
their great cities whose towers pierre
the skies; but all would be non-exist
ent to moon-man, II this estimate b,
true, while the work pushed through
by an almost forgotten Asiatic ruler
two thousand years ago alone would
be capable Of catching his attention.
Today the Idea of the protection Of
vast country by wall seems fan
tastic. But such an idea was not ridi-
culous In an era when bows and arrows
and twisted pixies were the weapons
of invaders. Then earth and stone
were real deterrents (for artillery was
unknown) against armies that were
simply cavalry hordes.
Now much Of the Great Wall has
fallen into ruins. Yet, despite Its de-
cay, the huge rampant remains mag
nificent monument, which leaves a
powerful impression on even the most
frivolous minds. Once seen, it can
never be forgotten. But Imagination
fails to grasp this remarkable struc-
ture as & whole, for the "Wan-li- chang
cheng," or Myriad Ii Wall, as the Chi
nese call 1t, Is about 1850 miles long
in a straight line, while its turnings
and windings increase 1t to almost q
600 miles. This means that it would
stretch from Portugal to Naples or
from Philadelphia to Topeka, on near
ly the same latitude.
One end of the wall rises out Of the
sea near Shanhaikwan. When it was
built China had nothing to fear from
enemies with powerful fleets, so 1t was
unnecessary to erect q bar
rier along the coast, where the ocean
Itself formed a natural one. The Long
Rampant, therefore, after rising from
the waters edge. starts inland In a
westerly direction.
The terminal sea end Of the wall is
impressive, where the
blocks Of granite, beaten upon by the
waves and their ally, the wind. have
broken loose and extend all awry into
the water, toys for the rising tide.
Following the curve of wall. one
passes the white lighthouse near by
and Is struck with contrast between
East and West. The eye Of the mod
ern searchlight opens and winks with |
startling effect on the old Pavilion of
Literature placed on the very spot |
where Chin's Rampant joins onto the
city wall Of Shanhaikwan, two miles
from the sea.
Though Shanhaikwan Is neither a
arge or important city, 1t was never
:heless once the key to north China.
Here for 80 years the Manchus were
Zept at bay and here, In the famous
,attle of May 20, 1914, WI San Kuei
to overcome Ii Tzucheng's
7astly superior forces after hours of
litter fighting in a furious sandstorm.
Pierced for a Railway.
Today the spot that once resounded
With the blare Of war trumpets Is. dis.
urbed by the whistle Of train fol-
owing track that actually runs
through the wall.
Popular sentiment in the days when
he line was being built would GER
ainly have forbidden the piercing of
he wall for such purpose, but the
easants say that an opening was
here conveniently to hand, ready to {
How the passage Of the iron horse.
Beyond Shanhaikwan the Great
FALL starts of toward the mountains.
DON it begins to climb the steep
opes. Thereafter for the first 300 !
lies of its course it Is never on q |
ain, but rises steadily to the height {
nearly mile above sea level.
1t is indeed a wonderful and an |
nazing experience to stand on some I
lt-jutting parapet which compares '
ell with a box at the theater, and v
Lze down on an enchanted scene of
uitful plain and distant sparkling &
alter, or upward to peaks tipped with a
wers that appear like the donjon- o
ep Of some old knights castle. 6
For several days the traveller who b
8 sufficient patience and endurance il
follow the line of the wall Is re- II
rded by magnificent scenery. Even Il
} least imaginative are humbled and {
pressed by the panorama OF noun Il
ms with sharply silhouetted crests "
/ deep gorges-masses Of contrast
black shadow. But upon those L
h q reverence for and some knowl- !
q Of the past. the effect OF the y