Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1924-10-23
Scientific Society

On Monday evening, Oct 13, The
Morgan County Scientific and His
torical society met at the home of
Mrs Evelyn True Button.
There were not as many members
in attendance as had been hoped
for, but probably the American
Legion entertainment ut the opera
house drew many who would other-
wise have been present.
Miss Parsons. one Of the instrue-
tors in the M & M. high school, had
been invited to speak on China, as
she has but lately returned from q
FIVE years stay in that most inter
esting country. Miss Parsons con-
fined her observations almost en-
tirely to Peking. as it was in this
city that she had lived -aS she had
seen much outside on trips into
Mongolia and on visits to the m On
asteries. China, the speaker said,
is a wonderful country, but was. as
she had expected, also a disappoint-
ment and gave one dull heartaehe
to see so much beauty falling into
ruin AS compared with the time of
the Ming dynasty, China is now in
a very decadent state. The roads
originally built of immense blocks of
stonethave never been repaired, and
the temples so beautifully built and
carved, are falling into un Soma
-of the monasteries have been kept
up by individual gifts, and they are
dreams of beauty.
The walls of Peking are well pre-
served. The city is made up of two
separate Cities the northern or Tar
tar city being surrounded by a
square wall SO feet high and 40 feet
broad. The Lower or Chinese city
has watch towers at the corners of
the walls which look southland east
over an. immense alluvial plain. A
deep moat surrounds the walls.
These of course were built to with
stand a prolonged siege, bat would
hardly Withstand our modern mill
tary methods. Outside the walls
and the moat runs the railroad, but
it cuts the corners OF the walls. The
walls themselves are disfigured by
American tobacco signs and by bill
boards. The Forbidden City is that
part of Peking sacred to the Imper-
ial family, but since the downfall of
the empire it has been thrown open
to the public. The city Is further
protected by an outer wall around
the gates.
Miss Parsons always found the
shopping district a most fascinating
place. One street is known as Jade
street. another as Silver street
Many of the shops are tiny affairs,
but here one can find all kinds of
jewels in exquisite settings: silver
and brass vessels and ornaments of
the most delicate workmanship;
silks. emhroideries, tapestries and
beautiful articles made from the ma
tive grasses. Once a year fair is
held, lasting two weeks, and which
is always a delightful place to visit.
Peking has several handsome ho-
tells, in which as In the shops, the
tastes of foreigners are given care
ful attention.
odist Mission where Miss Parsons
lived during part Of her stay in
China. But she was very desirous of
living in a real Chinese house, so
for time she made her home in one.
These houses are built around
court and were otherwise described
in detail
In China, water is quite an expen
sive luxury and is dispensed from
water carts.
Miss Parsons said that the Chinese
restaurants were wonderful build |
ings and patrons are greeted so cor
daily. A Chinese feast can scarcely
be described Some of the dehcacies
are pumpkin and watermelon seeds,
very old eggs, shrimp, mushroom
soup, shark fms, chicken liver, etc. |
She found apricot seeds most de-
icious. There were enormous plat
.ers OF fish and roast duck with pam
cakes leeks and sauce The meal is |
eaten with chop-sticks which is us