The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-03-06

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the Way-side District. were executed
at Lunghua in the presence Of repre-
sentatives of the Municipal Police.
Eight prisoners, found guilty OF
armed robbery, attempted murder
and piracy outside Settlement limits.
we're also executed during the
month, six at Lunghua and two out
side the West Gate Of Paoshau City.
! Code A. b. C. 9Th Edition. Radio
Station Call ID. N. s." Cable Address
"Evenews"
The Evening News. China's Great
est evening newspaper, 43-47 Pektng
Road, Shanghai. China.
ONCE Of George s. Teali. business
manager.
/ Address all communications to
The Evening News and not to in
dividuals.
(; January IS. 1924.
Dear Uncle Byrd:
Your letter OF December % came
BY the last boat. l WAS both sur
prised and delighted to receive 1t. (.
Your questions on Chinese bank
ing laws referred to the cashier OF
one Of the big American banks here.
He reports that formerly Chinese
bankers were beheaded when their
banks failed, but since the institu-
tion of the Republic it has not been
the custom. There are no real bank
ing laws in China, but only estab-
lished regulations that have become
the order through long years of
useage.
Most of the native banks are only
money lending concerns with very
few depositors Their rates of in
terest are extremely high. They
have no trouble in getting from 20
to 80 per cent They borrow from
the foreign banks at 10 and IL per
cent and relend the money at the
high rates. Rates that the other
banks have no conception of where
nor how to get.
There are great numbers of the
foreign banks here, registered under
the laws of their separate countries,
representing all of the nations. Each
one transacts business according to
the statutes of it's own land often
causing some queer complications in
their. dealings with each other.
Most of the wealthy Chinese de-
post the greater part of their money
in some one of the foreign banks be-
cause there it will be safe from be-
ing confiscated for political reasons.
One Chinese banking custom that
all foreign banks have had to adopt
is the Compradore system, without
which they would be unable to do
business with the native banks or
business firms. The Compradore is
a rich Chinaman, who guarantees all
transactions and take a certain per
cent of the profts. II he looses
money for the bank he has to make
it good. He is heavily bonded and
the bank also has the right to attach
his property.
Yes, as you say, there are a lot OF
interesting stories to be picked up
out here, but never have any time
to write them. Perhaps In years to
come, when l am old and can no
longer go roaming about,I may be
able to make myself happy and keep
an interest in life by setting down
the tales will have shelved away In
my memory.
A novel incident comes to my
mind, just now, that l am sure you
will appreciate as it illustrates one
of the many peculiar conditions,
which could exist nowhere else in the
world except in China, where foreign
concessions have been granted.
Some little time ago an English
clafrvoyant came to Shanghai and
married herself an American hus-
band. After the honeymoon she
fitted up an expensive studio and be-
gan telling fortunes. She immed1-
ately caught the public fancy and, IN
spite of her enormous fees, had more
work than she could do. But, this
profession being against the law OF
her country, she was soon arrested
and brought into the British court.
'I am an American" she explained to
the Judge. II have an American
husband. Here are all my papers to
prove it," And sure enough, accord
ing to British law, she was Ameri-
can and could not be prosecuted In
the British court. She was then
turned over to the American court,
where she told them, II am English.
America does not bestow Citizenship
upon the foreign wives of her men. "
Quite true According to American
law the woman was an English SUD-
ject over whom the American court
had no Jurisdiction.
The case was then brought before
the Mixed Court only to find there
was no existing Chinese law prohibit
ing the telling of fortunes.
Madame still maintains her studio
and her convenient husband Is sup
ported in luxury, on the money con-
tributed by the superstitious resi-
dents of Shanghai.
1 like it out here very much, and
in spite of the urgings of my friends,
l am making no plans to return to
where white women have
to be their own servants. OF course
I am going back some day, but it will
be next year or the year after; some
time in the dim future that 1 don't
need to bother my head about at
present.
Do not hesitate to write me for
any information you may wish at any
time as 1 will be only too glad to get