Imperial Valley press., 1936-08-30
By Jessie Ackermann, F. r. G. S.

TOWN by the sea lies shantung. famous for
II several curious reasons = which include its
tall natives it's swarm of humanity and the
graves of Chinas two great men, Confucius the
sage. and Sun Vat Sen, leader of modern
thought
was aiming for the tomb of Confucius, and
like millions of other worshippers at his ancient
shrine made my way from Tsingtaos crowded
streets across the province = taking the hard
way to obtain what writers call local color
and atmosphere. l was wandering, that year,
and was determined that part of my wanderings
would bring me to the place revered over all
others by the Chinese people. Mohammedans
make pilgrimage to Mecca, and the Orient looks
toward the day when every family can journey
to the spot where the bones of it's greatest
teacher are still resting.
To see any part of China means to see mil
lions of people, but to pass through Shantung
leaves an impression that the Chinese race is
race of giants - mistake, for these towering
amber hued men are found in this province and
nowhere else in China. Believing you can find
a reason for everything if you look hard enough
I did some research Why were these men of
Shantung so tall so well developed? The an
swer wasn't far to seek - for generations these
people have practiced wrestling, fencing and
more strenuous sports. intellectually, they
weren't giants but physically there are no finer
specimens anywhere. The reason, however,
pleased me- 1t added proof to an idea I'd had
for long time - that you can be almost any
thing you want to be, if you work at 1t. Make
up your mind, and get busy! Anything is pos
sible - even woman alone in China can mingle
with the people and visit the tomb of one of
the worlds great leaders! I'd made up my mind
and succeeded! Evidently hundreds of years ago
the men of Shantung had decided to possess
physical powers they made up their minds to
breed giants, and there they were = swarms
of them, pushing, crowding, a human herd
sweeping like an army of ants through Shan
tungs streets, but without $50 far as l could
see) any destination whatever.
TWO things were necessary transportation
and capable interpreter. The last, in this
case came first and I secured the services of
an American professor who wanted to visit the
tomb.
We did not wish to go by rail, but to make
the Journey in the od-fashioned way - on foot,
or by chair bearers seeing the country and
mngling with it's people. 1t was going to be
uncomfortable but almost any method of travel
in China is equally so.
1.-THE trouble" informed my interpreter, "is
this. 1 dislike making beasts of burdens of
men,"
"Chair bearers make their living that way"
I was told
Nevertheless ="
There's nothing like having your own ideas
about things, and sticking to them. I didn't
wish to be carried around China by coolies Call
it whim, but there it and what could
we do?
One thing remained - burro. In little
village we argued with burro owner bartered
awhile (they love to squabble over what youn
payD and finally secured fitting animal More
suitable to my notion, as a beast of burden.
Even so, I'm not sure the burro agreed with me;
he was a stubborn fellow.
We had another bright idea or 70 we