Imperial Valley press., 1937-02-07

took over Hong Kong and opened five ports to
foreign trade.
"That was the first opium war;" said Spike.
when England opens up a country it stays
opened" But that wasn't the end. Soon came
the Tai Ping Rebellion, the Arrow War and
the old Viceroy Yeh seized British ship
the Arroa0 and her crew. Before long the EN-
peror invaded an arsenal at Foochow, and went
to war with France. China began to feel strong,
and tried to stop Japanese activities in Korea
which brought with Japan. But
these people like wars" Spike said. Life Is
cheap over here. There are too many people
in China, anyhow. Killing off few thousand
gives the rest of them more room 60 breathe
in"
r HOSE days while we wandered around Hong
Kong, China had Emperor a prince
the Dowager Empress had adopted when her
own son, Tung Chi, decided to die after ruling
for IL years. The youngster chosen was a
child three years old. She called him Kwangsu,
and the old lady ruled him until he was
old enough to become figurehead. The Dowa-
ger still appointed all vceroys and dominated
the puppet Emperor until September of '98
(just before Spike and had landed, when she
stripped him of privilege, imprisoned him in
the summer palace and gave the boy
silk scarf. An invitation to strangle himself,
forthwith
Things have been happening while we've
been at sea-" Spike said Europe has sliced
melon, and the melon is China. For Germany:
SO years lease on Kio-Chao. For Russia: 25
years lease on Port Arthur. To say nothing of
England and France. :"
Word from Pesing: the Boxers were
placardng the city, calling on all Boxers and
patriots to rise up and kill the foreign devils.
Excitement grew in Hong Kong. The day we
had news of impending events was May a.
1900 sacred day to Spike. Queen Vic
toria's birthday
Spike going to get into this war and
show me how to fight for Queen and country,
and have some fun doing it. No troop move
ments had begun, but Hong Kong restless,
preparing. Our ship due to sail for Eng
land the next day-so we jumped ship, and
made our way to Marking. We both had few
pounds sterling, and looked around for chance
to join an army-anyone's army. Spike planned
on Joining the first contingents to march for
Peking.
Meanwhile what Spike meant by life
being cheap. We had ambled to the head of an
alley. In the center of the tiny street, in front
of several florist shops four men kneeled.
hands bound behind them. An executioner and
his assistant-in black clothes-examined two
long-handled thick -baded knives Beheading
swords, specially created for the purpose
AN old Chinese custom" Spike said
Two knives swung as one, parallel with the
ground. There was confusion only cool
expertness One head followed the other to the
street. IL was very deft marked by skill which
meant long practice. Four heads rolled along
the cobbles and rested quietly.
A small group of idlers and shop keepers
looked on impassionately and went about their
business. apparently unaffected The four heads
lay where they had fallen.
We saw similar things-worse, possibly One
criminal turned loose to wander the streets
in light bamboo collar around his neck: it
measured four feet across making 1t impossible
for him to get his hands to his head. He was
dying of thirst for no friend dared to help him.
(To be oontInued)