Intimate China: The Chinese as I have seen Them.. By. Mrs, Archibald Little. With 120 illustrations. London: Hutchinson Ca., 1899. (21/-)
It is only within the last few years that the general public in Europe and America, have become interested in China, and this notwithstanding a veryextensiveand varied literature dealing, with a most interesting subject. For those who desire to acquaint themselves with the different phases of this ancient civilisation, which -has developed on lines differing'so widely from those prevailing in the "West, there are numerous books from which information may be gathered on almost every conceivable'topic.
classics have boon translated "sud commented upon over "and over-again, while Taoism and Buddhism have' been studied and expounded by competent scholars. Government, taxation, and, provincial administration; geography, geology, and" products; fotuily lite. folk. lore, and proverbs; botany, movicine, and zoology; history, poetry, dratna and fiction; all these subjects have: been-well and fully treated by writers who have pre-red themselves by an ardous study and.cyeate of residence, tu the country. Dictionaries and other aids: to learning the language abound wud are ever being multi plied; and in addition to these more serious works we have quite. an extensive literature dealing with the everyday lifo and: occupations of the people, and'in this field women have been especially succossful.
'Mra. Archibald Little, already well known for her work' in connection with the erusade against foot-binding, and for her previous writings, "has just published: a called Intimate China. She is pculiarly qualified for the task, and her long residence. in the interior in the constant companionship of-a husband who knows and takes so deep an interest in the people, combined with acuteness of observation and a bright and chatty'style of recording; her impressions,' have resulted -in it boo which "will "be widely appreciated. "The difficulties and occasional dangers" of travel. in.tho. interior, the. sights to' be sven, and the scenery' to" be enjuyad are happily, and vividly. portrayed. - 'The chapters on foot-bifiding' disclose horrors almost too painful-to red about, and should do-much to advance the cause Mrs, Little has at heart.. There are interesting chapters on the position of women, superstitions, ceremonies, -examinations, etc., with accounts of trips to Chinese Tibet and to the sacred mountain of Omi. Onv of the most interesting chapters describes the Buddhist "ceremony of ordination' and explains how the. nine. bare. spots on the skulls of priests and tins are produced by burning. Mrs," Little evidently. has a great liking for the people. and writes sympathetically of them. She is extremely outspoken and does: not hesitate to express her opinions in plain language..'Tho average British Consul is treated' mth scant courtesy, though his failings are excused on account of the sipineneas of his superiors. Missionaries are well spoken and it is hinted. that: the standard of morality among foreign residents night he inpproved. second part of the book proposes to deal with affairs of State, but includes a good description of a journey to the capital, and some. interesting facts about the Emperor and Empress Dowager gleaned -from sundry sources. But this part of the book will probably be. found more interesting by readers at home than by residents i China, for whom the story of Kang Yii-wei and the coup d'état is already ancient history.
The book is profusely illustrated with excellent photographs. © As a specimen
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.