All the world has now read the famous article which Sir Robert Hi some time since, published in the "Fortnightly Review.' As _a_ record of events that transpired at Peking, it leaves nothing to be desired, for the facts are presented with the same accuracy as photographs are reproduced by the cinematograph. 'The simplicity of the record docs not in any way detract from the vi of the representation, for as "beauty unadorned" is often' "adorned the most," so horrors are none the less terrible because they are presented in simple language. This simplicity of style rather helps us to seo the trend of events and therefore enables us to remember with ease this drama of fire and blood.
We are not concerned here, however, with the departed tragedy.' That has somewhat lost its power to call forth strong emotions because it has entered into the domain of history. We are interested in the present and future. Therefore we refer to 2 paragraph at the conclusion of the article, because therein Cassandraclike, Sir Robert foresees and foretells the overthrow of our Iium and the utter destruction of Priam and Trojans. Have the gods intervened again that the prophecies should fall on heodless ears?
"The Boxer morement is doubtless the product of official inspiration, but it has taken hold of the popular imagination, and will spread like wildfire all over the length and breadth of the country: it is in short a purely patriotic volunteer movement and its object is to strengthen China—and for a Chinese programme, Its first experience has not been altogether a success as regards the attainment through strength of proposed ends—the rooting up of foreign cults and the ejection of forcigners,—but it is not a lure in respect to the feeler it put out will volunteering work?—or is it an experiment that would test ways and means, and guide future chi has proved how to a man the people will respond to the call, and it has further demonstrated that the swords and spears to which the prudent official mind confined the initiated will not suffice, but must be supplemented or replaced by Manser rifles and Krupp guns: the Boxer patriot of the future will possess the best weapons that money can buy and then the 'Yellow Peril' will be beyond ignoring.
That some Chinese statesmen are alive to the unique superiority of the West over China in military matters, is quite clear. The following criticisms of His Excellency Chang Chih-tung, given to his fellow-countrymen before the Boxer troubles broke out, proves this. He has also
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.