Ming Bulwark Whose Builder Died to Save It Menaced with Destruction By Our Yenchow Correspondent.
The famous parapet of Yenchow it wall is fast falling into decay parapet which resembles two others and a fragment in all China and has a dramatic history.
Its configuration is peculiar, in shape it is like an apricot leaf, so that it has always been known as the "Apricot Leaf Wall." "there are only two and w half like it in the whole of China," "say the inhabitants. It was modelled from the old" imperial wall times, a fragment of whi was left in' Nanking prior to the Revolution, 'As only' half of the Yenchow wall was completed on time th Jeading official of those days was commanded as a punishment to destroy what had been built or commit suicide, He chose the he-role course. On taking the poison which ended his days, ho exclaim. ed "'By dying T leave a reputation if I live my fame will be destroyed." He preferred death, so that the, peculiar fashion of the bul-wack, which, roold be forbhdde to be copied in any city, mi stand to his memory. But alas the days of Chinese city walls are apparently numbered, What seems to be the only other famous feature of Yenchow. is its name, taken from the old hermit Yen' Tsicling. He was a recluse in the Han Dynasty and wag making history," well nigh 2,000 yenrs ago. As history goes, ho was close friend of the Em:
ror of those days, when the curt. Was established in Honan. Ho was urged by Kuang Wo take—offico but refused choosing rather to spord his life as w wanderer. Eventually found his way to the region of Luchow—tho" old "name for
life. The Emperor sent in, search Yenchow—and a hermit for him. After a long time he Was located in a humble abode on banks of the Chien Tang Riv ihgtample has been erected to between Pong-it and Yenchow. is in the gorge. mid-w
Tt is a beautiful spot with two high cliffs which make a fine headland, ud goes by the name of the Fishing Platform. "Old Yen was very fond of fishing. In the streams of the district. there small fish something like a sardine, a delicacy, only special' guests, and this fish is led after him.
Yen Tsisling, was buried at Yuyao, rear' Ningpo, but his ancestral hall stands on the banks of the East Lake in, the city of Yenchow. "His "ancestral fields are still' planted by people who claim a direct lineage from the great man,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.