Fat from Foreign Civilization:
A Dark Chapter with Happy Ending now Our Nuworo Comssroxoxer T begin these jottings- in the Ziangsaen district (south of Himxod Sound) where foreign civilization has hardly penetrated. Life in this emote region runs still and deep, Death and birth, poverty and prosperity are known and shared all in utter simplicity and without question because they are Heaven's own decree. The unoffending people are far from strangers to lawlessness in these parts. Six months ago the whole district was terrorized by a gang of bloodthirsty ruffians who stopped short of nothing that blood and fire could bring to their greedy maw. For months their depredations con timed, returning to villages a second time to make desolation complete, Numbers of people were Killed, robbed, and had their homes burnt' down about them, Trapped in a Gully For a long time the outlaws evaded the local authorities. length the soldiery got upon thei track, and were able to trace them to a village a little off the highway among the mountains, Knowing now that vengeance was hot upon their heels they ran up a gully between two hills where escape became difficult. Seoing the po: tion, the determined soldiers divided gang the other got Found to the top of the walls of the gully. Fire then was opened upon the guilty men from opposite direc tions, and the whole 18 wretch were shot down, I was taken to the scene, the split bamboos, and those lying in every conceivable position were an indication of the terrible straggle that ensued, A few yards away there was a grave mound that covered 12 bot grown on it yet a: and still reluctant to forgive the victims for their heartless cruel. ties. Six bodies had been identified and claimed by relatives and were allowed a private burial, including the chief whose home was in a village only five li distant. The Aistriet now enjoys pence, A Key That Opened Prisons My those for a few days had a curious experience during Period that the troubles were rife Zate at might. some one. kn fat his door wanting to puchi aitile from' his store. He opened and. found" that. the. importuners were some of the gang, and they demanded money. He got them to compromise. for 'a small som and they left. "Some person of il-wil Immediately accused. him. of aiding the robbers. He wat apprehen-edend put in prison at Zlangsae Not easily: dejected, my friend fan to interest himself in prisoners, and. from purse helped' them and' then Zan to. preach to them. Th Sharge, he then arranged that Ins.
reatly pleased the. official
Chang' should "conduct a regular service with the prisoners. Preach-and the singing of hymns went for-a week of two, till the man (ayin decided that this was not the ind of man for whom prisons are Dil, and without any further trial Girls Claiming Their Rights Here there are no girls with bobbed hair, high-heeled boats or haying any nequaintance with the foolish embraces of modern dancing.
But it would not be quite true to soy that the instinct of human hat ore like an electric current has Pot made them fesl the impact of Christian "civilization. slogan that reverberates even in the souls of people away back in the little primitive towns and hamlets of this outlandish place.
parents look back to the immemorial past and claim exclusive management of matrimonial affairs the young folk are claiming that fas they are the parties mostly concerned they should have a big say in the selection of their life-partner. Already attempts are made to nullify betrothals made for them in infancy. A girl of 19 appealed to me to be liberated from her betrothal to a young fellow who is a gambler and generally n'er-dowell as this arrangement was made for her when she was a mere girl and did not understand what it really meant, The suggestion is that the whole of the sum the man paid for her shall be refunded to him, and the documents pertaining thereto be destroyed. Such a thing from a girl in the old days was unheard of.
T was present at the wedding of my host's son, The bride travel-Ted 95 li that day with a retinue carrying presents, her trousseau, her chair and attendants of nearly' 100 men. Together they formed an imposing procession. The feasting was not easily forgotten—the garlic, the leeks and the onions, the full, pressed down, shaken together and running over basins of very fat things. Something like 300 meals were served. 'The poor, the maimed, the blind, the beggars were all there that day. Looking over the beautiful presents, the things provided in her capacious boxes by the hands of a loving mother, one saw the great heart behind' the fixed stateliness of China's ancient customs. After all it is by these things men live, these contain the life and spirit of the Chinese people.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.