"You are not aware," he said, in _conversation with me, "of a matter which happened in connexion with this widow, Clu, before she went to Wu's house under such harrowing conditions. I wil] tell you. One day Wang Lao-san (one of the widow's enemies) came to me, and asked me if I would allow the widow Clu to rest at my home. I asked him why. He said she was to be married. I immediately asked if her consent had been obtained to the union. He answered that. that was unimportant. I replied that if I heard her, in front of a witness, declare that she was a consenting party to the union then she might rest at my house. I would require that the matter should be discussed in her presence. He answered that, her consent did not matter, and that she would not be asked. I replied: "There is no such custom permissible. If she come here I will immediately call a chair and take her to the yamen to call redress.' That ended the conversation."
This gentleman has now come with others at a critical moment. The opposing forces were gathered together for a second trial. They said that, no matter what happened, the woman would be handed to Wu. They said that whatever occurred in the yamen would make; no difference to them. They were prepared, the moment the case was over, to have Chencia Clu carried away. If the day went against her they would carry her off "legally." If the contrary issue occurred, they would carry her off by force, and for that purpose, they stated, they had prepared several women and numbers of men to surround her at the door of the court, and carry her away. The subpoena for the witnesses for the trial was issued, and all was in readiness, when these gentlemen came on the scene, and said that something must be done. Chencia Clu. was indisposed, and a plea was put in to that effect, and it was requested that a substitute might ba put in to take her place. This was agreed to. Then the gentry met the opposing party, and asked to hear their terms of settlement. The terms were such that they just came short of permitting Chencia Clu to live.
"She might not retain her surname, "She should have no property. "The Declaration a lat would not be destroyed "She should consider herself fortunate if she were not asked to pay all the expenses incurred on her behalf."
Had they just gone a little further, and guaranteed her safety, the terms might have been accepted, but, as it was, they were impossible, Tue Enemy Bauxep.
Then, the gentry met for consulttion. They gathered representatives from the "five cantons of King-hsien," that is from the whole district, and deliberated what to do. They divided themselves into five parties, and visited the yamen, one party after another. Each party stressed the fact that the widow was bound, gagged, and carried away contrary to her own wishes, and gave good enlightenment on many salient points of the distress. ing case. The official could not but receive them as men of weight and character, and gave them the hearing their standing demanded. They have, further, drawn up a petition, which they hava handed into the yamen, and courteously imformed the magistrate that they will see the case through to a conclusion. If the cause is taken to the capital, they will go in a body to the Governor. If it is taken elsewhere they wil] go there to defend the widow's rights.
This, then, Chencia Clu has accomplished. She has awakened public sentiment in this district, and by her faith in the justice of her cause, has brought out on her behalf, men who are able to defend the fair name of their city, and who are doing it for a motive, for the cause of right, and the uplifting of China's women.
A large gathering was assembled later to witness Chencia Du's second trial. Wu had 30 men from the village in readiness to carry off the poor lady. Great was the rage and disappointment of the enemy to find that the spirited action of the gentry had, in the meantime, robbed them of their prey. The trial did not take place.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.