There li no need to throw further bouquets to his authorship, for "Time Magazine" has summarized it in these eleven words: "Expert, impartial, dramatic. The first really good biography of China's Chiang"—so we will skip the many chapters until we arrive at that entitled "Lucre":
The years have treated Chiang well irom à material standpoint. It is.a far ery from the days when he had to shume out on the street and buy his copper's worth of hot water. But he is no longer poor, neither is he the. münlonaire that some allege.
Although he few. resources when he went south to Canton from Shanghai, he has been well paid since then, and he has saved money. His enemies mutter that he has made millions im speculation, that he owns Vast amounts of real estate and conirois "many industrial companies. There are reasons to doubt it.
For one thing, no information leaks out about his specific holdings. Concerning several other high officials inthe) Nanking government, people have come to know, through underground channels of information, that this one owns that company, that the other one is interested in such-and-Such an enterprise. But through tne Years that he has been at Nanking, ho one has said that Chiang is the landlord of this building, or that he holds the controlling interest in that firkliegations are freely made that a portion of the revenue from the Dolum. traffic goes io swell the gov-apament coffers. One as never "told that Chiang himself bank from the trade, Where there is there is sometimes fre; where isba smoke the existence of the fire Seems doubtful.
fig manner of living belies any piling up of a great fortune. Nobody Dütside the Chiang family knows how the draws as salary for his ROV-And "party positions, "Phe appear "n Ho budget. reports füPteceives "really vast sums; dives 4o evidence "of spending TRO was im comfort, travels freely, hem gn°sirplane now' and then. Bui Indes Ho consistently" large pur-"eullvates "no. extravagant tobies, On the contrary, "his. mode hie is decidedly simple, and fives every evidence of practising the Frugality: he breaghes in the New Life Movement Bur he' is extremely generous to apse close to him and to those who Wave served him well.
Wile his mother lived, he pro for her to the limit of his ability. Were were times when he was poor Ad could. give her no help. But Wien he. had, money. he. remitted Miterousiy, and "her last "days were JEN from. want. When she. died in bai, Chiang was not too well off, but iis mother was given every care and Convenience "he "cot Spent heavily on her funeral. and later SBeeted a monastery at Chikow in her MiA the village where he was born isme. Wuhu "School, which "he tablished in 192. It 18 a model in-Stittlon. Chiang has "enlarged " Rs idea and rty sez. "There ie the Mapus unt dt now covers three DURO) itself, a library, en agricnl= ural station, and a hospital. The most modern "equipment. as mooted throughout. One thousand indents receive their education there autem rerulariy sets aside forty atta dollara in Chinese currency loh month for ihe expenses of the nied institution: generous sums construction of highways in oF Chikow. and Fengh ted a number of public build has financed a village ing quarters are modest At Nanking the government erected iinposin mang mansion for him while was. Preside! of the National Government. Chiang never lives in it He' and Melling stay in an extremely mode Shanghai they live in a French eet bungalow. concession house' which, "although Comiorisble, is far from elaborate. Tt fomtactly Hike five or aix other houses ie "ihe same block. and considerably jess impressive than. the homes of many of managers the of foreign Kuling for sevi al years they rented s bungalow om the mission-Aey "association which administered ARX. Root To-day they" own a glow, but itis ño better than Runga Owl other simple dwellings in the vicinity.
family home, ly" home and" at Hangchow they in VChikow they own the Chiang
Boy stón "class the Kiangsi Reva small vila; neither is in the avión class, While on. monte ouring the anti-Communist Honpaign. Chiang and his wie stayed fampalés Ad cottage. which Mei-ling described as "Eierly cold Importance Of Per ality From the foregoing lengthy extract readers who know their China a little can judge for themselves as io the balanced and sound quality of this valuable and informative biography of the outstanding patriotic soldier-statesman of China.
As to the tremendous importance of the Generalissimo's personality in Chimese affairs, no better evidence can be offered than the incident in the Diet on March 5, when the United Press cabled as follo Minister, to-day.
He said the ould lose his head General Chiang Kai-shek has won the respect of the civilized world for his steadfast patriotism and service in the well-nigh~ superhuman task to which he and his gallant wife have dedicated their whole strength and their lives.—W.mu.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.