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G. FINDLAY ANDREW
silver. The Jenminpiao was a currency of unknown value and its coming inspired me to produce a short doggerel of which, fortunately or otherwise, I can only remember the first verse: ---
"We miss the clicking-clicking on the broad highway
Of the silver dollars with which the brokers play.
But we hear the crinkle-crinkle of the jenminpiao
For we're off the silver dollar and we're on to paper now
**
I have touched upon the various currencies of China during the short six decades I have lived in that country. We have traced the history through from the days of tangible currency values down to the present day of token payment currency. Despite all the difficulties of manipulation, exchange and transportation, which I have presented, mature consideration leads us to the conclusion that there was much more real satisfaction resulting from the handling and possession of the tangible currency coinage of yesterday than of to-day's certificates of promises to pay however artistically embellished they may be.
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