RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
THE BONGKONG DAILY TRESS, MONDAY, LECEMBER 15тn. 1313
TWO LETTERS FROM URGA
1.—THE ROAD TO URGA.
KIACHTA.
It
ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.. Thankful for such small excitements - China is looking ahead. I observe that
one is still more grateful when on the ENGINEERS EASILY DEFEAT HIK. TAMAR.“ the Ministry of the Navy has petitioned
second morning a fast twist of the river
This match, in the Senior Division of the Cabinet, urging it not to issue permits
The European resident in China has bringa Oust-Kinenta into sight. io operate oil properties, which should be
a choice of three routes to Urgal. He appears at first to be ne larger than a the Luited Services League, was played at may travel over the Gobi Desert from cluster of cottages crowning a low hill. Happy Valley on Saturday and was won Government-owned, as there is very
The greater part of the port, however, lies, possibility that oil will be required as fuel Katgan, follow the Kerulen River from tucked away behind a straggling village by the Engineers by three goals to mil. It a hundrum affair all the way Hailar, or journey by rail to Verkne saved from insignificance by the presence was, for the Navy." There does not seem muchli, Just east of Lake Baikal, and of a large and handsome church with through, with neither side showing any need for this petition while China's
tower and dome painted green. Kiachta thing like championship form. The then strike south. The third is the proper lies some ten miles away and is mining laws, which govern exploitation shortest and least ardous, but, if compara-reached in a forintuse, which is like Engineers gave a very feeble and puerile for oil, remain as they are. They adequately guard China for the Chinese.tively unambitions, it has its special. nothing to much as a large perambulator display, and as they excelled so much drawn by three horses. Driving first over in the scoring department the power of rewards. It leads through Verkne, a grassy plain we approached wood, the sailors' attack can be imagined. Oadinsh to Klachta and so gives a where a hal was made in sight of a
The usual crowd of regular Valley preparatory insight into the position Russian caup just visible through the waich Russia is making for herself in trees. Quite faintly came the sound of goers lined the ropes at the kick-off. North Mongolin. How seldom Britishers is, singing in chorus. Starting Before Sargeant Wilson had been in com again we entered a thick broad belt of frequent these two towns is indicated by pines and silver birches, where the ground and a couple of minutes the Tamar's the complete ignorance of Eaglish which was covered with wild reses, tiger liesie was depleted by the left half. Long. He had been and iceland poppics. Suddenly emerging having to leave the field. a semi-circular clearing commanding a view of a valley where white houses with from an injury received at hockey, and a church. As ought not to have chanced it so soon. green roofs gather roun
Thirat striking.
is a new move on the part of the Suffragettes af Home. The telegrams offered no explanation of the abandonment of the hunger strike. Mrs. Pankhurst, be it noted, was lodged in Exeter Gaol, and a Devoning gentleman
of my acquaintance had no sitation in Prevails in them. There are few places from the trees the carriage sweeps into suffering from a had leg for some days.
GIANTS AND WHITE SOX.
"BASEBALL EXHIBITION" "BAME" IN HONGKONG."
INTIMATIONS
At one time it seemed quite possible XMAS. GOODS that the Giants and White Sox baseball teams would not be able to land at Hong kong. Upon the arrival of the Empress of Tape, it was noticed that she was flying the yellow flag, a mild case of smallpox having been discovered the night before the vessol reached. Hongkong water. She was quarantined immediately, and the patient an European, was removed, Then followed an examination of the remaining passengers by the Har- bour doctor, the while the baschail exponents were on tenter-hooks. However, it was found, fortunately, that the case was an isolated one and the passengers were subsequently allowed to come ashore, None were more pleased the the Giants and White Sox, who are drawn from New York and Chiengo, for they had arranged
This took place before a fair
OUR CONFIDENCE JUSTIFIED.
in the world where nobody understands believing that "swab pic" and "urts" and
d--n." yet Verkuc-Oudinsh and eroam-popular Devonshire dishies-did the trick. No suffragette, he said, could Kiachta have no recognition whatever for withstand such temptations,
this the shortest of our prayers. Erench the road descends the group scatters and This was bad enough for the Light Blues, to play an exhibition game at Happy-Wo undertake to reinnul the Cost of any they understand a little, German a tride comes interspersed with houses of bat worse was to come, for Colwill, the Valley. Can a lady reader supply an answer to more, and anyone who can talk Chinese the following ?--In the present subordina- need find himself in no serious linguistic tion of women, are their patent intellectual difficulty. But when the train has left shortcomings dur, not, sag, to predestined you on Verkn-Oudinsh platform it is n
***
all-back on the other wing, suddenly developed a weak kace and had to join his comrade away from the battlefield, This, of course, recessitated a re-arrange ment of the team. These nine men could
crowd of puzzled spectators. Baseball is Article if any of our Customers are not satisfied, not a familiar game in the Colony, and.
and highly-trained players thus the lightning work of these skilled interesting to the point of fascination
as we know how excellent enr Goods are.
proved Such an offer could not be made, if there fras
and ineradicable inferiority, but to the longer, any use to call on Weaven to brightened by Mongol dresses of orange not be expreted to hold their own against They are all fine specimens of the true the slightest doubt sinnt our Goods. All we..
There is surely no finality to the novel literary idens of some people. To judge by the Home papers Lifere has been a "nt of a stir among the Universities in consequence of the efforts of a certain
assist you in your own tongue.
INTO MONGOLIA..
i
log-wued richly brown framing a white. dusty street. Soon you are in the middle of the town with an hotel on either side, large shops and stores drawing the eye on to a small enclosed park. A little to the right of it lies a market square
scarlet and turquoise blue. This part of the town is known as Troisgesaft. It is leren, and gloomy ones around the pitch the business quarter and its trade in furs, predicted half-a-dozen goals against the skins and wool has trebled in the past Navy at least. Really we all wonder why five years. Distant a mile or so is the thess goals did not come, but the fall military and residential district, Kiachta, where Russia has just completed the con lay with the Seppers themselves. They struction of barracks large enough to could not bring themselves tu the honse between four and five thousand re-arranged field and "offsides were frequent. The guardship men were triers, and occasionally broke through and then Together those three plates make up a comercial centre of growing importance, there was a backward rush of the soldiers destined if Mongolia is ever properly to cover Rogers. It seemed likely that "opened up" to expand very consider Adams would be the one to open the One hear a good deal of a pro- senring, account, for the Thrs broke jeeted railway which is to link Kiach'a with Urga and possibly with Verkne through and the centre was left with Oudinsin. Of the strategic value of such clear possession right in front of Rogers a be there can be ne donh, and the way Nichols had passed to him, but the ball in which Russia is converting both came a trifle bigh; he tapped it down. Verkue-Oudinsh and Kinchta military stations lends support to the
into with his hand to get it into shooting statement that a railway is under con- position and Referee Wilson's whistle' only hope that the cost of such a line, good chances care subsequently to the sideration. The genuine traveller can promptly brought relief. No other such
combined with the fact that for many years it would not pay, will delay its Tamar's nine; they did their best, and construction. The 170 or 200 miles succeeded in keeping their opponents out, whichever the distance actually is which aud that was all-or rather more than lie between Kiachta and Urga are much they were expected to do. Lewis and more pleasantly covered on horseback or in a ferantes. I chose the latter method Buff had many hard lines with near and left the little shanty that calls itself things, and the rest-time came with the score-sheet blank, and the Sailor-men- a the "Hotel Metropole" carly on Summer morning with part of my luggage bit blown, strapped on behind the carriage and the remainder stowed away under my legs
The second half was a bit more exciting, inside. From Mai-mai-ch'émy-the Chinese The R. E. seemed to feel that this was section of Kiachta, a quaint little town their golden opportunity to earn their standing just south of the stone pillars first winning brackets and they shaped that mark the boundary between Russian
H.
RUTTONJEE
SON,
&
athlete and have naturally made the game ask is your inspection." which sways the American sportsinan a fine art. The object of the world-tou which the teams are undertaking is of a propagandist nature, but one fears that the Englishman, with his football, cricket, tennis, polo, and other little sporting. by-the-ways, will not be able to find. adequate rooms for this American whirl- wind. If the English sportsman was not under the spell of professional Associa- on football and Rugby (Northern Union), and good amateur Rugby, he might wish to create a baseball organisa MAPPIN&WEBB, ton. But at present, he seems quite full
up.
WINE AND PROVISION MERRÄNTA,
LIMITED.
[31
NEW, CONSIGNMENTS.
fact that the Principle of the Division of Labour applies inexorably to the sexes ? A dusty road ruus, for a time in the 1 - bays her reading ́a well-reasured shade of a pine-wood and then dipping hooklet which deals with the undoubted down ander a wooden archway enters the era of "brainy women," and that query centre of the town flanked by log-cabins, has formed itself. Of course the big and shops and houses built almost things of life are, at present, the business entirely, of wood. You note with and professions of men (I leave home-rule, satisfaction--for in summer there are men, or home-influence, out of the considera- eighteen hours of daylight, seven of tion); but is that to be attributed simply which are successively hot-a beer garden to boisterous masculine blaff, and will on the left and presently turn sharp to change of environment and status result the right into a broad quiet, street run- in women laying aside their butterfly ning straight towards the Selenga Riverably. interests at the call of Higher Things? A few hundred yards from its sandy A lady reader or so might dead genuinely bank stands an Hotel, and though nobody with such a subject under the query inside speaks anything but Russian and Will the powder puff share the fate of the you have to take the imenu entirely on trust you can live there in reasonable sauff-box? Linvite an opinion.
One member of the White Sox team was comfort for eight or ten roubles per day. In exchange you get an interesting place
sanguine enough to anticipate that the English sporting fraternity will tack to explore, Verkne-Oudinsh originated
on" to this" really No. 1 game.” · He in a penal sestlement and a large white
admitted to a Daily Press representative prison overlooking the river is in keeping with the cut-throat character of certain
that he had not seen a first-class pro- fessional Association football team at STERLING portions of the town. Here it is not
play, but, he remarked when they see well to stray alone after dark less some Russianised Chinese who has forgotten
baseball played properly and by good mer, I guess they will tack on anyway? the decent traditions of his own, country,
When reminded that Englishmen, as boys, some needy Buriat or a broken Siberian Colonist be tempted to hold you up.
played a game called "rounders," and the main street, and those that cross it
it was suggested this old-English game at right, angles, large stores and shops
had by some occult influence been elabor- enfold you with prosperous security, and
ared and turned out in America under the for hara on the peculiar Facial expres if you are robbed it is in a courteous, and Mongolian territory--the road led their course accordingly. With despera- name of baseball he asserted, with chat sions which may be noticedWhen the civilised way through prices artificially straight out untu, the veldt, and soon tion Hurdon took on three men's work sound assertiveness which is a characteris
chies como marching home again."
raised to yield profit, of between two and became nothing more, for a time, than a to clear his lines; he was better than histic of the American, that the fact that A brisk trade rough track along which strings of chum Grimes, and Dugdale was all there this primitive idea entertained" young. sor building operations in progress at in skins, furs, wool and timber and the blocks of timber met us on their way to time for the "Blues" and they buckled introduction of the game. This is another
It is a strange sight in Hongkong to three hundred per cent.
bullock-carts loaded with neatly piled between the sticks. It was an anxious England only paved the way to the night, but such a sight might have been presence of a large garrison whose officers market. Presently the path, broadening witnessed any night last werk in Queen's must either spend money or die of ennuia little, rose towards a line of trees-the up under the strain. Boff was really too matter in which we shall have to "wait Road, where a number of men have been helps the town to stand such spoliation advance guard of a thick wood or the much for them and be mixed up the passes and see. merrily chipping away at the granite with an appearance of reckless good' other side of which we helted at mid-day and shots lovely. Three times in rapid
Of course the practice match would have at a Russian "Rest House" a log cabin succession did this newcomer to the first been followed with even more interest had grace. In respect of its gay carelessness anch as one sees in picture books. Verkne Oudinsh jg reminiscent of second stage ended, after a pleasant drive class league help to pierce the flagship's wires are carried over the face of the Harbin, though as far as I discovered through wooded, hilly conatry, on the defence and he deserves more or less the everyone been able to understand all the
"star
newspaper man, who piled up a solid column of facts with their necessary dressing of fiction, on the subject of debts, big and small, incurred at a certain University. If that writer had only lived in a country, where the chit" system prevails he could be writing till now without offending anyone. He could dwell
facing of the new German bank. Electric
In
The
12
:
SILVER WARE.
PRINCE'S
PLATE
(GUARANTEED FOR 30 YEARSḥ
CUTLERY
From the
SOLE AGENTS:
building enabling the men to work bythere are only two places of amusement-banks of the Uragol, where night was were scored.
credit for each of the three goals that "moves" and the remarks of the players, CHS. J. GAUPP
electric light. Evidently it is intended
contract time.
so low.
However, as distinct from these much
The Wellington Barracks some of whom, in their "baggy attire, that the building shall be completed in wooden shanty dedicated to the worship drizzled down, on as next morning as we shooting and worse control of the ball the bean ideal in village constable lines. the aforesaid Beer Garden and a long ent in a cottage similar to the one we could do almost as they liked towards the
had left behind. Rain fell heavily and finish and it was only their own bad reminded. one, att n distance; of of the Cinematograph. But the town crossed the river-horses, taruntuss and that made the score remain wears the same air of casual erratic men-in a bread flat-bottomed ferry-boat Finally the referee's solo, sounded, leaving In a village not one hundred miles from enterprise. of readiness to live without pulled over by iron wire hassere. South the Engineers with their first victory by maligned arms of the law, the players
It is, Victoria, an absurd and unrehearsed puy thought for the marrow, comedy is being acted each day, and with clad kills hem it in on
however, far more picturesque
of the Uragol the scenery becomes typi- three goals to wil. It was no great fent Pine-
were remarkably agile and speedy, and one side, the cally North Mongolian. You ascend from to defeat nine men, even allowing that the skillful manner in which they dealt each day the thing becomes even more broad shimmering waters of the Selenga ne broad valley, cap-shaped and sur-one of their own men was off for a few
Dark brown, green, and rounded by grassy hil's dotted here and minutes, but it is a victory for all that, with the base was perhaps the feature to funny. Soon the comedy will be looked on the other. upon in the light of tragedy; the tragedy hite houses on either side of dust-gray there with trees, into another, and every and it is so recorded in the League table. the uninitiated. The most exerted specta-
ON THE SELENG..
U.S. LEAGUE—DIVISION II.
TAMAR RESERVES, 3: RE. RESERVES, I. The sailors in this match made up as
ARMY NAVY ON BOXING DAY.
tors were the groups of American sailors; they of course, like football followers at home, shouted advice, while the English people applauded a big hit or quick feld work with the base, and put the game down as glorified rounders." This is
& CO.,
ALEXANDRA
BUILDINGS,
OBATER ROAD
CALDBECK,
MACGREGOR&C®.
(ESTABLISHED 1809).
The European who was taken off the Empress of Japan suffering from small. PORT FOR CHRISTMAS pox, is Mr. Hurley, the well-known guide to Cunion and the interior of China. He was returning from Shanghai.
reads throw Ing shadows over fair-where the eye is gladdened by a profusion of a lost memory, As far back as Septem-haired women with pink shawls grouped of wild flowers. A large Mongol camp ber seven Chinese ecolies were engaged basket on arm amongst pig-tailed Chinese received us hospitably at sunset and we by a person whom, out of dire necessity Russian farmers in blue blouses and big ponies, cattle, flocks of sheep and prow!- and bronzed Mongols in long red coats. slept in a jurt surrounded by herds of I must designate as "someone," to cut the top-boots trudge beside ox-earts creaking ing companies of watch-dogs. An early far as they could for the whacking of grass which carpeted a cricket pitch and forward in a low cloud of dust, and now
start while fields and hillsides still shone their chiefs and routed the second string gulf course. It was a few days' job, and and then a sparkle of silver and steel with dew enabled us to reach the Haragol of the Engineers by three goals to one
breaks from a troop of cavalry as it early in the afternoon. The river was in The victory gives them a welcome litt in when this time bad elapsed the green sward wheels at a canter into the market square, flood, and of twenty-four hours passed in the League table from the ninth to the how it is bound to strike an Englishman, looked to be in the pink of condition.
consequence on its banks nine were spent sixth place, and their success was well who has not previously seen the game. Yet no one in authority appeared on the Two steamers, the Seraphim and the in shooting duck and one in watching the deserved on the run of the game.
Within a few hours of the conclusion of seene, and so the coolies continued to Rabatkin, ply between Verkne-Oudinsh commencement, development and climax
the match, which was won by the New and Kinchta. Tickets are bought at a belabour what little grass remained on quaint little office perched half-way up stood up to one another with their fists (Tuesday) at Happy Valley to decide on
of a quarrel between two Mongols who A trial match takes place to-morrow York players, the two teams had boarded. the earth's surface. From a thick green the low, cliff overlooking the river, and and fought until a burly Russian a the Navy team which shall oppose the the St. Albans, and were ea rate for carpet they transformed those greens into proceeding on heard about half-past giant with blue eyes and flaming beard, Army in the exhibition game on December Manita.
seven in the evening bifliard-table tops. Still no one arrived Kiachta in, roughly, thirty-six hours. It
you reach Oust wearing a long pink blouse belted round 26th.
а stapendous paunch, «eventually to dismiss and pay them, and those seven is, by no means, a comfortable journey.separated the pair. From the Haragol FOREIGNER CONVICTED OF
Each cabin has hunks for three but room hopeful Chinese silently continued to
to Urga is the best part of two days only for two: the saloon is small and
BURGLARY IN JAPAN. shave the earth. Where the tragely couns badly ventilated, and because the fuel journey. Two stages bring one to a last
final ridge aENTENCED TO SIX YEARS' PENAL SERVITUDE, in is that these seven shavers are even used is charcoal and a constant stream of Mongol camp, & third to
of hills thickly wooded paradise of narrow funnel there is no awning over
Judgment was delivered last week in the upper deck. One has to chose there concealed from view for an hour or more the Yokohama Court in the case of O. G. fore between being stifled below or grilled until as the descending road beads east. Wilson, formerly a sailor on a German beneath a pitiless sky. As in the Hotel, ward you see first a level of grey roofs, ship, who was accused of theft and nobody Understands anything but then a white tower and hanging from it burglary at Negishi, the accused being Rassian, and though recognizable tinned bell-shaped canopies of gilded bronze sentenced to six years' penal Eervitude. things are sold in the saloon behind a shining over the centre of the Lama City. Accused at ouce gave notice of appeal, narrow bar they are all monstrously expensive and most of them well soaked in oil Moreover, sunset is the signal fer a plague of mosquitoes, and though it brings with it a drop in temperature sufficiently marked to enable one to wear a light coat and thus to protest nook ears and hands, one is soon driven below, where since there are no mosquito nels. and to close the port-hales of so small a cabin is athinkable, bed has to be sought in the dark. For all these discomforts the scenery of the river is scarcely sufficient compensation.
now silently toiling and waiting for red hot cinders pours down from the high wild-flowers. Urga lies on the other side
someone to turn up. Each day they swoop down upon the little green blades which have bad the andacity to energe during the night. Now and again they do suspend their labour of love and look with anxious eyes towards the city, but there is no bruth in the rumour that while they work they sing a melody closely, akin to FI'sen
waiting waiting, waiting for you," ete. If they do, those seven silent
· toilers know something, even though Josie may not be to blame.
i
The story is interesting, but surely it is too much to believe that these seven Chinese have hoon toiling on since September without rewiring any pay-Ev]
RODERICK RANDOM.
The Hon. Treastrer of the Alice Memorial and Affiliated Hospitale bag to acknowledge with thanks the following donation to the funds of the hospitals:-
..$20 Hon. Mr. H. R. Pollock
Just
at first it is pretty enough, but before half the journey in over the hills have receded, leaving either bank fat and uninteresting. Here and there, indeed, they narrow dangerously and an eight- with such success that she is only shoved 'knot current disputes the vessel's progress
round sharp bends by poling rods. It took us a good twenty minutes to negotiate one angle the length of which was no more than a quarter of
a mile.
19471
PERTUSSIN.
Is'a harmless and efficient remedy against all diseases of the respiratory organs, especially WHOOPING COUGH, CATARRH OF LARYNX, ACUTE AND CHRONIC BRONCHIAL CATARRH, ASTHMA, &c., which bas been recognised unequalled by the highest authorities. Also the AFFECTIONS
OF THE LUNGS will be greatly.reliored by the use of it..
TO BE HAD AT-
THE MEDICAL HALL.
HONGKONG.
WORLD-FAMOUS ARTISTES'
COMBINE.
News has been received in all the principal centres of the East and the Colonies of the coniing for a world's tour of Miss Maud Allan, with Leo, Jan and Mischel Cherniavsky (pianist, violinist, and. 'cellist), whose world-wide reputation haz made their names house- hold words in five continents. Quite an Orphic wave is just now passing over the world, says the advance notices, and one can easily imagine Maud Allan and the Cherajavakys, with their Muscs, alert, fiery, tender, passionate, posecusing that wonderful vividity that fascinates, stand aloof from other combinations, in so far as they have brought to pass by their gifts a phenomenal state of affairs unique in the history of Touring Parties." The
and
the triumphs of Maul Allan Cherniavskys are still fresh in the memory of all who have seen or heard them, and the tales of their great achievements and the enthusiasm they evoke make the public in the Colonies look forward with cager anticipation to their visit.:
ORDER NOW, so that the sediment
may have settled before Christmas,
Dow's 1 ChowN PORT.
INVALID PORT.
HUNTING PORT.
ROYAL DRY PORT.
ARMAD ARMADALE PORT.
4 CROWNS PORT.
VIN 1890.