1933-02-20 — Page 3

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1933.

THE CHINA MAIL

CHINA'S CITY OF LITERARY

THE EMPERORS

Sven Heain's Account Of Jehol.

HOME OF

MANCHU RULERS

Jehol, City of Emperors. By Sven;

the Redin. Translated from Swedish by E. G. Nash, 273 pp. Illustrated. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc. $3.50.)

(By Percy Hutchison.)

mountains, etched against the sky. The temperature was 88 the Fahrenheit, and degrees midsummer wind was rustling sadly through the tops of the In willows and the acacian. olden times this road had seen the prsing of emperors and The reader must not expect to

empresses, carried in yellow palanquina and accompanied by find in "Jehol, City of Emperors,"

high mandarins; Generals rid- the same sort of epic of exploration] built up in his

ing at the head of their troops; that Sven Hedia

and concubines eunuches, the Gobi Desert. great book on

slaves.

only Now the Jehol, a city which has appeared inj

aplendor on the road to Jehol the news of the Far East more than!

was that provided by the réd once of late, the site of the Sum

afterglow. mer palaces of the Manchu rulersj of the eighteenth century, in Sven Hedin's words the Fontainebleau of China, la no recently discovered city..

Modern Note.

If, however, we have dwelt on the Nor is Chinese history for the past Past glories of Jehol, it is not to be 200 years anything like a book.

CHATTER

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EARLY BRITAIN ILLUSTRATED.

Dioramas At London Museuni.

Beren

FRANCOIS

BERNIER

New Light On The French In India.

"

Padraic Column, in his book of essays, "A Half-Day's Ride," which

dioramas Macmillan has published, traces the A series of influence of Gaelic tradition on illustrating the earlier stages in

In the Journal of the Royal Burns: In "Epic of Sea and De- the evolution of British civilization sert" Mr. Column compares Mac- has been presented to the London Asiatic Society for this quarter by Mr. E. S. Makower, there appears, in an English trans pherson's "Ossian" with Melville's Museum rhythmic prose, finding in Melville The dioramas, which have all been lation, a memoir, hitherto un- "something tentative and experi-constructed by Mr. T. Ivester known, by Francois Bernier. Writ destined for the ten in India in 1668, and addressed mental."

Lloyd, were museum in 1931, but were lent by to Colbert, it is headed: "Memoire The Chaliapin party is Chaliapin, the request of the Board of Trade de M. Bernier pour l'etablissement a reviewer says in the "Literary for display at the Antwerp Exhibi-, du commerce dans les Indes.”

Since the seventeenth century It Supplement" in a fascinating arti-tion and later at Buenos Aires,

The earliest of the series shows bas lain unnoticed in the Archives cle on Man and Mask,' Chaliapin's book of reminiscences, which is aa flint mine in prehistoric Britain du Ministere des Colonies in Paris; Gollancz book. Here are two sen-about 2,000 B.C., with the neolithic it deserved a better fate, for among tences in the review:

miners excavating at the bottom of the European travellers who visit- To get the measure of the a large pit by means of the familiar ed, India in the palmy days of the party's strength one need

He had indeed excep- only antler-picks. Next follows a group Mogul Empire Bernier stands pre- look on the picture facing page of Bronze workers, about 1,500 eminent, 216, with the caption, Mr. Lloyd B.C., obtaining copper from sur. tional qualifications for telling us George congratulating Chaliapin face workings, smelting it in what we wish to know about the (in the role of Eoris). See the simple furnaces, and pouring it Court of Delhi. A highly educated man, a graduate of the Faculty of reverent upturned faces of the into moulds to obtain weapons.

Medicine of Montpellier, and a British ex-Premier and his party

papil of the philosopher Gassendi, and the gracious pose of the em-

The was attached to the household peror-usurper and the relations

of Daneshmand Khan, one of the of politics to art are established

principal noblemen of the Court of once and for all.".

Aurangzeb; this position, joined to a mastery of the Persian language and the advantage of a handsome person (he was nicknamed "le joli philosophe" by St. Evremond),

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"Whitaker" is one of the most ·

In every useful reference books newspaper office and every good Sealed supposed that the city is to-day un-library. The 1933 Edition has 960

inhabited. Far from being the 1 the renowned Swedish explorer to case, it is the very modernity of pages and an index of over twenty

discover.

China

There was nothing new for

Occidentals

thousand references.

*

AB

Bame reviewer says, book.

#

EPIC OF CHINESE REVOLUTION,

Soviet Republish Far Eastern Books.

The State controlled publishing gave him access to the polits company for belles lettres an society of Delhi.

nounces the forthcoming publica-! He alone of all European travel. "Stamboul Train," Graham tion of translations of various lers gives us some idea of the at Greene's novels about

a railway Chinese and Japanese literary mosphere of Aurangzeb's Court. train, is one of the

most popular works of a revolutionary tendency. We learn what was said there; he tive things in it is "a superbly of Chinese revolutionary literature tions of the Emperor which set all new book. One of the most attrac-The works comprise a compendium reports, for instance, two conversa funny caricature," a London re- of recent times, an anthology of the courtiers buzzing; he outlines view says, "of all the popular nove- Japanese proletarian poetry, as a few scandals, though not, ales, lists who have ever lived."" For well as novels by the Japanese with the circumstantial precision Reaux; in the serious vein which those who want a novel as exciting writer, Tokunago Naosi, and the of his contemporary Tallemant des

as Chinese poet, Goma Cho. as any juvenile fiction, and

entitled better accorded with his temper he The

novel the

latter's Colette, Bophisticated

this is the Revolution is said be an epic of describes the interest which culti

vated Moslems were then begin. the Chinese revolution of 1911.

ning to take in the science and "The Faiths and Heresies of scholarship of Europe. Poet and Scientist," by Ronald Campbell Macfie, is one of the new Andrew Lang and books. Both John Davidson liked Ronald Mac- fie's first book of poems, "Granite fiction is "Four Fantastic Tales," Dust" Lang praised it in a lost by Hugh Walpole, which has come leader in the London "Daily News" from Macmillan. This omnibus and John Davidson, reviewing the holde "Maradick at Forty," "Pre- poems in the "Speaker," said that lude to Adventure," "A Man With Circus." There are more than nine the title should be, not. "Granite Red Hair," and "Above the Dark Dust" but "Diamond Dust."

hundred pages in this book.

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Jehol to-day which throws the past into relief; the great silent temples But that does not make the book of Buddha are the more solemn for less interesting. Sven Hedin knows the bustle of the modern town. One

ав few other

of the really great temples of all know it to-day. If, therefore, Hedin China, the Potals Temple, stands elected to make the journey to what here in Jehol, grandiose in archi had once been the fairy city of Montecture, vaat in its dimensions, "no golia, where palaces now stand de blest of religious monuments from serted and ruined, it goes without the last period of China's great saying that his account will differ ness."

Built on the southern slope of a from other accounts, that it will be vitalized with the author's underhill, copying, not to say aping, the standing of humanity, accurate be palace-monastery of the supreme cause of the extent and the minute Tibetan Lams, the Dalai Lama, on ness of his knowledge, and timely the Potala H in Lhasa, this Man-

Frank Harris's editorship of the because of recent events which have chu replica, now inhabited by only Saturday Review" was made dis- a few monks where hundreds dwelt tinguished by the work of some hurled this section of the Orient upon the front page.

formerly, with the republie spend writers who are still among the Although Jehol was founded and ing no money on the upkeep, le fast hest writers in English. Besides brought eminence in the cen- falling to ruin. At the present rate Max Beerbohm and Bernard Shaw, tury in the United States of destruction little will be standing, there is Cunninghame Graham. One came ring, its glories are al- two or three decades hence, and it

of the most able reviews of late, ready of the past-of a past not may well be that this account by able in matter and in manner not likely ever to be seen again. The Sven Hedin will prove the last to chief effort of the book, as it is also be written of this magic city. Side less able, was the review of Cun- with his photographs of ninghame Graham's latest book, its major achievement, is to make by side

"Writ in Sand," by "The Times." this past live once more, if only for standing triumphal arches, pagodas photo- the brief period necessary to the and golden pavilions are reading of a few hundred pages-graphs of breached walls and cram pages of deep culture, strange bar bling galleries. What will become barism and tragic impotence, for of the Blatuca of Buddha in the the vast and ancient empire of "Hall of the Five Hundred Bud- China was even at the moment on dhas" when the last wall has fallen, the brink of the new era which was Sven Hedin does not prophesy, year for fiction. The output has Mr. A. J. Cronía built up, mysteri been ously to me, with "Hatter's Castle." to dim its candles and stultify its China may awake by that time to been large, but there has gode.

some interest in its past and rescue, little of first importance. i would I was baffled by the success of that

put Mr. Charles Morgan's "The grotesquely lop-sided book. them for preservation elsewhere.

Evelyn Waugh goes up a stage Hie Mischief." These Buddhas offer a study in Fountain" high in the list, though;

"Black of 1930 It was In the Summer that Hedin's party set out from themselves, for they present many jít leaves me without the vintage with

differences of posture and counten-glow. It is a fountain of distilled strength is that he does not waste And that reminds me of T'eking on the road of Jehol.

ance. More accustomed to geo-water, cleverly Induced through an a line. graphical and geological exploration alembic," writes the literary critic all the wasted lines that have piled

up in 1982. in the East then to its religious lore, of the Evening Standard, the great

on the "Thyllis Bentley's "Inheritance" Sven Hedin only touches A magic

problem leaving its intricacies for and Louis Golding's "Magnolia out of the

Sinologists to go into at length. Ob- Street" were viously, however, the variations in achievements. countenance must be primarily for

A Magic City.

At last the day arrived when

we set off for Jehol, the Sum.

mer residence of

Manchu emperors. city, conjured up

Mongolian wilderness at the behest of two autocrats; a city that, by its fncredible riches. Its display of imperial pomp and state, its exquisite art treasures and superb build- inge, alwuld strike awe into the hearts of the half-wild Mongolian tribes, their khans and their kings.

THE NOVELS OF

"1932 has

YEAR

not been a vintage not improve the reputation which

Shapeless Mountains. The confusion of bulk with pro- fine but not great fundity continues. Another story "Three Loves" did on Mr. Walpole's "Herries" "sky

scraper; another escarpment to the which shapeless mountains over

the purpose of showing the many in Sven, Hedin's volume prove.

later later and moode of Buddha, as an artist may It was during Ch'len-lung's rule Mr. Galsworthy, faint but pursu- make many sketches of one and the that England, sent its firat Ambaring, chivvies

George generations of Forsytes. same person. There is, for instance, 'sadoriai mission to China.

Life is too hurried now for the the laughing Buddhe, whom legend III hoped for a permanent embassy ¡places between the seventh and at the celestial court, but the patient study of corpulent volumes, tenth centuries AD., either another Emperor refused, in terms not un-unless they contain work of the The route traversed by the little Buddha than the supreme Buddha, certain and now and again highly highest order. I am all in favour party in its high-powered motor car or a "lohan," or disciple, of the impolite, to entertain the notion of of slimming. "Night Flight," by A. The laughing resident Ambassadora from "the de Saint-Exupery, was slight, but had been followed in earlier days by supreme Buddha.

That is emperors and armies passing be- Buddha would seem to bear some barbarians with the white faces." packed with fealing and emotion, tween the capital city and the Sum-relation to Bacchus or to Silenus, Chlen-Jung's letter to George con- episode and movement.

He lived a wandering life, which cludes with the following para-far nearer to the modern approach. he himself is said to have cele-graph brated in verses.

mer capital.

Willows cast their shadows oyer the road. A p'al-lou, or triumphal arch, marked the

Manchu prince." grave of a Away to the north-east were

COASTWISE

by

"ALGIE" BENNETT.

An interesting book of Cartoons depicting "Happerings" on the

China Coast.

PRICE $100.

Now on sale at

BREWERS

WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW EXCELSIOR BOOK STORE. and at the Publishers

The Newspaper Enterprise Ltd.

China' Mall. Building.

China's Decline. Great emperors built Jehol and spent the days of their Summer hunting there. One was K'ang-hol. Ch'ien-lung, A later emperor wan K'ang-hai, warrior and 'ruler, was also a poet, and he wrote his praise! of Jehol.

O high mountains, that fall to- ward the green hills,

O blue streams, lapping against

the steep cliff.,

See, the fish calmly follow your

steps and play,

And the storks alt enthroned on

the tall trees,

*

As your desire to send a person to reside in Peking is contrary to the order and re- gulations of the Celestial Court, and as it could scarcely be of the least advantage to your country, we are sending the tribute-bearera, with these care- ful instructions, on a safe road home. * This is our All-

Highest decree...

A novel I greatly enjoyed was "The Gentle Heart," by Doreen Wallace. She, too, can create her scene, people it with living beings, and tell their tale in 300 pages. Of all our younger women writers she seems to me the most likely to make a mark...

GALSWORTHY'S NEW STORY.

This year's winner the Nobel To regard a British sovereign as Prize Mr. John Galsworthy, has sending tribute, and an English written a new story, "Flowering lord--the mission was headed by Wilderness. At the social comedy Lord Macartneys a tribute-which he writes he is "coolly He bearer," was, no doubt, for home competent as Mr. Lindram. consumption, but it was not merely starts the ball rolling with the un- mistakable skill of an expert, it insult, it was studied insult. And I am alone with my heart's

desire.

Sven Hedin, whose volume, which, gets, where it was intended, and Ch'ien-lung came to the throne of obviously, would have been but an does exactly what it set out to do," China in 1786 and reigned long and enlarged guide-book had its 278 The reviewers of novels, in "The ably. After him China's decline set, pages been devoted exclusively to Times Literary Supplement" are in. Although from all Western the ruins and the semi-rulda of always discriminating, and one of points of view Ch'len-lung was a Jehol, enriches his account with them adds that he must be a fas despot, his despotism appears to legend and historical narrative, tidious reader, indeed who is not have been tempered with sound with imperial romance and imperial desply sorry for both the lovers judgment and morey, his barbaric romances. Hence Jehol, City of and anxious to know what happen. instincts held in check, by, culture Emperors," If it may not be placeded afterwards?

and learning. The art of poetry among the notable books, fa, never, e

was something every noble Chinese, theless, one of those valuable works J. I, Priestley youth was taught to cultivate and the reading of which increases Corner" hás been practice, and Ch'Ten-king proved no knowledge and widens horizons novel mean adept,” is several translations while, giving pleasure,

Holland,

"FOUR FANTASTIC TALE.”

One of the latest omnibuses in

1933

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