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PEKING
the real opposition at the Walls, entered later on in the same morning. The gallant little Islanders found some solace in coming across the chief Treasury as they fought their way across the City, driving the beaten Chinese before them. On the following day the Americans advanced on the Imperial and Forbidden Cities and, with the co-operation of the French and Russians, seized these citadels of prejudice and seclusion. The French, backed by the Japanese, effected the release of the sore-tried people in the Pei-t'ang. The City was given up to a "modified looting" for a period of three days, and then military government was established, the different Powers undertaking different areas of the town. The Palaces fell to the Russians, who also sent out a column and seized the famous Summer Palace, thirteen miles distant. The capture of the City was formally celebrated by a visit of all the leading Ministers, Officers, and some of the troops to the Palace. For the first time in history, foreigners were able to see the arcana of the Imperial Court. The Imperial Family had the day before the Relief escaped from the City and fled into Shan-si vid the Northern passes, en route for Si-an-fu, where it remained till October, 1901.
Peking, though it suffered indescribably from the depredations of the Boxers, the Imperial troops, the awful ruffianism of Tung-fuh-shiang's barbarians from Kansu, to say nothing of the subsequent attentions of the Allied troops, is at present more attractive as an object of travel than before, for the simple reason that the City was cleansed by the foreign Powers, and that many places of antiquarian, artistic or historic interest are now accessible if the visitor sets about his object with due attention to national susceptibilities.
During 1902 the fortification of the Legation quarter was completed, the railway termini brought to the Ch'ien Men in the Chinese City, and the reconstruction of the various legations was begun. These were slowly brought to completion, and extensive barracks connected with each for the accommodation of the Legation Guards. As all Chinese buildings in this section were removed the Legation quarter presents the appearance of a European settlement of about half a square mile in extent. In, or bordering upon this section, there are three good hotels, Hotel du Nord, Hotel de Pekin, and Palace. In addition to Kierulff's there are now several other large stores, German, French, Italian or Chinese which sell all kinds of foreign goods. The Club House is much larger and more convenient than it was before; there is a Soldiers' Y.M.C.A., and a Catholic church for the Legation Guards, and two hospitals,—St. Mi- chael's and the Methodist Episcopal (John L. Hopkins Memorial) which are provided with accommodation for both Chinese and European patients. There are three Banks, Hongkong and Shanghai, Russo-Chinese and Yokohama Specie, all of which do a flour- ishing business. The streets are being macadamized, and an Electric Light Company has been organized which will furnish light wherever wanted in the city. Many of the wealthy Chinese have telephones in their homes and a line connects the city with Tien- tsin. Reuter has established a permanent agency in Peking.
The various Missions have been rebuilt. The bungalows have all been exchanged for two-storied houses, the arrangement of which has been greatly altered, giving to the mission compounds a much more attractive appearance. The church in the Methodist Mission, at the rear of the Hotel du Nord, will accommodate 1,500 people. In this Mission there are hospitals for both women and men, a Girls' High School in which there are 200 pupils, and about the same number of students in the Peking Uni- versity. These buildings are all lit with acetylene, and heated by stean or hot air, while the houses are furnished with water from an artesian well in the com- pound. In connection with the London Mission, near the Von Ketteler Monument, is the Lockhart Medical College, established for medical study in North China, an institution for the erection of which the Empress Dowager contributed Tls. 10,000. A little north of this is the American Board Mission in connection with which there is a large Girls school and a very fine church with a seating capacity of about 1,000. The Presbyterian Mission is near the Llama and Confucian Temples in the north of the city, has hospitals for both men and women, and is furnished with water by a windmill from an artesian well. The South and East churches of the Roman Catholic Mission have not been rebuilt, but the North Cathedral has been greatly improved. The Mission for the Blind is on Kan Yü Hu-t'ung not far from the London Mission, while the S.P.G. Mission is in the West city.
The question of high houses in Peking is for ever settled by the erection of a two- storied residence by Prince Su, and three large blocks of similar buildings for the Col- lege of Languages by the Government.
Original rrom UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Page 690Page 691
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