Chinese Mettle
A Temple of Healing.
CHINESE METTLE
Written and Illustrated by E. G. KEMP, F.R.S.G.S.
Author of “The Face of China,” “The Face of Manchuria, Korea
and Russian Turkestan,” “Wanderings in Chinese Turkestan,”
“Reminiscences of a Sister” illustrated....
“Travaile, in the younger Sort is a Part of Education;in the Elder, a Part of Experience.... When a Travailerreturneth home, let him not leave the countries, where hehath travailed, altogether behind him.... Let it appearethat he doth not change his country manners for those ofForraigne Parts; But onely pricke in some Flowers of thathe hath Learned abroad, into the Customs of his ownCountry.”—Bacon’s Essays.
Hodder and Stoughton Ltd.
Toronto London New York
St Paul’s House Warwick Square E.C.4
Printed in 1921
DEDICATED
TO
MY CHINESE FRIENDS
Books of a descriptive nature, especially on a foreigncountry, are most difficult to write. Under ordinary circumstances,writers of such books, due to the differences ofhistorical setting and social background, may find it hard to freethemselves from prejudice. When the visit is confined to a sectionof the country, their views are liable to be provincial. Onthe other hand, hasty travelling, however large an area they maycover, makes their impressions superficial.
It is well said that modern travellers see nothing but the interiorof trains and hotels. This is gradually becoming true alongthe eastern coast of China. To-day one who confines his visit toShanghai or Tientsin can not be said to have seen China, for itis not there that one sees the real Chinese life. Civilization meansmore than mechanical improvements. Herein lies the value ofMiss Kemp’s book. She has wisely neglected the “show window”by putting seaports at the end. By acquainting the public withthe wealth and beauty of the interior—places seldom traversed bysojourners,—she reveals to the readers the vitality and potentialenergy, both natural and cultural, of a great nation. Throughoutthe book the authoress combines the sincerity of description withthe picturesqueness of details.
Equally instructive is the authoress’ description of Chinesesociety and some of the prominent Chinese men and women.Great changes are going on in China. Nothing could affordmore interest and knowledge to the friends of China than towitness the shifting scenes of the young Republic. The general[6]tendency is undoubtedly towards stability and progress, evolvingorder out of derangement result