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Show CHINA AND THE BLACK PLAGUE. William N. Brewster, for the past six years a resident of China, in the Methodist Review, tells of the menace to the world which the Black Plague presents. Of the Chinese attacked by the plague 97 per cent die and the scourge is moving mov-ing north toward the great, densely populated central cen-tral valley of China, where ore millions of people peo-ple outside all protection in the way of sanitary customs or regulations. The writer says the utmost ut-most exertions of the British officials at Hong Kong have been unavailing in their efforts to Ltay the plague, and the medical authorities can make no progress against it Tho writer believes be-lieves it is a menace to the whole earth, for it follows the world's commerce and where population popu-lation is most dense there is not the slightest effort to stay its march. He thinks the nations should combine and compel China to have sanitary sani-tary commissions established throughout all threatened points, to have a general house-cleaning and to perfect arrangements to isolate all who may be stricken with the disease, because he insists in-sists that the world is in danger from this black peril that baffles the finest medical talent and moves on and on as insidiously and irresistibly as Pate itself. It almost looks as though, in the great empire, em-pire, it was Nature's plan to make way for a new race, even as after the oak is exhausted, it is suc ceeded by a forest of pines. The records of the plague shows that while-97 per cent of the Chinese Chi-nese who are attacked die, of other Asiatics only 70 per cent die, while of Europeans, the percentage percent-age is reduced to 37 per ceut. It seems especially espe-cially fatal to tho Mongolian; docs it moan the practical wiping out of the race? That race has held Its course among the nations for four thousand thou-sand years. While other natiors have gone down to forgetfulness and still others have been created, creat-ed, China has moved on unchanged and unchanging, unchang-ing, as emotionless as the processions of the seasons. sea-sons. Now when the last century's improvements and advances reach the shores of China there Is met that immemorial inertia and progress stops, baffled. No railroads are wanted lest the rumble of trains may disturb the sleep of ancestors who have been but dust for centuries; no electric lights are wanted for are not the old peanut saucers sufficient? And when devoted men and women go among the people to tell them of a religion of love sufficient for this life and the life to come, the people arise and slay them. Is it not possible that through the destruction by the plague the new germ of progress is to expand? |