MAN IN A BOX FOR 15 YEARS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1923, Page 1

MAN IN A BOX FOR 15 YEARS.

LONDON, April 25. Mr . R. .Marsh, for many years an .American official in the Chinese Cutouts. ha- written a delight till hook, "The Charm of the Middle Kingdom,'’ about his experiences in Moukdcn, Tientsin, and Metigtsz. He saw many strange tiling*: he saw where they put out the surp'nn girl bid.ies to be eaten alive by dogs; lie -aw where the wild women come down from the hill- io dance at night: and lie saw a robber lying in a small box who would have to lie there for 15 years. “He was shut into a box too short to permit his lying extended and too low for him even to -it erect. A dia-mond-shaped hole was cut in the side ol the box and this was all the menwof ventilation and light lie had. When 7 peered into his flashing eyes, fur all bis energy was gathered in his eyes, lie had been imprisoned only seven years. His limbs were atrophied, fie had become a more automaton, mockery of nature. 1 wanted to -peak witli him hut I did not know hitongue, so ] merely smiled, for I thought he would rather that I smile than do anything else. And I. .-hall always remember how his -eyes seemed to soften as if he had not misinterpreted my meaning. There was a pitiful whining noise and l turned away.” A LOPPEII OF HEADS. He conversed with an old man who had been an executioner for many years and asked him how many people lie had executed. "1 lopped oil' ten thousand and then I lost count. . . .” ' Then the mere business of lopping o!7 heads meant mulling to you r” "Ah. Ibe Jm- it tests - that meant a g oat deal. It meant food for me arm my family. But, von see, 1 did not alio'.v ihe personal relation to enter into ii. ] never had dealings with fi lends. As for the others, I saw j nothing hut a little band of Mc-li. I . swung and passed oil. For such things j I have no memory.” r.ni ii must not be supposed that I Mr Marsh's book is full m horrors—l Im' from ii. He interprets lor ns tho I faseinai ion and mv.-tcry of China, lie likes the Chinese: above all. the! C hinese ladies seem to have charmed ■ liinfl.