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London, Jack, 1876-1916

"Revolution, and Other Essays"

There were
no lounging men smoking long pipes and chattering. The previous day
the Russians had been there, a bloody battle had been fought, and to-
day the Japanese were there--but what was that to talk about?
Everybody was busy. Men were offering eggs and chickens and fruit
for sale upon the street, and bread, as I live, bread in small round
loaves or buns. I rode on into the country. Everywhere a toiling
population was in evidence. The houses and walls were strong and
substantial. Stone and brick replaced the mud walls of the Korean
dwellings. Twilight fell and deepened, and still the ploughs went up
and down the fields, the sowers following after. Trains of
wheelbarrows, heavily loaded, squeaked by, and Pekin carts, drawn by
from four to six cows, horses, mules, ponies, or jackasses--cows even
with their newborn calves tottering along on puny legs outside the
traces. Everybody worked. Everything worked. I saw a man mending
the road. I was in China.
I came to the city of Antung, and lodged with a merchant.


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