Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1918 — POOR DWELLING PLACE, THIS [ARTICLE]

POOR DWELLING PLACE, THIS

British Naval Base of Wei-Hei-Wel Has Decidedly Few Attractions for European Residents. Wei-hei-wei is the bit of Chinese territory that the British hold under lease as a naval and commercial base. It is just across the breadth of the Shantung peninsula from Kia chow. Wei-hei-wei lies partly on the mainland, partly on an island, where the dockyard. the coaling station and the rest of the machinery for a naval base are located. Most of the civilian population live on the mainland, and patronize a little steam launch that plies across the intervening sea when they want to go shopping; for with an eye to getting the British jackies’ trade when warships put in to coal, the shops of Wei-hei-wei are out with the docks and the coal yards. The island seen from the steam launch is a barren, sandy hilt ridged with gullies that the hurrying rain water has cut in its course to the sea. The sand of these hills is one of the omnipresent features of the colony; every wind that blows carries it about by pounds, and only the cheapness of Chinese servants makes it possible to keep a European household dusted. The mainstreet on the island has the characteristic British colonial look, with a British post office, a British steamship booking office,* and British shops. On the short side street are the Chinese shops, which are only opened at certain seasons when visitors are plenty, or when a warship puts in to the harbor. >