Sir Robert Hart - The Romance of a Great Career, 2nd Edition by Juliet Bredon
page 60 of 137 (43%)
page 60 of 137 (43%)
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great stress of excitement he occasionally slipped the eye out for
a moment, rubbed it violently on his coat-sleeve, then as rapidly replaced it--and this he did there in the council hut, utterly forgetful of his audience, and before a soul could say the Formosan equivalent of "Jack Robinson." The chiefs paled, stiffened, shuddered with fright. One with more presence of mind than his fellows called for a pen. "Yes, quick, quick, a pen!"--the word passed from mouth to mouth. No more obstinacy, no more hesitation; all of them clamoured to sign, willing, even eager to yield to any demand that a man gifted with the supernatural power of taking out his eye and replacing it at pleasure, might make. On his return from Formosa the I.G. wrote a famous paper called "Pang Kwan Lun" ("What a Bystander Says"), full of useful criticisms and suggestions on Chinese affairs. Some were followed, others were not, but he had the satisfaction of hearing from the lips of the Empress-Dowager herself--when she received him in audience in 1902--that she regretted more of his advice had not been taken, subsequent events having proved how sound and useful it all was. In 1866, having worked twelve years in China--seven of those years for the Chinese Government--Robert Hart felt a very natural desire to see his own country and his own people again. He therefore applied for leave, and was granted six months--none too long a rest after the strenuous work he had done. Just before starting he said to the Chinese, "You will soon be establishing Legations abroad. Do you not think that my going will be |
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