A Sequel to Chinese Alice
En dejlig bog med mange kvaliteter. Det er ikke mærkeligt, at både Chinese Alice og denne bog er oversat til svensk (sammen med en 3. bog af Barr, Coromandel). Det er heller ikke mærkeligt, at de tilsyneladende nærmest var kultbøger for den svenske, socialdemokratiske kvindebevægelse i 1980erne. Alice (Uncut Jade - Naturlig jade) er en engelsk missionærdatter, der lever sin ungdom (i Chinese Alice) i en kinesisk familie med sin broder Frank som eneste "hvide". De to får derfor to kulturer. De to kulturer skildres gennem Alice på lige vilkår, med samme respekt - der gøres grin med komiske elementer (beskrivelsen af en engelsk julemiddag, p 172-3 er så rædselsfuld, som man kan forestille sig) og mere værdifulde elementer lyser. Samtidig er kernen i bogen en personlig historie med en personlig udvikling. Den historiske ramme er 1800-tallets sidste år. Vi slutter med gode råd til niecen, opium, Boxer-oprøret, århundredskiftet og Alice's afrejse til sit første besøg i England.
Alice er en stærk selvstændig kvinde, indtil Boxer-oprøret har hun sin egen butik i Peking og vi får hele hendes liv, med skuffelser og med kærlighedsliv beskrevet ganske naturligt. Mennesket er i centrum.
Hvis du skulle kende et sted, hvor man kan læse Pat Barr's biografi, så send mig en henvisning.
Hun er klog - og vis. Hendes holdning til kolonialismen er helt ok - og desværre stadig aktuel [USA for amerikanerne !!]. (Babylons løver og museet i Baghdad in memoriam.)
He got up, prowled restlessly about the bedroom, opening the door and peering out as if he suspected eavesdroppers. Alice sipped her drink, looking at the globular lanterns swinging in the warm breeze outside the umbrella shop opposite. What a lacklustre role she'd cast for herself recently, living so respectably, as bent on commercial gain as any other second-rate treaty-port merchant. For, in fact, since the collapse of the Syndicate, her life had been comfortable and fairly aimless.
Bill returned to the table. "Well Alice, I guess you're just as matey with the Chinks as ever? Want to see them win the present little dust-up against the Japs, hey?"
"Of course, very much."
"Odd thing is, I've got a chance to help them, really help, and I wondered if you'd like to be in on it? But it's ve-ry confidential mind, and I'm not kidding." He took a swig, appraised her. "I wonder if I can trust you. . ."
"Bill you know you can. I'd do anything to help China's cause. I feel myself to be part of the country in so many ways. I have ever since I was a child. It's dreadful how everyone is just sitting back now and wringing their hands. The mandarins blame the central government, the government blames the army and nothing goes forward. But what on earth can you or I do?" "Well it's like this. Couple of days ago I was called in to see an official - high-up with a blue button and a golden peacock embroidered on his robe."
"Civil, third rank," Alice murmured.
"Show off! Anyway, his lackeys had seen the Dolphin in the harbour and found out I'm bound for the States. The long and the short was, though they took damn hours to get to it - there's a desperate shortage of vessels to carry guns and ammo to Port Arthur where the army is shipping supplies into Korea, and they want me to take a load up. I played very hard to get, till they offered a considerable sum in silver taels for same little favour, which I can't afford to turn down, things being as they are."
"But how exciting Bill. Of course you must do it. I read in the papers that the government's being strongly criticised for the lack of supply ships. . . And me? You want me to . . ."
"Come along. Yes - and on to the States if you've a mind to it. If not, I'll pay your passage back here. Fact is, most of the dough is to be paid to me in Port Arthur, cash on delivery. But I need a really trusty interpreter to push the deal through there, somone who's on my side, understands the lingo and the way these slippery fellows operate. I don't know a single Chink who fits that bill, so then I thought of little Alice Greenwood, who else? She's even lived in Port Arthur I remembered and knows her way around the place. Well is it on?'"
She didn't hesitate for a second, her heart leaping to the tune of an adventure she'd been longing for without realising it. 68-9
"Ah Adam! He is so sweet and kind, yet I fear for his future. When he comes out here as a medical missionary as he will soon, promise you will take special care for him, Alice? If anything happens to me. He is, I fear, rather ill-fitted for this cruel world."
Adam's ill-fittedness was hardly surprising Alice thought, considering his cheerless childhood, haunted by the unpredictable wrath of God, the uncleanliness of little boy's souls, the fears of the benighted heathen. "I'll do what I can, Mother, but you're going to be all right for years yet, and so is Adam, Please don't keep worrying. 106
Alice, disbelieving at first, found that the Blums were right: there was another side of the Japanese that was highly civilised, kindly, humane. She even grew to like the orderly who cleaned her room so industriously each day and showed her tinted photographs of his daughters in kimonos, and the officer who sent Eliza special delicacies and extra supplies of fuel for her bedroom fire because she was elderly and worthy of respect. Above all, every Japanese was unquestioningly, unswervingly loyal to the country's cause.
"And that's why they're soon going to win this war, hands down," Karl predicted one day, as he, Veronique and Alice sat in the enclosed house-verandah. "They all fight for one Emperor, all shout banzai together. But your average Celestial Tommy hasn't an ounce of esprit de corps in him by comparison. He thinks only of his own clan, his own province. And at the top - Manchus against Chinese, progressives against conservatives. And all the different factions at the mercy of the Old Buddha playing hide-and-seek with her eunuchs in the royal pleasure gardens! 109
"It was not a joy-ride," Alice replied curtly. "Naturally I didn't tell Mother, nor let the Japanese suspect, but most of the cargo on Bill's ship was guns and ammunition for the garrison in Port Arthur, which had to be delivered even though we were delayed by that typhoon."
Frank whistled admiringly, "Gun-running?"
"Exactly - we were trying to help, which is more than could be said of most people on China's side is it not?"
Will frowned angrily. "Like Frank and me, I suppose? Well, it's just not given to us all to be able to dash off on wild adventures And though that puts a better complexion on it, I must say you've caused the whole family a great deal of anxiety."
"And saved Mother, as she keeps telling you! But it really is time you stopped thinking of me as a little girl whose every move must be accounted for and worried over by the family, Will. What I do is actually my own affair, you know."
"That's true. Will," Frank agreed warmly. "I didn't worry much. I kept telling you - Alice always comes through in the end!" He winked at his sister, and Will said stiffly, as he often had in the past, "Oh you two always stick together." 111
"Then she can care for Eliza and continue the business. The point is that Alice always seems to have it her own way. We did a lot for her in the past, and it's time she took on some burdens most women have to bear, instead of this airy-fairy stuff about women's rights and anti-footbinding. It is, in my view, her duty. She's the only daughter here and has no other ties."
Isabel pursed her lips. She too was beginning to feel the thickening of middle age, especially in company with Charlotte, who was a very pretty little madam and well aware of it. 112
As they approached she saw their faces were also ash-white as were those of most of the foreign women who led such unhealthy lives in this health resort - sitting about all day in tight clothes waiting for the next meal. Women, Alice thought. spent so much of their lives waiting - for husbands, for babies to arrive, for elderly parents to die. Initiatives were seldom expected of them and they seldom took them. 113
Westerners to them were clever but not wise, wealthy but not discriminating, powerful but not compassionate. Was that really the worthiest model for all mankind? 131
"No, he's in London - a conspiratorial revolutionary always on the move. I met some of his associates who are hand-in-glove with some Japanese reformers. They believe we Chinese and Japanese should band together to get rid of all foreign oppression. Asia for the Asians is is their battle-cry." 135
Han-Li replied bitterly. "What is there to say? He is as always, only more so because he's cock-of-the-walk now. He and I will never be able to live in accord under the same roof. Now I've returned here I'm often reminded of Kang Yu-wei's teaching on the burdens of the private family. In every household in the world the overflowing of jealousies and the clashing of wills is more poisonous than yellow fog.'" 141
Within the court, tensions worsened between conservatives loyal to the Empress Dowager, known as the "Old Mother's Party", and the "Young Lad's Set" around the Emperor.
Foreigners, taking ruthless advantage of China's internal weaknesses, had already earmarked certain parts of the country as "concessions" or "spheres of influence". The Germans started by seizing a naval base in Shantung in 1897, the French plumped for parts of western Kwangsi and Yunnan, while the British made for the Yangtze valley and Kowloon - both with great trading potential. 152
"Nevertheless, certain social conventions always have to be upheld by white communities living in racially alien countries."
"Like not consorting with the natives?"
'If you choose to put it that way."
"I assume some kind friend has told you of my long-standing liaison with Lin Fu-wei?"
"Wasn't sure it was the same fellow as before, but thought it likely."
"At least you can say I'm consistent in my consorting." "You can be flippant if you like, Alice, but both Isabel and I were very upset to hear it. You realise, I suppose, that your. . . goings on will do nothing to help my career here?"
As he failed to offer another sherry, Alice poured herself one. 'I'm extremely sorry if that's so. Will, but I can't lead my life in relation to your career."
"I didn't really expect you to take my interests into consideration - you never have." 155-6
"The Catholic missionaries called this an earthly paradise, you know," Lin said. "Here were enchanted pavilions set among groves of flowering trees and filled with treasures - vases, screens, gold and silver artefacts."
"I know what you'll say next. That the English and French then sacked and burned the Palace down in 1860. August, wasn't it? Thirty-eight years ago."
"And as you were about two then I'm not blaming you personally." He smiled and pointed ahead. 161
'No. I teach at the college, because, like you, I believe it is most important that the Sons of Han learn new ways. You'll be familiar, I'm sure, with Chang Chih-tung's recent Exhortation to Study? As he explains, many branches of Western learning have no essential connection with Western religion."
"I am relieved to hear that. Morally speaking, the teachings of Master Confucius are sufficient for us." She inclined assent. "But speaking of morality, it greatly puzzles me that your missionaries extol the virtues of good will and human kindness while your politicians and soldiers seize our lands, undercut all our traditional trades?"
"I wish I could justify it, honourable, but I think the powerful nations of the West behave outrageously towards the Chinese." 184
So the news that reached Paoting later in May was a body-blow: the Boxers were now attacking railways and telegraphs. Stations, bridges, engineering works had been burned and the recently forged lines of communication between Paoting, the capital and the coast all severed as the Boxers converged on the city. 189
She unbarred the gate and he handed her a note from his father: "Honourable Teacher, rowdy gangs of Harmony Fists are almost upon us, and I am informed the authorities will do little to protect foreigners. You came here purely to instruct our youth in foreign matters, but now you are in grave danger of falling victim to this ignorant rabble who would not distinguish you from Jesus-men and have cast aside the universal laws of courtesy towards strangers. I beg you therefore at once to accompany Third Son to my humble dwelling, where I may hide you. None will suspect your presence here, and you will be safe till we see what the next wind blows." Yung-choon grasped her arm, "You will come?" 190
"And that's why you must leave. You see, Alice, if I am killed I know absolutely that the Lord has a place prepared for me in Heaven." She drew a breath of intense devotion that was almost longing. "He has one for you too, Alice, but you don't yet know that. I pray you will. But for you, not knowing, the sufferings of persecution and death would be much harder to bear. I have hated to think of your going through it, whereas for me, for the other devout here, it would be as nothing - so do go quickly now, for God has answered my prayers for you. Have you a guide?" 191
"But nothing was done here. The foreigners in Peking were supposedly inviolate. And then on the 9th wasn't it dear? - some Boxers burned down the racecourse grandstand. That really got the big white chiefs going - firing off telegrams for immediate armed support."
Alice chuckled. "How typical - converts slaughtered. missionaries attacked, but the grandstand really is a call to arms!" 198
As they drank, Alice asked, "But how can you say you saw this coming when no one else did?"
"Because I work with Chinese officials who know a damn sight more of what's going on than these nincompoops in the legations with their parties, picnics, and piffling papers." He spat out each P with venom, wagging his finger at her. "Court circulars went to the provinces, saw them months ago. Full of hatred and suspicion of foreigners they were. Then Yu Hsien came to Peking, a rabid xenophobe who'd like to see every foreign devil swinging from a tree. He got the ear of the Old Buddha and from then on the anti-foreign party went from strength to strength. All this I told Maclaren on the q.t. and what did he say, 'Such a scaremonger you're becoming old boy! 202-3
"Well, if we do survive, there'll be scant thanks due to some I saw this afternoon. As you suspected, Karl, several ablebodied men are doing nothing except organising committees - for food, for fuel distribution, for hospital supplies. Lord knows what else! Why don't the women run them and let all the men take duty at the barricades?" 205
Pretty disheartening too, because, even when we got to Tungchow three days ago, the stories were that you'd all been massacred. So - all in all - it was a very pleasant surprise to see ladies rushing out to meet us wearing nice dresses and garden-party hats. But if you'll excuse me, I must get back to the historic scenes , outside." 223
And has Mrs Grant been telling you the true story of our recent incarceration or the official version for the Press?"
'There's a difference, sir?"
"Ho, but my word there is. The last of the wine please. Know what my main function was? Dealing with dead bodies and - er - night soil. Never smelt such noxious odours in my life, sir, but what stinks much much fouler is the whole tale of our glorious siege - the diplomatic bungling, the backbiting and poltroonery. the sheer damn fool muddles." He took a deep draught. "Not bad is it? Dead Froggie had three bottles in his knapsack." 224
For several weeks the nations looted, raped and ransacked, each accusing the other of the worst excesses and all of them guilty. 232
The new station is very grand - and lit by electricity."
"Yes, the plant came from the Summer Palace, I believe, where it was never used. The Brits have been careful to take the new extension right through a famous burial ground, did you notice? I don't understand the need for such gratuitous desecration." 239
"Excuse me," he said then. "But you're an attractive woman, Alice Greenwood-Grant, standing there in the moonlight with your heart just in the right place."
"It's sweet of you to say so." She looked demurely into his eyes, which twinkled as he kissed her again. "Well. . ."he ran his hands down her forearms, "do you wish me to go or not? It's getting unrespectably late for us to be alone here together, though of course I have a thoroughly unrespectable proposal in mind."
"I'm quite surprised, James. I thought of us simply as friends. At least, I did until a few minutes ago," she added honestly.
"Friends and . . . what you will. There's another road we could embark upon. It is as you choose, of course."
"Give me another chocolate." She took one, thinking frivolously, "If it's soft I will, if it's hard I won't," and bit into a cherry cream. 240
Veronique, sensing Alice's preoccupation, had diplomatically steered the conversation towards the latest of the capital's scandals: that the Japanese had seized cart-loads of silver ingots from the Revenue Board; that an eccentric Indian army officer regularly rode round the Carriage Park in a gilded imperial equipage with his Chinese concubine; that the Germans, in the course of punitive expeditions for the revenge of their Ambassador's murder during the siege, were tying strings of innocent villagers together by heir pigtails and leading them to slaughter; that the Austrians had raped a houseful of female converts living near the American nission; that the Russians and British were almost starting a new war over the management of the railway to the north.
In the light of these disorders and uncertainties, the majority of Peking's residents, both native and foreign, were much relieved when the peace settlement between China and the Allies was eventually signed early that Autumn - including the former's promise to pay a ruinous indemnity. 242-3
"It's not that. . ." she sat back, closing her eyes; in the lengthy silence he noticed her pallor. "I might as well tell you, I suppose. I had some very bad news a few days ago. Lin Fu-wei, the Reformer I mentioned to you was killed - fighting in the Philippines." She didn't open her eyes.
"Och, I'm very sorry to hear that. He sounded a fine brave man. So many of these Asian revolutionaries get it in the neck before they can accomplish much. And he was a good friend, you told me?"
She rephed in a low voice, "He was my lover for - a considerable time. He was, in some ways, the most important man in my life." Then she burst into tears, for the very speaking of the words aloud was so painful.
Awkwardly he offered a handkerchief, "Oh dear, dear, I am so sorry. A heavy blow for you, of course." He paused, at a loss.
"I didn't tell you about him before; it was all past history, in a way, and not many people knew about us. We had to be discreet, a most unsuitable liaison from everyone's point of view," she attempted a sarcastic smile which turned into a sniffle.
"Is there anything I can do to help, Alice? Of course, in the circumstances... I mean . . . I'm a bit taken aback and . . ."he flushed slightly. Her grief was so genuine he did not voice any disapproval, yet he was undoubtedly a little shocked that Alice . . . with a native . . none of his business, of course.
She looked up, sensing his coolness. "In the circumstances there's nothing really you can do, or even say, thank you, James. You probably can't understand and I don't expect you to." 245-6
Well, you'd surely agree that most of our colonies are much more orderly and secure than this country? We've recently returned from Singapore - such a pleasant place, and the natives are very contented under our rule."
He pulled down his mouth. "I wonder how much we, the rulers. ever know what the natives are, madam?" 249
I'd like you to know that, because I've been what you might call a 'trimmer' in so many other matters, never sufficiently convinced of anything for a life-long commitment, compromising again and again between the Englishness and the Chineseness in me.
He looked at her meditatively. "You make that sound like a confession, but it's people like us - for I'm of the same ilk - who keep the wheels turning. We're not fanatical, don't want to fight to the death, know the world changes slowly, and not always for the better when it does. Fully paid-up members of the Organisation of Innocent Bystanders, as a friend of mine puts it." 252
"I don't think he wants me. But I'd have him if I could. Well, you saw us together that night. . " "Kissing isn't everything and I'd say Howard is a fairly ordinary young man." "And am I not an ordinary young woman?" "I'm not sure yet. You haven't had much chance to prove exactly what you are. But if you marry Howard, you'll never find out, I promise you." She glowered at her niece, who got up, saying in a small, hostile voice, "Oh. I'll go and unpack." 254
"I'm afraid your kid brother's heavily involved in the illicit import of opium - Wang & Co. is one of the firms I've been asked to investigate secretly. I heard there was an English link somewhere, dealing with foreign merchants in India where the stuff's coming from. I started questioning him casually, and when he twigged what I was after, he shut up like a clam."
"Oh Lord save us! So that's it. I knew he was hiding something, he's been so evasive and anxious about money. Then his talk yesterday about right and wrong- it all fits." She sank wearily into a chair, her headache a throbbing reality. 261
Orla Jordal, 2007
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