20–6740
The book contains the diary of a second lieutenant in the Chinese labor corps, while engaged in training a company of 490 coolies in China and taking them on a long journey by way of Canada and Panama to France to be used as laborers behind the lines. In describing the journey the author gives his observations of the mental shock and change of life and vision that the coolie is subjected to in changing from the East to the West. He also describes the coolie as a simple, jolly fellow, worthy of trust and of an affectionate character. The book is illustrated.
“The book is competently written, and is agreeably unusual amongst the crop of war books.”
+ Ath p1387 D 19 ’19 60w + Booklist 16:340 Jl ’20
“He understands things Chinese. He has sympathy in telling of these ‘Shantung farmers.’ It is an attitude such as Mr Klein’s, penetrating, free from either sentimentalism or maudlin chatter, about the yellow peril, which ought to enable Americans to adjust their commercial relations to China with a higher sense of business integrity. The title of the book is distinctly unworthy of its subject matter.”
+ Boston Transcript p6 Jl 14 ’20 150w
“What we like about this little book is its genuine and genial humanity.”
+ Sat R 129:39 Ja 10 ’20 280w
“Mr Klein’s daily life with his coolies and with his colleagues is given with an intimate vivacity which makes it very real.”