+ − Sat R 130:340 O 23 ’20 630w The Times [London] Lit Sup p648 O 7 ’20 950w
ROE, A. S. Chance and change in China. il *$3 (3c) Doran 915.1
20–11512
A book devoted not to political affairs but to the little alterations in custom that indicate social change and the influence of the outside world. Among the chapters are: The seductive city; The city of the river orchid; The black smoke [opium]; The dragon house; The gem-hill city; The serpent month; On the “river of broad sincerity”; The city of western peace; The pepper month; The contemptible one [woman]; A painted cake. The title given to this last chapter signifies “a thing that has come to nothing,” and refers to the republic, altho the author says, “Though to many the republic has become a ‘painted cake,’ some at least of the seeds scattered here and there in the days of its first youth have taken root.” There are many illustrations and an index.
“The accounts of travel and life in New China are fascinating, and Miss Roe’s book both promises and provides some rare hours of entertainment.”
+ Boston Transcript p6 Jl 21 ’20 400w Outlook 126:768 D 29 ’20 70w
“A varied and entertaining account of modern life in the Far East. It is by no means a serious book. Rather it appears to be a collection of more or less coherent reminiscences carried away by the author after traveling through parts of the country.”
+ Springf’d Republican p8 Ag 13 ’20 280w + − The Times [London] Lit Sup p159 Mr 4 ’20 100w
“Her book does not lend itself to continuous reading, for it is both discursive and disjointed. Too retiring to weave a connecting thread out of the accidents that befell herself, too logical to put forward a reconciliation of contradictions that defy it, too honest to suggest a whole where she had seen but a small part, she leaves on the mind an idea of confusion—and that, perhaps, is the truest impression she could give of China at this period of chance and change.”