Report Title Russell, Bertrand = Russell, Bertrand Arthur William

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Russell, Bertrand = Russell, Bertrand Arthur William (Trelleck, Monmouthsire 1872-1970
Plas Penrhyn bei Penrhyndeudraeth, Wales) : Philosoph, Logistiker, Mathematiker,
Literaturnobelpreisträger ; Dozent Cambridge, Oxford, London, Harvard University,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Beijing
Biographie
1919 Zhang,Shenfu.Lianduoshi[ID D28288].
Zhangcomplainedthat,sinceHegel,formallogicshadalmostbeenbannedfromphilosophy
andgaveanoverview oflogicsinWesternphilosophy,startingwithPlatoandendingwith
Russell.Duringtheprevious40years,mathematicsandphilosophyhadgrowncloser
together.Thiswas,accordingtoZhang,mainlydue toRussell'seffortsandnotwithoutsocial
implications;suchanapproachtophilosophycouldoffermodelsforresponsibleand
rationalizedthought.[Russ3]
1919 SuzanneP.Ogden:TheimmediatestimulusleadingtotheinvitationtoBertrandRussellfor a
visitinChinamayhavebeenthe seriesof lecturesgivenbyJohnDeweyinBeijinginMarch
1919onThethreegreatphilosophersofourday,James,Bergson,andRussell.[Russ10]
1920 Liang,Shuming.Weishishuyi.Vol.1.(Beijing:Beijingda xuechubanshe,1920).
(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7)
LiangShumingattackedBertrandRussellvigorously,togetherwithHenriBergson.Though
theyuseddifferentmethods,theirmathematicalandintuitiveepistemologiesrespectively
werenothingbut'delusion'thatmade true knowledgeimpossible.[Russ3]
1920 RaoulFindeisen:BertrandRusselltalkedpubliclyonboardtheFrenchliner'Porthos' onwhat
hehadseeninSovietRussiawhichincitedsomefellow-travellerstoasktheBritishEmbassy
inChinawhetheritwouldbepossible topreventhimgettingoffboardinShanghai,sincehe
had'expressedpro-Bolshevikandanti-Britishsentiments'andwould'provesubversiveand
dangeroustoBritishinterestsatChineseeducationalinstitutions.TheChineseauthorities
werenotofthesameopinionandRussellhelda triumphantpremièreinShanghai,together
withDoraBlack.Theywere 'treatedlike EmperorandEmpress'andRussellwouldbe
representedevenona cigarette advertisement. Theybothhaddeclaredthattheywerenot
marriedtoeachother.Chinese newspapersannouncedMrs.Blackas'thefavouriteconcubine
oftheworldfamousEnglishphilosopher'.
RussellsometimesgavefourintroductoryspeechesonhisideaseverydayandtheWestern
guestsfirsttravelledtoHangzhou,Nanjing,byboattoHankoutoreachChangsha.In
Changsha,RussellmetJohnDeweyandMaoZedong.HegavefourlecturesinChangsha.
WhenarrivinginBeijing,ZhaoYuanrenwasassignedasofficialinterpreterandlivedinthe
householdwithDoraBlackandRussellatSui'anbohutongno2(Chaoyangdistrict).
Chinesepublications,declaredasRussell'sworks,wereusuallybasedonnotestakenduring
hislecturesandsometimesevenpublishedinthe nextday'snewspapers.Sotheydonot
necessarilycorrespondtobooksof thesametitle.[Russ3,Russ9]
1920 FormationoftheBertrandRussellStudyGroupinBeijing.[Russ6]
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1920-1921 Chao,YuenRen[Zhao,Yuanren].WithBertrandRussellinChina[IDD28127].
SincethereismuchmoretoBertrandRussellinChinathancanbecoveredinthisbrief
article,Ihaveprefixedthetitle with"with"tomakeitclearthatitwasmypartasRussell's
interpreterthatIamgoingtowriteabout.RussellarrivedinChinalessthanamonthafterI
returnedto
ChinaafterstudyinginAmerica for tenyears.Ihadbeencalledbacktoteachmathematics
andphysicsatTsingHuaCollegeinPeking.ButonAugust19,1920,thethirddayofmy
arrivalinShanghai,Iwasaskedbythe newlyformedLectureSocietytobeRussell's
interpreter.ThissocietywasformedbytheProgressiveParty,ledbymenlikeLiangCh'i
Ch'ao,ChiangPoLi,FuT'ung,etal.MyfriendstheHubrothers,HuTun-FuandHu
Ming-Fu,and(unrelated)SuhHu(later betterknownasHuShih)warnedmenottobemisled
bypeoplewhoinvitedRussellhere justtoenhance thepoliticalprestigeoftheirpolitical
party.WhenChinPang-Cheng(better knownasP.C.King),PresidentofTsingHuaCollege,
wasapproachedaboutborrowingme tointerpretfor Russell,heagreed,providedthatIdid
notleavethePekinglocality.Asa matterof fact,the LectureSocietywasorganizedrightin
PekingandbeforeIhadtaughta fullmonthatTsingHua,IwasonmywaytoShanghaito
meetBertrandRussellarrivingonOctober 13.ThiswaswhatIwroteinmydiaryforthat
date:
"BertrandRusselllookedverymuchwhatI hadexpectedfromphotographsanddescriptions,
exceptthathelookedstronger,taller,andmoregracious-manneredthanIhadthought.He
lookedlikeascholar.Itwaseasyfor metogetacquaintedwithhimthrumutual
acquaintancesatHarvard."
BeforegoingtoPekingbothRussellandMissDoraBlackgavelecturesinShanghai,
Hangchow,Nanking,andChangsha.I usuallyinterpretedfortheminStandardMandarin.
But,havingalwaysbeeninterestedintheChinese dialects,ItriedtheHangchowdialectin
HangchowandtheHunandialectinChangsha,the capitaloftheprovince.Afteroneofthe
lecturesatChangsha,amemberof theaudiencecameupandaskedme,"Sir,which countyof
theprovinceare youfrom?"He hadnotrealizedthatIwasaspeakerofMandarinimitating
Hunanese imperfectlyandassumedinsteadthatIwasaHunanesespeakingMandarin
imperfectly.Onthesame tripIhadtointerpretaspeechbyGovernorT'anYen-k'ai into
EnglishandsomebodyelseinterpretedRussell's.Ithappenedthattherewasatotal eclipseof
themoonthatnight,towhichRussellreferredinhisusualwittymanner.Buttheinterpreter
leftoutthatbestpartofhisspeechandrepeatedonlytheusualafter-dinnerpolitewords.
It wasquiteajobgettingsettledinPeking.HavingfoundahouseatNo.2Sui-AnPoHutung
intheeasternpartofthe city,wehadtofindanEnglish-speakingservant-cook,asIwasinno
wayobligedorqualifiedtodothatsortof interpreting.Mr.RussellandMissBlackusedthe
mainnorthernpartofthecourtyardandImovedoutfromTsingHuaCollegetojointhemin
theeasternandwesternapartments.People veryeasilygotusedtotheideathatMr.Russell
andMissBlacklivedinthesameapartment,althoughitwasarevolutionaryideaofrecent
originthataboyanda girlshouldmeeteachother atallbeforetheygotmarried.As amatter
offact,Imyselfwasverymuchconcernedwiththe problemofbreakinganengagementwith
agirlIhadnevermetandwasmuchoccupiedafter myreturnfromAmericatosettlethe
matter,especiallyasIbegantoknowandwasattractedtoaMissBuweiYang,whowas
runningahospitalinPeking.ThismadeitallthemoreattractivetomovefromtheTsingHua
suburbintothecity.
OnNovember5,1920,IinterpretedaninterviewwithRussellbyLiangCh'i-Ch'ao.Thiswas
myfirstmeetingwithLiang,whose writingshadhadagreatinfluenceontheyoungmenof
ourgeneration.November7wasthedateof Russell'sfirstregularlecture.Itwasonproblems
ofphilosophy,heldontheThirdCampusofthe NationalPekingUniversity.Therewasan
audienceofsome1500people.IfindinmydiaryInotedthat"thereismorepleasuretospeak
asinterpreterthanastheoriginalspeaker,becausetheformergetstheresponsefromthe
audience."
OthertopicsRusselllecturedonincludedanalysisofmind,idealism,causality,theoryof
relativity,gravitation,andsymbolic logic.Asa matteroffact,onereasonforgettingmeto
interpretforRussellwasmydissertationhadbeenonproblemsrelatedtologic.Thelocality
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ofthelecturesalternatedbetweenthe NationalUniversityofPekingandtheTeachers'
College,whichhadaverylargeauditorium.OnceI spenttoomuchtimewithmygirlfriend
Dr.Yangandarrivedalmosttenminuteslate,while Russellstoodhelplesslyonthepodium.
SeeingthatIhadcomeinwithagirl,hewhisperedtome,"Badman,badman!"
IalsointerpretedDoraBlack'slectures.Althoughthetopicsweremostlysocio-politically
oriented,whichwasoutsidemyline,Ifoundthemfailyeasytotranslate.Once,beforealarge
audienceattheWomen'sNormalSchool,MissBlackmentionedsomethingaboutunmarried
menandunmarriedwomen.There beingdifferentwordsinChinesefor"marry"formenand
forwomen,Ihappenedtouse thewrongverbsanditcameoutsomethinglike"menwhohave
nohusbandsandwomenwhohave nowives",atwhichtheaudienceroaredwithlaughter,of
course.Whenthespeakerwonderedwhytheywere sohilarious,Ihadtowhispertoher,"I'll
havetoexplainittoyoulater,it'lltaketoolongnow."
Besidestheregularlecturesthere wereorganizedsmallseminarsandstudygroupsfor
Russell'sphilosophyanda RussellMonthlywaspublishedundertheeditorshipofCh'u
Shih-Ying.1Imyselfhadof coursetoattendandjointheseactivities.Addtothismy
activitiesingettingdisengagedfromthe girlI didn'tknow,sothatIcouldgetmarriedtothe
girlIdidlearntoknowandlove,plustranslatingAlice'sAdventuresinWonderlandand
makingNationalLanguageRecords,itwasawonderthatIhadnothingmorethanfrequent
coldsfromoverworkandoverexposure duringthose chillynorthernmonths.NowRussell
faredmuchlesswellthenIdid.Withallhisradicalisminthought,hewasaperfectEnglish
gentlemaninmannersdowntothelastdetailindress,ahabitwhichalmostcosthimhislife.
OnMarch14,IwentwithhimtoPaoting,about100milessouthofPeking,wherehelectured
attheYuTe("cultivatevirtue") Middleschoolonthesubjectofeducation.Itwasstillwintry
andwindyandhe lecturedasusualwithoutanovercoatwhileIshiveredbesidehimevenwith
myovercoaton.ThreedaysafterhisreturntoPeking,heranahighfeverandwasattendedby
Dr.DipperoftheGermanHospitalinthe LegationQuarters.Afterbeingbroughtintothe
Hospital,hebecameworse.March26wasa blackdayforme.First,therewasnews fromDr.
Yang,sayingthathercolleagueDr.YuhaddiedoftheplagueonatriptoManchuriato
surveytheepidemicthere.ThenIgotwordthatmymaternalgrandmotherhadhadastrokein
Soochow,ofwhichshe diedafewdayslater.ThateveningIwascalledtothehospital.I
reportedinmydiaryforthatevening:
"Prof.Deweymadeoutformfor Mr.Rus.tosign.Hewasweakbutseemedquiteclearwhat
hewasdoing.He couldmutter "powerof attorney?"[toDoraBlack,thatis],thentriedto
sign.Thedoctorwasafraid"erkannnicht."ButhedidscribbleoutB.Russell.Hecould
recognizemeandcalledmein,whispered"MisterCh'."HecalledDeweybynameandsaid"I
hopeallmyfriendswillstickbyme."I stayedfor awhiletalkingwithMr.Brandauerofthe
oxygen adminstrator."
ThenextdayDr.EssersaidthatMr.Russellwas"moreworse".ButbyMarch29MissBlack
reportedthatRussellwasbetter.Fromthenonhe improvedsteadilyuntilhewasdischarged
fromthehospitalandreturnedtothe house.MeanwhileagarbledJapanesereportsaidthat'
Russellhaddied.Whenthe reportreachedRussellhimself,hesaid,"Tellthemthenewsof
mydeathwasverymuchexaggerated."DuringtheweeksofRussell'sconvalescence,Iwas
busyfinishing mytranslationofAliceinwonderland,meetingwithmembersofthe
Committee onUnificationof theNationalCommittee,and,whatwasofgreaterpersonal
concern,goingtoShanghaitoconcludethe businessofbreakingmyengagementwiththegirl
IhadnevermetandthentomarrythegirlIdidknowandlove.OnJuneI,1921,withmy
friendHuShihandBuweiYang'sfriendMissChuChengtosignaswitnesses,wewere
marriedjustbymovingtoahouse onHsiaoYapaoHutung.WhenweaskedRussellwhether
ourno-ceremonyweddingceremonywastooconservative,hereplied,"Thatwasradical
enough."July6wasthelastdayRussellandBlackgavelectures,followedthenextdaybya
farewellpartygivenbyLiangCh'i-Ch'ao,atwhichTingWen-Chiang(betterknown asV.K.
Ting)madea verygoodsend-offspeech.
OnJuly11we saw JohnDeweyoff inthemorningandsawMr.RusselIandMiss Blackoff
intheafternoon.Sothisisthe endof mystoryof theyearwithBertrandRussellin China.
AfterthatmywifeandIhadthe opportunityof seeinghimonceeveryfewyears.In1924we
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saw himatLand'sEndinPenzance (where GilbertandSullivan'sPiratescamefromandhad
accesstowhathecalledthe Inaccessible Beach.In1939wesawhimbrieflyattheClaremont
HotelinBerkeley,California.He saidthatbythetimeChinawins,thesacrificeinhavingto
becomemoreandmoretotalitarianwouldnotbeworththevictory.Heordered,withgreat
disapproval,suchstrangedrinkas7-upfor ourchildren.In1941ProfessorErnestHockingof
Harvardinvitedmetohisdepartmentallunch,atwhichMr.Russellreportedonplacement
surveys,anunusualtopicforhimtodiscuss.In1954wevisitedwithhiminhisLondonhome
inRichmondandhadthepleasureof meetingEdithRussellforthefirsttime.Finally,in1968,
wetookataxifromLondontoPlasPenrhyn,Penrhyndeudraeth,Merioneth,onthewestcoast
ofWalesandhadteawiththe Russells.OnthisoccasionIthankedhimforthegift ofapun.
Foroneofhisfew popularlecturesinPekinghadbeenon"CausesofthePresentChaosin
China."WhenafterhisreturntoEnglandI informedhimofthebirthofourfirstchild,Rulan,
hesaidinreply,"CongratulationsIseethatyouareamongthecausesofthepresentChaosin
China."ButinhisAutobiographyheattributedthatpuntome.Thelastviewofhim waswhen
heandLadyRussellstoodatthedoor,Chinesefashion,andwavedtousaswewereleaving,
untilwewereoutofsight.After hisdeceasewe receivedtwolettersfromtwoLadyRussells,
DoraandEdith,onthe same day.[Russ5]
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1920-1921 Russell,Bertrand.Autobiography [IDD28131].[TextüberJapanwurde ausgelassen.Briefe,
diemitChina zutunhabensindchronologischeingetragen].
WetravelledtoChinafromMarseillesina Frenchboatcalled'Portos'.Justbeforeweleft
London,welearnedthat,owingtoa caseof plague onboard,thesailingwouldbedelayedfor
threeweeks.Wedidnotfeel,however,thatwecouldgothroughallthebusinessofsaying
goodbye asecondtime,sowewenttoParisandspentthreeweeksthere.DuringthistimeI
finishedmybookonRussia,anddecided,aftermuchhesitation,thatIwouldpublishit.To
sayanythingagainstBolshevismwas,of course,toplayintothehandsofreaction,andmost
ofmyfriendstooktheview thatone oughtnottosaywhatonethoughtaboutRussiaunless
whatonethoughtwasfavourable.Ihad,however,beenimpervioustosimilarargumentsfrom
patriotsduringtheWar,anditseemedtomethatinthelongrunnogoodpurposewouldbe
servedbyholdingone'stongue.The matterwas,ofcourse,muchcomplicatedformebythe
questionofmypersonalrelationswithDora.One hotsummernight,aftershehadgoneto
sleep,Igotupandsatonthe balconyofour roomandcontemplatedthestars.Itriedtoseethe
questionwithoutthe heatof partypassionandimaginedmyselfholdingaconversationwith
Cassiopeia.ItseemedtomethatIshouldbe more inharmonywiththestarsifIpublished
whatIthoughtaboutBolshevismthanif Ididnot.SoIwentonwiththeworkandfinishedthe
bookonthenightbeforewestartedfor Marseilles.
Thebulkofourtime inParis,however,wasspentinamorefrivolousmanner,buyingfrocks
suitablefortheRedSea,andthe restofthe trousseaurequiredforunofficialmarriage.Aftera
fewdaysinParis,allthe appearanceof estrangementwhichhadexistedbetweenusceased,
andwebecamegayandlight-hearted.There were,however,momentsontheboatwhen
thingsweredifficult.Iwassensitivebecauseof thecontemptthatDorahadpouredonmy
headfornotlikingRussia.I suggestedtoher thatwe hadmadeamistakeincomingaway
together,and thatthebestwayoutwouldbetojumpintothesea.Thismood,however,which
waslargelyinducedbytheheat,soonpassed.
Thevoyage lastedfive orsixweeks,tothatone gottoknowone'sfellow-passengerspretty
well.TheFrenchpeople mostlybelongedtotheofficialclasses.Theyweremuchsuperiorto
theEnglish,whowere rubberplantersandbusinessmen.Therewererowsbetweenthe
EnglishandtheFrench,inwhichwehadtoactasmediators.OnoneconditiontheEnglish
askedmetogiveanaddressaboutSovietRussia.Inviewofthesortofpeoplethattheywere,
Isaidonlyfavourablethingsaboutthe SovietGovernment,sotherewasnearlyariot,and
whenwereachedShanghaiour Englishfellow-passengerssentatelegramtotheConsulate
GeneralinPeking,urgingthatweshouldnotbe allowedtoland.Weconsoledourselveswith
thethoughtofwhathadbefallenthe ring-leader amongourenemiesatSaigon.Therewasat
Saigonanelephantwhosekeepersoldbananaswhichthevisitorsgavetotheelephant.We
eachgavehima banana,andhemadeusa veryelegantbow,butourenemyrefused,
whereupontheelephantsquirteddirtywaterallover hisimmaculateclothes,whichalsothe
keeperhadtaughthimtodo.Perhapsouramusementatthisincidentdidnotincreasehislove
ofus.
WhenwearrivedatShanghaithere wasatfirstnoonetomeetus.Ihadhadfromthefirsta
darksuspicionthattheinvitationmightbe apracticaljoke,andinordertotestitsgenuineness
IhadgottheChinesetopaymypassagemoneybeforeIstarted.Ithoughtthatfew people
wouldspend£125onajoke,butwhennobodyappearedatShanghaiourfearsrevived,and
webegantothinkwemighthavetocreephome withourtailsbetweenourlegs.Itturnedout,
however,thatourfriendshadonlymadea littlemistakeastothetimeoftheboat'sarrival.
Theysoonappearedonboardandtookustoa Chinesehotel,wherewepassedthreeofthe
mostbewilderingdaysthatI have everexperienced.Therewasatfirstsomedifficultyin
explainingaboutDora.Theygotthe impressionthatshewasmywife,andwhenwesaidthat
thiswasnotthecase,theywere afraidthatI shouldbeannoyedabouttheirprevious
misconception.ItoldthemthatI wishedhertreatedasmywife,andtheypublisheda
statementtothateffectintheChinese papers.Fromthefirsmomenttothelastofourstayin
China,every Chinesewithwhomwe cameincontacttreatedherwiththemostcompleteand
perfectcourtesy,andwithexactlythesamedeferenceaswouldhavebeenpaidtoherifshe
hadbeeninfactmywife.There didthisinspiteof thefactthatweinsisteduponheralways
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beingcalled'MissBlack'.
OurtimeinShanghaiwasspentinseeingendlesspeople,Europeans,Americans,Japanese,
andKoreans,aswellasChinese.Ingeneralthevariouspeoplewhocametoseeuswerenot
onspeakingtermswitheachother;forinstance,therecouldbenosocialrelationsbetween
theJapaneseandthe KoreanChristianswhohadbeenexiledforbomb-throwing.(InKoreaat
thatatimeaChristianwaspracticallysynonymouswithabomb-thrower.)Sowehadtoput
ourguestsatseparate tablesinthe publicroom,andmoveroundfromtabletotable
throughouttheday.We hadalsotoattendanenormousbanquet,atwhichvariousChinese
madeafter-dinnerspeechesinthe bestEnglishstyle,withexactlythetypeofjokewhichis
demandedofsuchanoccasion.Itwasour firstexperienceoftheChinese,andwewere
somewhatsurprisedbytheirwitandfluency.I hadnotrealizeduntilthenthatacivilized
Chineseisthemostcivilizedpersoninthe world.SunYat-seninvitedmetodinner,buttomy
lastingregrettheeveninghe suggestedwasaftermydeparture,andIhadtorefuse.Shortly
afterthishewenttoCantontoinaugurate thenationalistmovementwhichafterwards
conqueredthewhole country,andasIwasunable togotoCanton,Inevermethim.
OurChinesefriendstookusfor twodaystoHangchowtoseetheWesternLane.Thefirstday
wewentrounditbyboat,andtheseconddayinchairs.Itwasmarvelouslybeautiful,withthe
beautyofancientcivilization,surpassingeventhatofItaly.FromtherewewenttoHanking,
andfromNankinbyboattoHankow.ThedaysontheYangtsewereasdelightfulas thedays
ontheVolgahadbeenhorrible.FromHankowwe wenttoChangsha,whereaneducational
conferencewasinprogress.Theywishedustostaythereforaweek,andgiveaddressesevery
day,butwewere bothexhaustedandanxiousfor achancetorest,whichmadeuseagerto
reachPeking.Sowerefusedtostaymore thantwenty-fourhours,inspiteofthefactthatthe
GovernorofHunaninpersonheldouteveryimaginableinducement,includingaspecialtrain
inallthewaytoWuchang.
However,inordertodomybesttoconciliate thepeopleofChangsha,Igavefourlectures,
twoafter-dinnerspeeches,andanafter-lunchspeech,duringthetwenty-fourhours.Changsha
wasaplacewithoutmodernhotels,andthemissionariesverykindlyofferedtoputusup,but
theymadeitclearthatDorawastostaywithone setofmissionaries,andIwithanother.We
thereforethoughtitbesttodecline their invitation,andstayedataChinesehotel.The
experience wasnotaltogetherpleasant.Armiesofbugswalkedacrossthebedallthroughthe
night.
TheTuchun(themilitaryGovernorof theProvince) gaveamagnificentbanquet,atwhichwe
firstmettheDeweys,whobehavedwithgreatkindness,andlater,whenIbecameill,John
Deweytreatedusbothwithsingularhelpfulness.Iwastoldthatwhenhecametoseemein
thehospital,he wasmuchtouchedbymysaying,'Wemustmakeaplanforpeace'atatime
wheneverythingelsethatIsaidwasdelirium.We assembledinonevasthallandthenmoved
intoanotherforthe feast,whichwassumptuousbeyondbelief.InthemiddleofittheTuchun
apologizedfortheextremesimplicityofthe fare,sayingthathethoughtweshould liketosee
howtheylivedineverydayliferatherthantobetreatedwithanypomp.Tomyintense
chagrin,Iwasunabletothinkof aretortinkind,butIhopetheinterpretermadeup formy
lackofwit.WeleftChangsha inthemiddle ofa lunareclipse,andsawbonfirebeinglitand
heardgongsbeatentofrightenoff theHeavenlyDog,accordingtothetraditionalritualof
Chinaonsuch occasions.FromChangsha,wetravelledstraightthroughtoPeking,wherewe
enjoyedourfirstwashfortendays.
OurfirstmonthsinPekingwere atime ofabsoluteandcompletehappiness.Allthe
difficultiesanddisagreementsthatwe hadwere completelyforgotten.OurChinesefriends
weredelightful.Theworkwasinteresting,andPekingitselfinconceivablybeautiful.
Wehadahouse boy,amale cookandarickshawboy.ThehouseboyspokesomeEnglishand
itwasthroughhimthatwe made ourselvesintelligibletotheothers.Thisprocesssucceeded
betterthanitwouldhave doneinEngland.We engagedthecooksometimebeforewecameto
liveinourhouse andtoldhimthatthe firstmealweshouldwantwouldbedinnersomedays
hence.Sureenough,whenthe timecame,dinner wasready.Thehouseboykneweverything.
Onedaywewereinneedof changeandwehadhiddenwhatwebelievedtobeadollarinan
oldtable.Wedescribeditswhereaboutstothe houseboyandaskedhimtofetchit. Hereplied
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imperturbably,'No,Madam.Hebad'.Wealsohadtheoccasionalservicesofasewing
woman.We engagedherinthewinteranddispensedwithherservicesinthesummer.We
wereamusedtoobservethatwhile,inwinter,shehadbeenveryfat,astheweathergrew
warm,shebecamegraduallyverythin,havingreplacedthethickgarmentsofwintergradually
bytheelegantgarmentsofsummer.Wehadtofurnishourhousewhichwedidfromthevery
excellentsecond-handfurnitureshopswhichaboundedinPeking.OurChinesefriendscould
notunderstandourpreferringoldChinese thingstomodernfurniturefromBirmingham.We
hadanofficialinterpreterassignedtolookafterus.HisEnglishwasverygoodandhewas
especiallyproudofhisabilitytomake punsinEnglish.HisnamewasMrChaoand,whenI
showedhimanarticle thatIhadwrittencalled'CausesofthePresentChaos',heremarked,
'Well,Isuppose,thecausesofthe presentChaosare thepreviousChaos'.Ibecameaclose
friendofhisinthecourseof ourjourneys.He wasengagedtoaChinesegirlandIwasableto
removesomedifficultiesthathadimpededhismarriage.Istillhearfromhimoccasionally
andonce ortwice heandhiswife come tosee meinEngland.
Iwasverybusylecturing,andIalsohada seminarofthemoreadvancedstudents.Allof
themwereBolsheviksexceptone,whowasthenephewoftheEmperor.Theyusedtoslipoff
toMoscow onebyone.Theywerecharmingyouths,ingenuousandintelligentatthesame
time,eagerto knowtheworksandtoescapefromthetrammelsofChinesetradition.Mostof
themhadbeenbetrothedininfancytoold-fashionedgirls,andweretroubledbytheethical
questionwhethertheywouldbe justifiedinbreakingthebetrothaltomarrysomegirlof
moderneducation.Thegulf betweenthe oldChina andthenewasvast,andfamilybonds
wereextraordinarilyirksome for themodern-mindedyoungman.DorausedtogototheGirls'
NormalSchool,wherethosewhowere tobeteacherswerebeingtrained.Theywouldputto
hereverykindofquestionaboutmarriage,freelove,contraception,etc.,andsheansweredall
theirquestionswithcompletefrankness.Nothingof thesortwouldhavebeenpossibleinany
similarEuropeaninstitution.Inspiteof their freedomofthought,traditionalhabitsof
behaviorhadagreatholduponthem.We occasionallygavepartiestotheyoungmenofmy
seminarandthe girlsattheNormalSchool.Thegirlsatfirstwouldtakerefugeinaroomto
which theysupposednomenwouldpenetrate,andtheyhadtobefetchedoutandencouraged
toassociatewithmales.Itmustbe saidthatwhenoncetheicewasbroken,nofurther
encouragementwasneeded.
TheNationalUniversityofPekingfor whichI lecturedwasaveryremarkableinstitution.The
ChancellorandtheVice-Chancellor weremenpassionatelydevotedtothemodernisingof
China.TheVice-Chancellorwasoneof themostwhole-heartedidealiststhatIhaveever
known.Thefundswhichshouldhavegone topaysalarieswerealwaysbeingappropriatedby
Tuchums,sothattheteachingwasmainlyalabouroflove.Thestudentsdeservedwhattheir
professorshadtogive them.Theywere ardentlydesirousofknowledge,andtherewasno
limittothesacrificesthattheywere preparedtomakefortheircountry.Theatmospherewas
electric withthe hopeofagreatawakening.After centuriesofslumber,Chinawasbecoming
awareofthemodernworld,andatthattime thesordidnessesandcompromisesthatgowith
governmentalresponsibilityhadnotyetdescendeduponthereformers.TheEnglishsneered
atthereformers,andsaidthatChina wouldalwaysbeChina.Theyassuredmethatitwassilly
tolistentothe frothytalkof half-bakedyoungmen;yetwithinafewyearsthosehalf-baked
youngmenhadconqueredChina anddeprivedtheEnglishofmanyoftheirmostcherished
privileges.
Sincethe adventoftheCommuniststopower inChina,thepolicyoftheBritishtowardsthat
countryhasbeensomewhatmoreenlightenedthanthatoftheUnitedStates,butuntilthat
timetheexactopposite wasthe case.In1926,onthreeseparateoccasions,Britishtroopsfired
onunarmedcrowdsofChinesestudents,killingandwoundingmany.Iwroteafierce
denunciationofthese outrages,whichwaspublishedfirstinEnglandandthenthroughout
China.AnAmericanmissionaryinChina,withwhomIcorresponded,cametoEngliand
shortlyafterthistime,andtoldme thatindignationinChinahadbeensuchastoendangerthe
livesofallEnglishmenlivinginthatcountry.He evensaid–thoughIfoundthisscarcely
credible–thatthe EnglishinChinaowedtheir preservationtome,sinceIhadcaused
infuriatedChinese toinclude thatnotallEnglishmenarevile.Howeverthatmaybe,I
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incurredthehostility,notonlyof theEnglishinChina,butoftheBritishGovernment.
White meninChina wereignorantof manythingsthatwerecommonknowledgeamongthe
Chinese.Ononeoccasionmybank(whichwasAmerican)gavemenotesissuedby aFrench
bank,andIfoundthatChinesetradesmenrefusedtoacceptthem.Mybankexpressed
astonishment,andgaveme other notesinstead.Threemonthslater,theFrenchbank went
bankrupt,tothe surpriseofallotherwhite banksinChina.
TheEnglishmaninthe East,asfarasIwasable tojudgeofhim,isamancompletelyoutof
touchwithhisenvironment.Heplayspoloandgoestohisclub.Hederiveshisideasofnative
culturefromtheworksofeighteenth-centurymissionaries,andheregardsintelligenceinthe
Eastwiththesamecontemptwhichhe feelsforintelligenceinhisowncountry.Unfortunately
forourpoliticalsagacity,he overlooksthefactthatintheEastintelligenceisrespected,so
thatenlightenedRadicalshave aninfluenceuponaffairswhichisdeniedtotheirEnglish
counterparts.MacDonaldwenttoWindsor inknee-breeches,buttheChinesereformers
showednosuchrespecttotheirEmperor,althoughourmonarchyisamushroomgrowthof
yesterdaycomparedtothatof China.
Myviewsastowhatshouldbe doneinChinaI putintomybookTheproblemofChinaand
soshallnotrepeatthemhere.
InspiteofthefactthatChinawasinaferment,itappearedtous,ascomparedwithEurope,to
beacountryfilledwithphilosophic calm.Once aweekthemailwouldarrivefromEngland,
andthelettersandnewspapersthatcamefromthere seemedtobreatheuponusahotblastof
insanitylikethefieryheatthatcomesfroma furnacedoorsuddenlyopened.Aswehadto
workonSundays,wemadea practiceof takinga holidayonMondays,andweusuallyspent
thewholedayintheTempleof Heaven,the mostbeautifulbuildingthatithaseverbeenmy
goodfortunetosee.Wewouldsitinthe winter sunshinesayinglittle,graduallyabsorbing
peace,andwouldcomeawaypreparedtoface themadnessandpassionofourowndistracted
continentwithpoiseandcalm.Atother times,we usedtowalkonthewallsofPeking.I
rememberwithparticularvividnessawalkoneeveningstartingatsunsetandcontinuing
throughtheriseofthe fullmoon.
TheChinesehave(orhad)a sense ofhumour whichIfoundverycongenial.Perhaps
communismhaskilledit,butwhenIwastheretheyconstantlyremindedmeofthepeoplein
theirancientbooks.Onehotdaytwofatmiddle-agedbusinessmeninvitedmetomotorinto
thecountrytosee acertainveryfamoushalf-ruinedpagoda.Whenwereachedit,Iclimbed
thespiralstaircase,expectingthemtofollow,butonarrivingatthetopIsawthem stillonthe
ground.Iaskedwhytheyhadnotcome up,andwithportentousgravitytheyreplied:'We
thoughtofcomingup,anddebatedwhether weshoulddoso.Manyweightyargumentswere
advancedonbothsides,butatlastthere wasone whichdecidedus.Thepagodamight
crumbleatanymoment,andwe feltthat,if itdid,itwouldbewellthereshouldbethosewho
couldbearwitnessastohowthe philosopher died.'Whattheymeantwasthatitwashotand
theywerefat.
ManyChinesehavethatrefinementof humourwhichconsistsinenjoyingajokemorewhen
theotherpersoncannotsee it.AsIwasleavingPekingaChinesefriendgavemealong
classicalpassagemicroscopicallyengravedbyhandonaverysmallsurface;healsogaveme
thesamepassagewrittenoutinexquisite calligraphy.WhenIaskedwhatitsaid,hereplied:
'AskProfessorGileswhenyougethome'.I tookhisadvice,andfoundthatitwas'The
consultationofthe Wizard',inwhichthe wizardmerelyadviseshisclientstodowhatever
theylike.HewaspokingfunatmebecauseI alwaysrefusedtogiveadvicetotheChineseas
totheirimmediatepoliticaldifficulties.
TheclimateofPekinginwinterisverycold.Thewindblowsalmostalwaysfromthenorth,
bringinganicybreathfromthe Mongolianmountains.Igotbronchitis,butpaidno attention
toit.Itseemedtogetbetter,andone day,attheinvitationofsomeChinesefriends,wewent
toaplace abouttwohoursbymotorcarfromPeking,wheretherewerehotsprings. Thehotel
providedaverygoodtea,andsomeonesuggestedthatitwasunwisetoeattoomuchteaasit
wouldspoilone'sdinner.IobjectedtosuchprudenceonthegroundthattheDayof
Judgementmightintervene.Iwasright,asitwasthreemonthsbeforeIateanothersquare
meal.Aftertea,Isuddenlybegantoshiver,andafter Ihadbeenshiveringforanhourorso,
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wedecidedthatwe hadbetter getbacktoPekingatonce.Onthewayhome,ourcarhada
puncture,andbythetime thepuncture wasmended,theenginewascold.Bythistime,Iwas
nearlydelirious,buttheChineseservantsandDorapushedthecartothetopofahill,andon
thedescentthe enginegraduallybegantowork.Owingtothedelay,thegatesofPekingwere
shutwhenwereachedthem,andittookanhourof telephoningtogemthemopen.Bythe
timewe finallygothome,Iwasveryillindeed.BeforeIhadtimetorealizewhatwas
happening,Iwasdelirious.I wasmovedintoaGermanhospital,whereDoranursed meby
day,andtheonlyEnglishprofessionalnurseinPekingnursedmybynight.Forafortnightthe
doctorsthoughteveryeveningthatIshouldbe deadbeforemorning.Iremembernothingof
thistimeexceptafewdreams.WhenI cameoutof delirium,Ididnotknowwhere Iwas,and
didnotrecognisethe nurse.Doratoldme thatI hadbeenveryillandnearlydied,to whichI
replied:'How interesting',butI wassoweakthatIforgotitinfiveminutes,andshehadto
tellmeagain.Icouldnotevenremember myownname.Butalthoughforaboutamonthafter
mydeliriumhadceasedtheykepttellingme Imightdieatanymoment.Ineverbelieveda
wordofit.Thenursewhomtheyhadfoundwasratherdistinguishedinherprofession,and
hadbeentheSisterinchargeof ahospitalinSerbia duringtheWar.Thewholehospitalhad
beencaptured bytheGermans,andthenursesremovedtoBulgaria.Shewasnever tiredof
tellingmehowintimateshe hadbecome withtheQueenofBulgaria.Shewasadeeply
religiouswoman,andtoldmewhenIbegantogetbetterthatshehadseriouslyconsidered
whetheritwasnotherdutytoletmedie.Fortunately,professionaltrainingwastoostrongfor
hermoralsense.
Allthroughthetimeofmyconvalescence,inspiteofweaknessandgreatphysicaldiscomfort,
Iwasexceedinglyhappy.Dorawasverydevoted,andherdevotionmademeforget
everythingunpleasant.Atanearlystage ofmyconvalescenceDoradiscoveredthatshewas
pregnant,andthiswasasource ofimmensehappinesstousboth.Eversincethemoment
whenIwalkedonRichmondGreenwithAlys,thedesireforchildrenhadbeengrowing
strongerandstrongerwithinme,untilatlastithadbecomeaconsumingpassion.WhenI
discoveredthatIwasnotonlytosurvivemyself,buttohaveachild,Ibecamecompletely
indifferenttothecircumstancesof convalescence,although,duringconvalescence,Ihada
whole seriesofminordiseases.Themaintrouble hadbeendoublepneumonia,butinaddition
tothatIhadheartdisease,kidneydisease,dysentery,andphlebitis.Noneofthese,however
preventedmefromfeelingperfectlyhappy,andinspiteofallgloomyprognostications,noill
effectswhateverremainedaftermyrecovery.
LyinginmybedfeelingthatI wasnotgoingtodie wassurprisinglydelightful.Ihadalways
imagineduntilthenthatIwasfundamentallypessimisticanddidnotgreatlyvaluebeingalive.
IdiscoveredthatinthisIhadbeencompletelymistaken,andthatlifewasinfinitelysweetto
me.RaininPekingisrare,butduringmyconvalescencetherecameheavyrainsbringingthe
delicioussmellofdampearththroughthe windows,andIusedtothinkhowdreadfulitwould
havebeentohave neversmeltthatsmellagain.I hadthesamefeelingaboutthelightofthe
sun,andthe soundofthewind.Justoutside mywindowsweresomeverybeautifulacacia
trees,whichcame intoblossomatthe firstmomentwhenIwaswellenoughtoenjoythem.I
haveknowneversincethatatbottomIamgladtobe alive.Mostpeople,nodoubt,always
know this,butIdidnot.
Iwastoldthatthe ChinesesaidthattheywouldburymebytheWesternLakeandbuilda
shrine tomymemory.Ihave someslightregretthatthisdidnothappen,asImighthave
becomeagod,whichwouldhavebeenverychicforanatheist.
TherewasinPekingatthattimea Sovietdiplomatic mission,whosemembersshowedgreat
kindness.TheyhadtheonlygoodchampagneinPeking,andsupplieditliberallyformyuse,
champagnebeingapparentlytheonlyproper beverageforpneumoniapatients.Theyusedto
takefirstDora,andlaterDoraandme,formotor drivesintheneighbourhoodofPeking.This
wasapleasure,butasomewhatexcitingone,astheywereasboldindrivingastheywerein
revolutions.
Iprobablyowe mylife totheRockefellerInstituteinPekingwhichprovidedaserumthat
killedthepneumococci.Iowe themthe more gratitudeonthispoint,asbothbeforeandafterI
wasstronglyopposedtothempolitically,andtheyregardedmewithasmuchhorroraswas
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feltbymynurse.
TheJapanesejournalistswere continuallyworryingDoratogivetheminterviewswhenshe
wantedtobenursingme.Atlastshe became alittle curtwiththem,sotheycausedthe
JapanesenewspaperstosaythatIwasdead.Thisnewswasforwardedbymailfrom Japanto
America andfromAmericatoEngland.ItappearedintheEnglishnewspapersonthesame
dayasthenewsofmydivorce.Fortunately,the Courtdidnotbelieveit,orthedivorcemight
havebeenpostponed.Itprovidedmewiththe pleasureofreadingmyobituarynotices,which
Ihadalwaysdesiredwithoutexpectingmywishestobefulfilled.Onemissionarypaper,I
remember,hadanobituarynoticeof onesentence:'Missionariesmaybepardonedfor
heavingasighofreliefatthe newsof MrBertrandRussell'sdeath'.Ifeartheymust have
heavedasigh ofadifferentsortwhentheyfoundthatIwasnotdeadafterall.Thereport
causedsomepaintofriendsinEngland.We inPekingknewnothingaboutituntilatelegram
camefrommy brotherenquiringwhetherI wasstillalive.Hehadbeenremarkingmeanwhile
thattodieinPekingwasnotthe sortof thingIwoulddo.
Themosttediousstageofmyconvalescence waswhenIhadphlebitis,andhadtolie
motionlesson bybackforsixweeks.Weare veryanxioustoreturnhomeforthe
confinement,andastimewentonitbegantoseemdoubtfulwhetherweshouldbeabletodo
so.Inthesecircumstancesitwasdifficultnottofeelimpatience,themoresoasthedoctors
saidtherewasnothingtodobutwait.However,the troubleclearedupjustintime,andon
July10thwewere abletoleave Peking,thoughIwasstillveryweakandcouldonlyhobble
aboutwiththehelpofastick.
ShortlyaftermyreturnfromChina,the BritishGovernmentdecidedtodealwiththequestion
oftheBoxerindemnity.WhentheBoxershadbeendefeated,thesubsequenttreatyofpeace
providedthattheChinesegovernmentshouldpayanannualsumtoallthoseEuropean
Powerswhichhadbeeninjuredbyit.The Americansverywiselydecidedtoforgoany
paymentonthisaccount.Friendsof China inEnglandurgedEnglandinvaintodolikewise.
Atlastitwasdecidedthat,insteadof apunitive payment,theChineseshouldmakesome
paymentwhichshouldbeprofitabletobothChinaandBritain.Whatformthispayment
shouldtakewaslefttobe determinedbyaCommitteeonwhichthereshouldbetwoChinese
members.WhileMacDonaldwasPrime Minister heinvitedLowesDickinsonandmetobe
membersofthe Committee,andconsentedtoour recommendationofV.K.TingandHuShih
astheChinesemembers.When,shortlyafterwards,MacDonald'sGovernmentfell,the
succeedingConservativeGovernmentinformedLowesDickinsonandmyselfthatour
serviceswouldnotbe wantedontheCommittee,andtheywouldnotaccepteitherV.K.Ting
orHuShihasChinesemembersof it,onthegroundthatweknewnothingaboutChina.The
ChinesegovernmentrepliedthatitdesiredthetwoChinesewhomIhadrecommendedand
wouldnothaveanyoneelse.ThisputanendtotheveryfeebleeffortsatsecuringChinese
friendship.TheonlythingthathadbeensecuredduringtheLabourperiodoffriendshipwas
thatShantungshouldbecomea golfcourse for theBritishNavyandshouldnolongerbeopen
forChinesetrading.
BeforeIbecame IllIhadundertakentodoa lecture tourinJapanafterleavingChina.Ihadto
cutthisdowntoonelecture,andvisitstovariouspeople.Wespenttwelvehecticdaysin
Japan,dayswhichwerefarfrompleasant,thoughveryinteresting.UnliketheChinese,the
Japaneseprovedtobedestitute ofgoodmanners,andincapableofavoidingintrusiveness.
Owingtomybeingstillveryfeeble,we wereanxioustoavoidallunnecessaryfatigues,but
thejournalistsprovedaverydifficultmatter.Atthe firstportatwhichourboattouched,some
thirtyjournalistswerelyinginwait,althoughwehaddoneourbesttotravelsecretly,andthey
onlydiscoveredourmovementsthroughthepolice.AstheJapanesepapershadrefusedto
contradictthenewsofmydeath,Doragaveeachofthematype-writtenslipsaying thatasI
wasdeadIcouldnotbe interviewed.Theydrewintheirbreaththroughtheirteethandsaid:
'Ah!vereefunnee !'…[EsfolgenBerichtJapanundBriefe].[Russ9]
1920-1921 ZhaoYuanrenistDolmetscherfürBertrandRussellundJohnDeweyinChina.[Zhao10]