Diligence!

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, with Madame Chiang, flew up to Peiping--his first visit in a decade to China's beautiful old northern capital. The impact of his coming was galvanic.

Through winter wind and dust, in a black Buick limousine, the Generalissimo toured the old streets with their yellow-roofed palaces. In the Hall of Cherishing Benevolence he gave a tea and a 90-minute lecture to 350 functionaries.

The Generalissimo spoke quietly at first. Rumors had come to his ears, he said, of corruption. Here in Peiping was more rubbish and dirt than he had ever seen elsewhere.

The Generalissimo's face grew red. He pounded the table with his cake fork. He would tolerate no excuses. China must help herself. The functionaries must clean up their cities--even use the Japanese if necessary In the early days, he remembered, there were few factories, but when the government got hold of them, wheels would fly.

"Now that we have so many factories, why is it that none of the wheels is turning? If you cannot run them, at least you can clean them up. Diligence! Diligence!"

Next morning Peiping's street cleaners swept Peiping's streets with unprecedented diligence. In the Chronicle an enthusiastic letter writer said: "All residents . . . express hope that the city fathers will maintain their energy . . . also after the Generalissimo has left. . . ."

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