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Behind the Scenes in Peking

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Behind the Scenes in Peking was written by Polly Condit Smith (Mary Hooker), taken from her diary and unsent letters over a two month period in 1900. The backdrop is Peking during the Boxer Rebellion and the so-called siege of the legations. In the preface, Ms. Smith states that she has "endeavored to avoid all that can give offense or displeasure to those mentioned". One might interpret this to mean that she left out truths that would shed an uncomplimentary light on the activities of the legation residents and Allied forces. However, a few of these slip through inadvertently.

Most of what Ms. Smith reports about military and political activities she obtained from hearsay, making much of the historical data about these topics unreliable. However, she does manage to paint an interesting picture of herself and those she observes first hand. One is able to garner some interesting insights reading her personal observations and comments.

It is quite a contrast to compare Ms. Smith's viewpoints with the reality that the Allies exploited the Chinese and were brutal in doing so. Below are a few excerpts revealing hypocrisy, racism and other traits along the same vein.

Ms. Smith mentions that the question arose as to what to do with injured, starving Chinese Christian convert refugees. She writes "They could not stay in the road; the Legations could not have them. Dr. Morrison and Dr. H. James hit upon one of the happiest of ideas - namely, the seizing of a lovely park belonging to a Prince Su." What an insight into Ms. Smith and company's thinking - these Chinese Christians are in need of a safe place - but the legations certainly don't want them soiling their premises - and they were such a bother and in the way huddled in the road, so why don't we forcefully evict Prince Su from his home, loot everything of value from his belongings, and then dump the Chinese Christians onto his property - and neglect them there allowing them to suffer and die from disease and starvation, and rape some of the women while everyone looks the other way.

Ms. Smith mentions all of the food, alcohol and tobacco available and enjoyed by the legations. Much of the food was stolen by the legations - but when the westerners steal/loot, Ms. Smith refers to it as "procure" and other more respectable sounding verbs.

Ms. Smith comments "How absurd it is to have any "consideration" for people like the Chinese!" She goes on to tell the convenient lie (perhaps out of ignorance, perhaps not) that the Chinese destroyed their own revered Academy - when in reality it was looted and destroyed by westerners (check your favorite western museum for bits and pieces stolen from the Hanlin).

Ms. Smith opines (the Chinese) "advance with the cruelty and cunning of Indians." Contrast this with the unmentioned long list of atrocities committed against the Chinese by the westerners. Also think of this when you read below about westerners cutting off the heads of Chinese and hanging their hair queues in their living room.

Ms. Smith on the hardship she was now experiencing "What a difference, instead of having your maid bring your breakfast tray in the morning when you ring for it, to be waked up from a heavy morning nap at six o'clock"... (to pour the coffee at breakfast). Can you feel a tear or two rising up in your eyes?

About the genteel, Christian, civilized westerners, Ms. Condit tells "The other day, (M. Merghelyncken, first secretary of the Belgian Legation) brought me five long Chinamen's queues, which he had cut off the heads of Boxers he had killed, as a souvenir of a day's work - a great and unholy mutilation, and these trophies hanging up in our living room for a few days were obviously things of terror to our Chinese servants..." .

Compare Ms. Smith's remarks about the plight of the Chinese Christians :
"Every tree in the Fu, and there are many, has been stripped of leaves by these starving people; the smaller branches pulled and the bark chewed off. Carrion crows and dogs are killed and dragged to the Fu by sentries whenever possible, and these ravenous creatures pull the flesh from their bones, and eat it without a pretence of cooking. Every morning when the 2 horses are shot at the slaughterhouse, for distribution to the (legation)messes, half of the inedible parts are eaten with relish by these starving people. The children are naked, and the adults wear little, but one and all are enveloped with the agony of relentless, hideous starvation."

....while the very same day she wrote of the legations which were located right next door to the starving Chinese Christians: "The white rice which we have used in the compound has been finished, and we now use the yellow or uncleaned rice,,, made into curries or eaten plain."

Compare the author's remarks about hygiene: "At about half past three I was debating with my maid whether I should or should not go over to the American Legation and take the cheerful bath which I had been indulging in each day lately"..... in contrast to "those filthy and ill-smelling Chinese people, half of whose bodies are usually covered with these pests" (sticky black flies).

A rather keen (perhaps unintentionally)observation by Ms. Smith near the end of the book "When the rich Chinese inhabitants left Peking in such a hurry, the young girls and women of their households left behind promptly committed suicide, usually by hanging themselves, or drowning themselves in wells. The (western & Japanese) men who are throughout Peking looting, constantly run into their silent testimonials, showing how these people all preferred self-inflicted death to what they knew they could expect when the civilized and Christian soldiers of the West should be turned loose."

A handful of photographs are included in the book.

Overall, this book does not offer much in factual historical information - but does offer some insight into the attitudes and values of the American author and other legation residents about the Chinese people during the so-called siege of the legations. Since Ms. Smith writes quite a bit about their dining, the book is also useful to contrast the food held by the legation while the Chinese Christian refugees starved right next door. This book also provides details about the living conditions and daily activities in the legation quarter during the supposed siege. It might be an exercise to try to reconcile their dinner parties, picnics, nice baths, etc. with whatever ideas you previously held about the siege.