I once, however, met a remarkable exception to this rule in the person of an American gentleman who was singularly lacking in tact; he was in China with the intention of obtaining a concession, and he had nearly accomplished his object when he spoilt everything by his blunt speech.

He said he had not come to China for any philanthropic purposes, but that he was in the country to make money.
We all know that the average business man is neither a Peabody nor a Carnegie, but it was quite unnecessary for this gentleman to announce that his sole object was to make money out of the Chinese.
Up to a few years ago business men in America, especially capitalists, had scarcely any idea of transacting business in China.

I well remember the difficulty I had in raising a railway loan in America.

It was in 1897.

I had received positive instructions from my government to obtain a big loan for the purpose of constructing the proposed railway from Hankow to Canton.