so long as the firing continues....

To perform this work of feeding so many mouths, there are
committees--committees far too big, since everyone is anxious to join
their safe ranks--committees which, although they number men of all
nationalities, are simply standing examples, I opine, of the
organising capacity of the Yankee and his masterfulness over other
people. For it is the Yankee missionary who has invaded and taken
charge of the British Legation; it is the Yankee missionary who is
doing all the work there and getting all the credit. Beginning with
the fortifications committee, there is an extraordinary man named
G----, who is doing everything--absolutely everything. I believe there
are actually other members of this committee--at least, there are some
people who assist--but G---- is the man of the hour, and will brook no
interference. Already the British Legation, which at the commencement
of the siege was utterly undefended by any entrenchments or sandbags,
is rapidly being hustled into order by the masterful hand of this
missionary. Coolies are evolved from the converts of all classes, who,
although they protest that they are unaccustomed to manual work, are
merely given shovels and picks, sandbags and bricks, and resolutely
told to commence and learn. Already the discontented in the outer
lines are sending for him and asking him to do this and that, and the
hard-worked man always finds time for everything. It is a wonder.

And behind this one man fortifications committee there are many other
committees now. There is a general committee which no one has yet
fathomed; a fuel committee; a sanitary committee; nothing but
committees, all noisily talking and quite safe in the British
Legation. Out of the noise and chatter the American missionary
emerges, sometimes odorous and unpleasant to look upon, but whose