May 9, 1895.]
mittee and adopt the surface system for Chinese houses. The Governor has ex- pressed himself in favour of that system, the Permanent Committee have recommended it, and the public approve of it. But it looks as though we were to be permanently con- demned to the underground system, whether we like it or not. Whether the Governor has dismissed the matter from his considera- tion, or has yielded to the representations made to him by the head of the Public Works department, we do not know, but in view of the recommendations that have been made and the uncertainty that prevails, it appears desirable that some public announce ment of the decision arrived at, if there has. been any decision, should be made.
AN ANTI-FOOTBINDING SOCIETY.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
statement made at the Shanghai meeting by the Rev. J. MACGOWAN, who said that, as a result of the efforts of a small local so- ciety, to-day in Amoy there were hundreds of young girls with natural feet and there were fully a thousand people connected with the society. We wish the Tien Tsu Hui all suo- cess and would be glad to see the Hongkong Government assist the movement by mnak ing footbinding in Hongkong a punishable offence. As the practice of suttee and immolation under the car of Juggernaut have been put down in India, we have no doubt the inhuman practice of footbinding could with ease be put down in this colony. Any action taken in that direction would be supported by a section of the natives them selves, some of whom would be glad of a good excuse for failing to comply with a practice which fashion forces on them, but of which they disapprove.
"
A PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR HONGKONG.
"they are assisting to place within the reach "of many to whom otherwise they would be "denied the solace and pleasure which only books can afford." From the report for 1894 we learn that the number of subscribers to the Shanghai Library last year was larger than in any year since the foundation of the institution in 1849, there being 181 on the list, and that 13,468 books were circulated to subscribers; also that a brisk circulation of magazines, reviews, and periodicals was maintained throughout the year and that the reading room was well attended. We are pleased, to learn that a movement is on foot to establish a similar institution in Hongkong. The ini-
341.
subscribers to the library. Mr. T. Jack- son and Colonel MULLOY
are to be the members appointed
by
the Gover nor in the first instance and Dr. CANTLIE, Rev. R. F. COBBOLD, Mr. G. B. DopWELL, Mr. E. H. SHARP, Mr. B SHEWAN, and Mr. A. WOOLLEY are to be taken as the elected members for the first period of one year.
The Board is con stituted a body corporate with full power to maintain and manage the library, and the Governor is authorised to make a pre- liminary grant and an annual contribution, the amounts of which are left blank in the draft Bill. Such a much needed institution cannot fail to be successful if it is well managed, and the names of the gentlemen constituting the Board are a sufficient guarantee that that will be the case. It is un fortunate that the City Hall Library cannot be amalgamated with the Public Library, but the terms of the trust deeds of the former preclude that, we understand, though it cannot have been the original intention that the splendid collection of books which line the reading room at the City Hall should remain comparatively inaccessible. stances would justify the Government, we think, in dealing with the obstructive truste in the spirit in which many trusts have been dealt with by the Charity Commissioners in England for the public benefit, and the necessary legislative sanction for that course might usefully be incorporated in the present Bill.
The Society formed at Shanghai with the object of combatting the evil of footbinding amongst the Chinese should command the adherence and support of the European com- munities at all the treaty ports and in Hong. kong. Whether the presentation of a A public circulating library has hitherto memorial on the subject to the Emperor is been a great want in Hongkong. Both likely to have much practical effect may per- Shanghai and Singapore have such institu- haps be doubtell, but it is bound to do some tions, and both do excellent work. A cir- good, by bringing the matter into public cular issued by the Secretary of the Shang- notice; and, as has been urged, it is only in bai Library a few years ago contained the times of stress and danger and the present following passage:-"May I be permitted to is such a time-that the Chinese, from the add that the Shanghai Library supplies highest to the lowest, can be induced to take a real public want. The humber of those any new step. It is of course easy to throw who belong to a Club library, or who ridicule on the movement; most philanthropic can afford to buy books for themselves. movements seem to lend themselves to this "is extremely limited, and the members of form of attack; and in the present caso the that fortunate class who are at the opponents of the Tien Tsu Hui can use the same time subscribers to the Shang- practice of tight lacing amongst European
hai Library, although they them women as a tu quoque. This has been "selves may derive no benefit from a pay done at Shanghai. There is. however, no "ment which after all they scarcely feel, may real comparison between the two practices." take pleasure in reflecting that, in throw Place an everyday English girl, with hering open the Library to the general public fonduess for healthful exercise and her proficiency in outdoor games, beside a crippled Chinese girl, and the absurdity of trying to institute any comparison is at once apparent. Even granting, however, that tight lacing amongst European women exists to such an extent as to constitute a real evil, that surely is no reason for discouraging an attempt to combat a much greater evil. We in Hongkong do not see so much of the direct suffering caused by footbinding as do residents in Chinese cities, but it cannot wholly escape our attention, and occasionally in the Chinese quarters little girls may be seen lying on the floor or the bed writhing under the agony caused by the cruel custom. If by combined effort on the part of Euro-tiative was taken some months ago by the Odd pean ladies there is any chance, however remote, of rescuing a few children from the suffering to which they would otherwise be condemned surely it is worth the trial. Cus- tom perhaps deadens our sensibility to the enormity of the evil. One of the speakers at the recent meeting at Shanghai, Mr. A. LITTLE, remarked that he was in China, he supposed, for twenty-five years before he gave the subject a thought, but ten years ago.. on his first visit to Chungking, he stayed at the house of a Chinese merchant, and he really could not sleep at night on account of the cries of a little girl whose feet had jus: been bound. Probably there are many who, like Mr. LITTLE in the earlier part of his residence, have not given the subject, a thought, and who have not been awakened to it by any such painful experience as that gentleman records. All the more reason sent trustees of the said library. It is pro- why the Tien Tsu Hai should exert itselfetovided by section 2 of the Bill that the affairs | rouse public opinion amongst foreigners of the library shall be managed by a Board and natives alike. And to show that the attempt to rouse public opinion amongst the natives is not such a forlorn hope as might be imagided we may quote the
The circum
GENERAL BARKER'S FAREWELL.
(1st May.)
:
To-day Lieutenant-General BARKER bids farewell to Hongkong after five years' service on the station. The gallant General during his residence amongst us has earned the good opinions of the entire community and will carry with him their best wishes. His connection with the colony has not been entirely of a military character, for at a somewhat critical period in its bistory he was called upon to administer the govern ment, namely, from May to December, 1891, and again for a few weeks last year he acted as Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON's locum tenens during the latter's visit to Japan. It will be remembered that when Sir WILLIAM DES Veux resigned the Government in 1891 the relations between the unofficial members of Council and the officials were somewhat strained, and the task that lay before General BARKER when he was sworn is as Acting Governor was not an easy one, but he accom- plished it with eminent success, displaying Volumes Society, which collected a num- firmness coupled with fairness and a deter- ber of books as a nucleus, chiefly dona- mination to master the intricacies of every tions from friends, and the number has subject brought before him for his decision. been steadily added to ever since. Steps Various important Ordinances were passed are now being taken to place the in. during his first administration, dealing with stitution on a permanent basis as a public such diverse matters as the prohibition of library. Notice is given in the Government time bargains in shares, the protection of Gazette that it is intended to introduce women and girls, the regulation of "An Ordinance to provide for the in- the trade in raw and prepared opium, and corporation of a body to take over and the amendment of the Building and Mer- maintain the Hongkong Public Library, chant Shipping Ordinances. Although "and for other purposes in connection there-opinions were strongly divided on some of "with." The preamble recites that in July, these measures all parties were well satis- 1894, a public library entitled the Hong- fied with the manner in which General kong Public Library was established and BARKER discharged his difficult duties has hitherto been supported and carried as the head of the Government. More on by voluntary contributions and that Mr. recently General BARKER placed the colony G. B. DoDWELL, the Hon. J. H. STEWART under renewed obligations. When the LoCKHART, and Mr. R. SHEWAN are the pre-plague broke out last year he took upon himself the very grave responsibility of sanctioning the employment of the men of the garrison in combatting it. In the late strike also he placed the services of volun- teers from the garrison at the disposal of the colony for the working of cargo. The colony owes him a debt of gratitude in
C
rr
consisting of nine members, viz, two to be appointed by H.E. the Governor, the Colonial Secretary as an ex officio member, and six members elected annually by donors and