November 25, 1896.)
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. and sense of superiority raises in the "diablerie the horse would come to life, ath. We are glad to note, therefore, from" and owing to his size was able to perform teresting paper on || Museums" read "prodigies of labour. It is to be feared by the Rey J. 1. WHITEWRIGHT at the "that in one case a fond parent in intro- triennial meeting of the Educational "ducing a hobby horse for his little boy Association of China in Shanghai in May unconsciously strengthened the idea in a that the missionary body have, recog-few minds. It is twelve years since I the very practical effect such an in- first heard the story and it was seriously on is likely to have on the Chinese propounded by men of standing in the mind. The formation of a museum in con- community. A gentleman at home pre- nection with a Christian Mission might to "sented us with the skin of a full sized some old fashioned Christians savour rather 'dray horse, which has been set up. of unauthorised means of attraction, but it "Needless to say, it completely explodes is satisfactory to find that the Protestant "the "wooden horse' myth in the minds of missionaries working in China are gradually "all beholders as well as showing them the fathoming the depth of the gulf between superiority of the foreign animal. Beside Chinese and Western modes of thought and "the horse stands a large four share plough, beliefs and are setting themselves to pave "which always excites much interest, as is the way for a better mutual under-
natural, among a people so dependent on standing by first dispersing prejudice agriculture." and creating common grounds of interest, by.which confidence may be ultimately established between them.
To this end a museum has been established at Ching-chow-fu in connection with the Training College commenced in 1886 for the purpose of training native pastors and evangelists, and Mr. WHITEWRIGHT gives the following particulars in connection with this innovation. It was commenced in a room in the outer court of the College in 1887 and has been thrown open to the natives ever since. The success was so great that more suitable buildings were erected three years later for the museum, which had grown very much in the mean- time. The total number of visits paid to it up to 1895 was 350,000, and in 1895 no less than 81,775 visits were made to it. The success attained has far exceeded the hopes of the promoters, and the visitors are both interested and respectful, often repeating their visits. When the prefectural ex- aminations are in progress the museum is thronged, and the people come from con- siderable distances round. Mr. WHITE WEIGHT mentions some of the articles they have found most effective, both in arousing the interest of the natives and in increasing their respect for Western enterprise and resource. There is a well finished working model of an electric railway, another of a dredge, also worked by electricity, a model circular saw, a pump, &c., all worked by the same battery. There are also hand dynamos, electric telegraphs, magneto- electric machine, Winishurst's machine, which works in all weathers, together with the apparatus used in elementary teaching of electricity. Among other things a model of St. Paul's Cathedral stands beside a model of the museum itself made on the same scale, and attracts a good deal of attention. The model railway, which is thirty feet long, and showing sections of a tunnel through a hill, railway embankment with double line of rails and sidings, engines and carriages, a bridge over a river, station buildings, &c., is of course the greatest attraction. A model of a foreign cemetery showing tombstones and small church attached is exhibited to show the Chinese that the foreigner is not destitute of filial piety. In connection with the agricultural implement exhibits Mr. WHITEWRIGHT says: "I do not know whether the superstition with regard to the wooden horse' obtains in the ports % of China or not. Large quantities of "horse shoes from abroad are sold as old iron and find their way into the interior, The people, amazed at the size of the shoes, concluded that no ordinary horse could wear them, and the idea got abroad that in foreign countries a large wooden horse was made and when finished the shoes were nailed on, when by the aid of some
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their products. In any case the existi museum ought no longer to remain i sent adumbrate condition. The city Victoria is large enough and rich enough to support one worthy of the name, and we think it is the duty alike of the Government and of the community to render our museum something more than a receptacle for a few cases of coins and butterflies and an in- different collection of stuffed animals.
HE VAGRANCY ORDINANCE AND
STOWAWAYS, MEDIE BEST
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One of the most useful pieces of legislation. ever passed in this colony is the Vagrancy Ordinance, which has now been in operation for eight years and has
has almost entirely? lieved the colony of the intolerable beach- comber nuisance from which some other The museum at Ching-chow-fu has already ports suffer. Curiously enough, however, afforded to the missionaries many openings this Ordinance has been pleaded as a defence for reaching the people. A science class to a charge of false imprisonment, brought room has been fitted up close to and com- by certain Japanese stowaways against, a municating with it, and popular science ship captain who would not allow them, lectures are given there when the examina- land. The defence of course was unsuc tions for degrees are held, at which time cessful. The facts of the case were that the city is crowded with students. Mr. a party of Japanese girls were brought WHITEWRIGHT tells us that last year the down in charge of two men, as stow- prefect put out as subjects for essays the aways; they were discovered, in the course Thermometer," Barometer," "Steam of the voyage and on arrival in Hongkong Engine," &c., and the students, who found harbour the captain of the steamer forcibly themselves helpless, made enquiries as to detained them on board and communicated whether the native assistants at the museum with the Japanese Consul. The matter would afford them any light on these came to the knowledge of the police, and subjects. The result was that a course of the persons so detained were released and addresses was arranged by the missionaries, brought on shore, and the captain was illustrated with models and diagrams from charged with false imprisonment, convicted, the museum, which were well attended. and heavily fined. It was pleaded in his The museum has become so popular that defence, however, that he was justified in application for admission for women was detaining them under the Vagrancy: Ordi- made and arranged for, a separate receptionnance, which rendered him liable for their room being provided, and hours set apart support should they become destitute and a for their visit to the museum. Some ladies charge on the colony. This curious defence, of the prefect's household having visited we think, must be ascribed to the ingenuity the museum asked if they might be favoured of his counsel rather than to the intelligence with a lantern exhibition, and two of these and foresight of the captain, for the latter were given, with the result that the mis- we must assume to be too much a man of sionaries got on a friendly footing at the the world not to know that Japanese yamen, where before the prefect had not girls are at a premium in this been very approachable. The establish colony and that there is
..not ment of this museum has unquestionably remotest probability of any of them, or of done much to increase the respect of the their procurers or procuresses, becoming people for the foreigner. Where once they chargeable to the colony. The Magistrate despised they now wonder and admire. in giving his decision suggested that The promoters of this laudable attempt to the real motive of the defendant's conduct teach the Chinese by their own observation was that he was a regular trader to Japan some of the wonders of Western science and and was afraid of getting into trouble with quietly and unobtrusively prove to them the Japanese authorities. As is well known, that the Western peoples are neither bar- the Japanese Government very properly barians nor in any way inferior to the Sons takes strict measures to prevent the emigra of Han deserve great commendation, and tion of females for immoral purposes. Being most fully merit the success they have therefore unable to bring them away openly attained. The museum located at the the procurers use their ingenuity, in getting Hongkong City Hall, though wofully them on board steamers as stowaways, there restricted, is nevertheless greatly frequented by causing considerable trouble and incon- by Chinese visitors. The institution is, venience to shipmasters and agents. In Cap- however, wholly unworthy of Hongkong, tain INNES's conduct in the case in question and the time has now come, we think, when there was an obvious absence of any an effort should be made to present here, criminal intent, but he made a mistake on British soil, yet so near to China's which under the circumstances was, we southern metropolis, a really comprehen- think, properly visited with more than co sive exhibition in which not only curiosities nominal penalty. The stowaways could and should be shown, but which also should ought to have been prosecuted at the Police contain models illustrative of Western arts Court, instead of being illegally detained on and sciences. It would not only help to board pending reference to the Japanese dissipate Chinese ignorance of foreigners, Consul, as though that officer were vested but such an institution would serve as a with extraterritorial jurisdiction in the great and permanent educational agency, matter. the value of which can hardly be overestimated. The great manufacturers of Europe and America might be induced to contribute specimens of their machinery, and subscriptions might possibly even be raised there towards the maintenance of such a great show-room for
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It has been suggested that this case shows the necessity of amending the Vagrancy Ordinance in the sense of giving-ship. masters, power to detain passengers while inquiries are made as to the means of su sistence. That, of course, is quite out of the question, for it would be preposterous