April 26, 1902.
with the lekin collectorates.
THE PROPOSED KING'S PARK.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE: REPORT.
317
NATIONAL IMITATIVENESS.
(Daily Press, 25th April.)
The readiness of a nation to learn from its
neighbours is a trait which has always been regarded with suspicion in the world, the faculty of imitation being accorded a very low degree of estimation except when exhibited by the lower animals. It has long been a reproach to Japan that she was so willing to assimilate Western methods, and the taunt of shallowness has in con-
sequence been levelled at her. Uncompli- mentary analogies were drawn, and it was freely prophesied that the new Japanese civilisation would not stand its first serious
trial. Some modification of the views was brought with regard to Japan's ariny and navy by the speedy termination of the war with China, but it was easy to minimise Japan's success against this "effete empire" while the industriously circulated reports of the Port Arthur massacre and still less founded atrocities gave the European public a comfortable feeling of their own superior
effectiveness of Japan's attempt to graft many of the better fruits of Western civili- sation on to her original stock received a rude shock during the recent operations in China, and those who decried the Japanese as merely imitatores, servum pecus, have changed their attitude for one of respect. Not the least remarkable sign of the times has been the reception of the news of the Anglo-Japanese Agreement.
Three years
and passed. The Customs bank receipts in the absence of proper accommodation form an excellent tally to enable the lekin for the various outdoor sports affected, leave department and others to levy their a great deal to be desired even at the pre- charges. This ought all to be swept away sent moment, while they must prove more and it might easily be done, just as it has and more insufficient every year as the been done with the Native Customs population of the Colony progresses. An Department, placing the Maritime Depart- occasion bas now occurred, an opportunity ment in supreme control within the port area has arisen to secure for the Colony a park radius. No difficulty need be anticipated or recreation ground large enough to Given a little tact and discretion on the provide for all requirements not only for part of able Commissioners, the same success the existing population but for a greally which has attended their efforts in the enlarged one. There is on the peninsula of matter of the Native Customs Department, Kowloon, within an easily accessible which now has a European officer in each of distance of the landing-place, a fine spread- its stations, may well be expected in dealing ing area nearly level, unbuilt upon, and capable of ready transformation into a Public Park, which the Government are willing to devote to this most laudable purpose, and His Excellency Sir WILLIAM (Daily Press, 23rd April.) GASCOIGNE, ever anxious to promote the That the occasion of the Coronation of good of the community, has expressed his King EDWARD VII. should be honoured by desire to turn the first sod on Coronation some permanent memorial of the event will, Day. The decision is a timely one, for it westhink, be generally concèded. Such may safely be predicted that, if not seized memorial should be suitable in every way;
at once, the opportunity would never have worthy of the Colony, and acceptable to the occurred again, before long it is pro-humanity. All doubts, however, as to the monarch. It need not be an imperishable bable most of the area will be built dream in marble or stone; it should not, of over, the invasion of bricks and mortar necessity, be a philanthropic or educational which has overrun so much of the peninsula institution. There is no particular reason during the last seven years being certain to for making a serious call on the pockets of spread further north. It may perhaps be the residents, who have on several recent objected by some persons that the rifle ranges occasions contributed munificently to other are at present in a portion of the area, and funds and memorials. But the opportunity it may be as well to state that these ranges. should not be allowed to pass of perpetuat have already been condemned by both the ing His Majesty's Coronation by the creation civil and military authorities, and will there- of an enduring memento thereof.
We are
fore have to be removed to more suitable glad to learn that the Government has sites. On this extensive area, to be known decided to accept the suggestion made by henceforth as The King's Park,' it will be Mr. STEWART LOCKHART at the first meeting possible to lay out grounds amply sufficient of the Coronation Committee when proposing for all the kinds of recreation mentioned the initial resolution. The Colonial Secretary above, and also to include amongst them a thought that the Colony wants a public cinder path for bicycle-races and athletic park, and he was not alone in that opinion. sports. His Majesty King EDWARD VII. There are few open spaces in the Colony has always been an earnest promoter and that are available for purposes of recreation, patron of sport and all kinds of outdoor He will, we venture to say, and the need for them grows yearly with recreation. the increase of the population. The num- warmly appreciate the decision to form a ber of the native born" has vastly in- King's Park in this distant, portion of his creased during the last decade, and will do dominions for the benefit of its youth and so in a greater ratio, as it is more and more
manhood. The want of such a place of difficult for the mass of the community to recreation is only to apparent, and would accumulate a fortune or even such a modest have been more felt with every year that competence as would suffice for their wants goes by. There is at the present moment in the old country.. Those who come to too much “dry drudgery at the desk's dead serve a short term in commercial offices wood" in this exhausting climate, and too under agreement generally find, owing to little outdoor recreation taken, partly the cost of living and the uncertain value because the ground is overcrowded. 'It is of the dollar, that they have come to stay, of course satisfactory to hear that this fine and here they do stay in such comfort as Park will be secured to the public without they can command and bring up families. expense, but we feel quite certain that if For this rising race, if they are not to for any purpose, in providing stands or up flabby or fibreless, healthful recreation buildings of any kinds money is required, the must be provided. Then there is the community will be glad to subscribe for the Garrison, now numbering about five times purpose. its former strength, and these lusty sons of Mars require room for exercise and recrea. tion. The vessels of the Squadron, more over, which in the winter flock down to Hongkong, furnish a large contingent, numbering from five to eight thousand men, who merit the same consideration, and who, even as a matter of state policy, should be offered something better for their amuse-them. ment than low grogshops or even the well
grow
Mr. Hugh Clifford, who was terribly out of health on his arrival in Europe in December last, says better and there is every hope to believe that the Singapore Free Press, is now much the improvement is of a permanent nature. He has obtained an extension of leave for six months, at the end of which time his friends out East will be pleased to see him again amongst
ago it is certain that, not only on the Con- tinent but in England also, such a compact would have given occasion for an outery which it might have been difficult to still. It is not because there has been a marked alteration in the Japanese themselves— nations do not so change within the space of three years-that we get no such outery now; but the critics who were so contemp- tuous of the attempt of the newest of Powers to take her place among fully civilised peoples have seen good reason to change their ideas. Nevertheless, the old prejudice against, readiness of imitation to a certain extent remains, for it seems au ingrained characteristic of humanity. The Greeks were an object of suspicion, of contempt.. even, to the less literate Romans, while of the latter those who, from conviction or desire to be among the elect, assimilated to the best of their ability Greek culture, came in for a share of the obloquy which their countrymen had to bestow. Possibly those who are directly imitated always feel a certain amount of gratification over the fact, but to see this sincerest form of flattery bestowed on a neighbour seems more apt to inspire contempt.
Now, among nations Great Britain has never been marked by an extreme, willing- ness to follow in the steps of others. To no country perhaps except of course in such as the lately extinguished Dutch republics in South Africa-bave "foreign customs
"
regulated clubs and canteens which latterly suspected of being connected with the murder this been treated as a matter for self-
have been provided for their benefit.
Four Chinamen who are now in custody and of Mr. Rutherford of the Tanjong Pagar It is true that we have a very circum- Dock Co., Ld.. were brought to the ingapore scribed cricket ground in the centre of Police Court by Chief Detective Inspector Victoria and a football ground at Bowring- Perrett, who sid that those four persons were ton, whilst the centre of the Race Course suspected of the murder of Mr. Rutherford at Wongneichrong is variously used at one and asked that they might be remanded for a and the same time for golf, hockey, cricket, week in order to enable the police to make and football. There is also a polo ground at further enquiries. A remand was granted till Causeway Bay. But all are inadequate for Leong Ah Yeow, Siew Weng Yew, Chan Ah the purpose, and though extremely valuable Kat and Wong Ah Kong,
the 21st inst. The names of the men are
come with so little to recommend them as to Britain. The very accusation of insularity, that old reproach, derives from the un- willingness to borrow the ways, be they good or bad, of other peoples. Nor has condemnation, for the most part, by British critics, though the attitude has not recom- mended itself to the intelligence or the vanity of the rest of the world. Lately, however, there has been a marked change. On all hands the 'ritish nation is being besought by critics of its own household to
44
Wake up,
to study the methods of other peoples, to take hints for its army from the Germans or from the Boers, for its navy
j