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April 17, 1905.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
34
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Their own telegram, however, light; who, indeed, fits many of the lines made it clear that, provided suitable with pretty sentiments that we greatly fear guarantees were forthcoming, they would were none so innocent as he would have us welcome this way of avoiding international believe. Unfortunately, a public newspaper jealousies. Nothing new appears with is not a suitable vehicle in which to pursue regard to the vexatious Trade Marks Regu- such an enquiry; and we must therefore lations question; but the Association is content ourselves here with the bald state- fully alive to the needs of this matter. ment that even this author's charming lines should have been glad to see the Association do not, in our opinion, lift Cantonese sexual more concerned about the non production sentiment out of the mire to which we have of the promised Mining Regulations; but as there is a mention of this matter, how- been accustomed to relegate it. It is just to add that Mr. CLEMENTI appears, after ever brief, we may presume that it is not writing the pretty conceits with which we being lost sight of. The publication of a have dealt, to have had his doubts, for he satisfactory set of Regulations should be admits that it is possible to regard much hastened, if it can be done. The "con- of the imagery
merely as euphe-tinued presence in Shanghai of a small misms." He adds, "forced on the poet by party of French soldiers seems a small the nature of his subject," but with that we matter to have been made the subject of are not disposed to agree. There is no
a representation to the Foreign Office;
88 it within question of force where an obvious double but
our knowledge entendre is concerned. The comparison that our French friends in the northern
have with the very-much-so Hebraic play is, we port
persisted in referring to fear, but too well justified."
these as troops," it was an irregularity that very properly demanded attention. It now appears that the British Govern- a consenting party to this minor breach of the evacuation agreement. It is also gratifying to note the con- viction that the introduction of Chinese labour into the Transvaal has been an all- round benefit, as the publication of this opinion by such a well-informed body ought to have a much-needed modifying influence upon the utterances of certain parties in England. The partial removal of the bar- riers in the Canton river is noted, and apparently the Association sees no imme- diate reason to complain that the improve- It believes "the ment is only partial. channel will be widened and deepened sufficiently to permit of free passage of ve sels."
THE CHINA ASSOCIATION.
ment was
mentality emphasised. Rightly or wrongly, lover a peacock is not very "abstract.” | willingness of the British and American also, the Chinese generally are not As we have, or ought to have, ad- Governments to waive the protocol anner credited with any of the refinements of mitted that we are unable to read the relating to the Whangpoo conservancy Cupid. Like the Japanese, if not more version of these songs in Chinese, we are scheme, the prospect of the Chinese them. than they, they are popularly supposed to depending entirely upon Mr. CLEMENTI's selves executing this important work be devoid of sentiment in all their relations translation of them; but even then we have approached perceptibly nearer, a change with the female sex, either wholly animal, in places found what we take to be indica- which received the support of the Chins Or wholly callous. Mr. CLEMENTItions of Cantonese grossness of mind akin Association, although the Shanghai branch apparently is prepared to credit them with to that which undoubtedly figures in the was said to entertain the opinion that it better things. He draws a comparison not Hebrew work referred to. They appear not would be in the nature of a dangerous pre- to bave struck Mr. CLEMENTI in the same. flattering to OVID in connection with an apostrophe to a courtesan, and this "from a moral point of view.' "Yet, on the whole, these Cantonese love-songs are quite unlike any love-poetry of the West, both in diction and in thought." This certainly needs to be said, for there are no Chinese sonnets to a mistress's eyebrow, in this or any other book. We retain the opinion, even after careful study of Mr. CLEMENTI's able translations and indulgent comments, that Cantonese love-songs share the pecu- liarly Oriental characteristics of Hebrew poetry, to which he later traces a resem blance with a difference; and that as such they rather support than popular impression of the Chinese method of expressing such feelings. The distinc tion drawn by Mr. CLEMENTI is based upon the metaphors of the Hebrew poet, who (as Mr. CLEMENTI seems to think) contented himself by saying As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters, while the Chinese poet proclaims, not comparison, but identity of essence in om and nature. The maiden is not compared to, she actually is, the royal flower in the Cinnamon Garden"; and so on. Notwith- standing the very evident erudition of Mr. CLEMENTI, we fear that he is being misled by the vulgate translation of that Hebraic song." We do not think his own transa- tion of the Chinese songs is a tithe as mis- leading as is the one he quotes. But for his evident reliance upon those quotations, we should not have presumed to inform him that (as he may easily satisfy himself) the Song of Solomon" would be more aptly entitled the "Duet of VAPHREs aud Soto MON. Casual examination, without access to a literal translation of that fascinating Eastern play, will suffice to show that the "black but comely" lady (VAPERES) opens, that SOLOMON replies at verse 8 et seq., that the lady and her lord resume the song in alternating verses of the second chapter, and so on; while in the first verse of the fifth chapter the happy swain bids his guests eat and drink their fill. Correctly translated, and lacking the euphemisms that the ancient divines found all too necessary, [vide "chariot " for "couch" the Hebraic writing exhibits just this very feature of Chinese poetry, in asserting that the fair oue is, not merely like the uioon, but is the moon; or, as Mr. CLEMENTI amusingly imagines, endeavours to convey some conception of the "identity of essence in man and nature." The Oriental poet or orator, whether he belongs to the Near East or Far East, seems to prefer that form of emphasis which, instead of saying "My words will illumine your mental darkness,' says "I am the Sun." He means only the former, of course; but to his way of think ing the other is more forcible. It must also be admitted that the subtle Oriental mind understands this much better than the Occidental, who is always misunderstanding what the message of the East really is, in more than one particular. Logically, we do not see how Mr. (LEMENTI reconciles this Chinese trait, or manner of speaking, with his previous assertion that "they never hesitate to abandon concrete realities in order to move entirely in a world of abstract conceptions." To call a Chinese
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11
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(Daily Press, 12th March.) Theannual report of the China Association for 1904-5 as usual bristles with so many points of interest that it is difficult to relate coherently the ground it covers or the results that have attended the efforts of the Association. Opening with an inevitable reference to the war, the report states that it is impossible to suppose that the Chinese can witness the successes which
with have been achieved by Japan out becoming conscious of the latent military possibilities in their own enormous population, if properly organised." There are, of course, already numerous indications that China has gained such a consciousness aud is now groping her way towards giving practical effect to the ideas thus acquired. It is to be hoped that a similar willingness to profit by experience may be exhibited in other directions; and that in trade matters China may, as the report goes on, recon- sider her stubborn adherence to Oriental ways and adopt Western methods, which have contributed so much to the prosperity and advancement of Japan." In an isolated paragraph following the remark that "signs of an advance are not wanting," the report says simply, "There is no change in the personnel of the Chinese Court. The Dowager Empress still remains in power." There is an apparent implication about that which perhaps was not intended. With regard to the introduction of currency reform, the idea that " foreign assistance is con- and pressure will be necessary firmed. In railway enterprise, greater hopes are rested on the Chinese, the various native promotions being noted with ap- proval. Since this report was published, there have been indications that the sus- pended work on the Hankow-Canton line is being resumed; and important develop ments are now being talked of. The report seems remarkably free from political bias in its reference to the Korean lines, by which "the spread of Japanese influence Owing to the will be greatly facilitated.”
19
Satisfaction is expressed at the "C. B." awarded to the ex-Secretary, Mr. R. S. GUNDRY; and suitable reference is made to the losses caused by the deaths of Sir E. ACKROYD, Sir ROBERT JARDINE, and Messrs. G. J. MORRISON, E. MACKINTOSH, The Association has and J. A. HAWES. £2,055 48. 10d. in hand, including the balance of £155 4s. 10d. brought from last year.
•
In the voluminous correspondence repro- ducel, there is a letter from Mr. R. C. WILCOX, chairman of the Hongkong branch, drawing attention to the announcement in the Daily Press that the Portuguese had secured the agreement for the Macao-Canton railway, and suggesting that were the Kowloon-Canton scheme to be allowed to lag, it would cause mortification here. It was then announce that an early settle- ment was expected; and we understand that considerable pressure is now being officially applied to expedite the negotiations. Possi- bly the renewed activity on the Hankow line may help.
There is also a curious memorandum by Mr. GUNDRY relating to the Shanghai river improvement question, in which, in terms more forcible than diplomatic, he proposes to let the VICEROY of Nanking “do it his own way;" and thus explains the alteration If those accidents' started in the river: it, REYNOLDS wilfully increased it, by planting barrels out on the foreshore to increase the area of his land !”
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