16
an
but from ruffians, and he announces his opinion; as such. This is just what the officials, gentry, and merchants were anxious to have stated by so high authority as the Viceroy of the Liang Kiang. The decision being made by him, it will not be expected that any Consul or the Munipal Council will be able to produce any satisfactory evidence to the contrary, and once again we shall find that the men who were at the bottom of the uprising will escape, while a few thieves will get all the blame. It is to be regretted that this can happen in a Foreign Settlement, but if it can, we might as well know it.
The next delicious piece of news is that the riot was also suppressed by the same officials and gen- try. There is not one word as to the prompt and defensive action taken by the Municipal Council, the marines and sailors of the different men-of- war. To mention this most important fact would not be in harmony with the main idea of the Viceroy, as well as of all Chinese at the present juncture, to claim the same sovereign right in the limits of the Settlements as in other part of the Empire of China. Hence, there is nots one word to lead anyone to suppose that the riot had taken place in the Settlements; rather one would suppose the riot had occurred in Shanghai. This being so, the Viceroy orders all his military to guard every approach by land and water, that
be no ruffian allowed to enter, without saying what place. It is even hinted that the Chinese military are to be stationed within the limits of the Settlements with powers to arrest and punish, whereas this power rests with the Municipal Council under supreme control of Foreign Governments, so that not one Chinese soldier could march through the streets of the Settlements unless with a pass from the Muni- cipal Council. It is clear that the purpose of the Viceroy by a stroke of the pen is to do away with any such thing as a Foreign Settle. ment at a treaty port. Instead of broaching the question, he takes it for granted.
The Viceroy.then adds that the placing of a Chinese woman in the foreign gaol was & mistake, whereas there is no foreign gaol for Chinese prisoners, but a Municipal gaol, built by the taxes of the ratepayers for Chinese, not foreign, prisoners. So by another stroke of the pen the so-called "foreign gaol" is to be discarded. It is therefore practically decided by the Viceroy that Vice-Consul Twyman did a wrong, in ordering that the female prisoners be sent to the Municipal gaol whereas we fancy the British Government will have something to say on this matter, and will not leave it to the sole decision of even so high an official as the Viceroy of the Liang Kiang and so estimable a man as His Excellency Chou Fu.
The proclamation is indeed a skilfully worded one. It shows the great ability of the Viceroy, but none the less it is unsatisfactory, because it is not true to the facts. Its sins of omission are even greater than its sins of commission. We fear the only result will be to delude the Chinese, while avoiding a face-to-face settlement of all the questions that are con- cerned, a settlement that must be reached by two sides, not by one. The present quiet is therefore illusory. What is wanted now, and has been wanted for many years, is some new definite, binding agreement, to take the place of the old, but this is a matter for more extended consideration.
DEATH OF A PRISONER.
At the Magistracy on January 6th before Mr. F. A. Hazeland and Messrs. W. E. Rowe, 8. Schwat and G. Grimble, jurors, an inquiry was held into the cause of the death of Ng In' «a prisoner, who died on Thursday.
E. J. Pierpont, Chief Warder in Victoria gaol, gave evidence as to the deceased's admission on 20th January, 1902, when he was convicted of armed robbery.
Dr. W. Moore, medical officer of the gaol, said deceased was admitted to the gaol hospital on 7th December in a very weak condition." He was suffering from tubercular meningitis, an invariably fatal disease, and died from the effects thereof.
The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
REVIEWS.
The Nightless City, by J. E. de BECKER. Shanghai, Yokohama, aud Bremen: Max Nössler & Co. 2nd and revised edition.
This remarkable book is entitled to and will undoubtedly experience more than two editions. To the properly balanced mind, its presentation should require no excuses, but in deference to social prejudices, the author, maintaining anonymity, wrote an eloquent preface to the first edition, to disarm criticism, or at any rate to avert the misunderstandings and wrong judgments that are always to be expected in such connections. Then, when the value of the work, not only as a collation of data "for students of sociology, medical and philanthropists," but also an invaluable historical record for all interested in sinology, became apparent, the author took courage, and owned the child of his brain. More than that, he contributes a second preface, in which he abandons the quasi-apologetic tone of one under reproof; and bimself becomes, with some justice, the accuser. Mrs. Grundy is denounced
* of
88
it
an
" unctuous
person
28
"
men,
mawkish
sensibility" to whom he neither owes nor offers an apology." The studious person, able to face sanely all the facts of life, pleasant or otherwise, and disembarrassed of the stupid notion which profanes purity with the fig-leaf paraphernalia always more pornographic than anything else imaginable, will mildly wonder at the necessity for such prefaces. Doubtless
was wise of
the author to face this social hypocrisy as boldly as he has faced the formidable task whose able execution is made evident in the handsome volume Much is possible in a book like under review. this that, in the present diseased state of pub ic opinion, would not be forgiven in a newspaper; and we cannot, therefore, discuss Mr. de Becker's opening arguments. In the position of publicly recommending the study of this book to all interested in sociology, in Japan, and in Far Eastern folklore, we may be justified in asking the prudish, which is the more likely to do mischief: serious books which deal faithfully with the sordid as well as with the romantic side of the subject: or those purely romantic productions which find so warm a welcome in modern homes, and which carry the imagination
of
[January 8, 1906.
ask them to ask, “what is impurity.” Fairly considered and answered, and given some knowledge of the Japanese, it would be instantly admitted-not that other peoples have no "monopoly of virtue"-but that the Japanese have no monopoly of vice, nor indeed, any disproportionate share of it. If they have all-round historians as careful generally as Mr. de Becker has shown himself in this particular, posterity will one day remember them, we prophesy, as a singularly virtuous people.
Of the new edition as a production, we have to say that it is a very creditable one; but in our opinion the plates have fallen short of the charm and delicacy of those in the first edition. In the coloured plates more especially, there is a dis- tinot falling off. Otherwise, the paper and type are an improvement. We might also add that while the binding is thoroughly ornate and characteristic, it was perhaps unnecessary to give such a work the gorgeous exterior of a drawing-room-table book, or presentation volume. This is hypercriticism; and the impression of the moment. It should perhaps also be men. tioned that would-be readers, who do not know any Japanese, will find a good dictionary almost indispensable to the proper study of the work.
How to Write the Badicals; by J. Dyer Ball, 2nd
ed. Hongkong: Kelly & Walsh, Ld There is one thing to be said for all Mr. Ball's books, and that is that when he sets out to instruct the reader, he puts things so clearly and lucidly that he who runs can read and even remember. There is an excursus at the back of this which gives valuable hints on the use of Chinese dictionaries, but about the radicals there is neither excursus nor discursus. Just sufficient to show at a glance "how to write the radicals," and how interesting and important it is to write them in the right way.
A
New Geography of Japan; by C. B. MITFORD,
Japan Gazette
F. R. G. S. Yokohama: Co. Kelly & Walsh, Ld. have not a criticism to make concerning this Except that there might be more of it, we
New geography for the upper forms of schools and colleges, with maps, illustrations and historical note." The illustrations are actual, excellent and well-selected photographs, the maps clear and correct, and the letterpress compact and discriminately set out. It is an eminently sensible geography, and at 75 or 85 cents, according to binding, ought to sell like
hot cakes.
DOCK COMPETITION AT SHANGHAI.
The fact that the Kiangnan ⚫Dock and Engineering Co. has secured the contracts for the repairs of the Poyang and Kiang-foo has evidently (says the N.C. Daily News) caused some searching of competitive hearts. The Poyang has been docked, and it is found that her whole bow is smashed, her stem being broken in two places. The repairs to the Kiang- foo's engine are expected to occupy two months.
▼
the inexperienced and impressionable reader as close as Mrs. Grundy allows to a point where ignorance is neither bliss nor virtue, and its continuauce liable to result in irreparable mischief? We do not attach much value to the saying, "To the pure all things are pure," because society, with the best intentions, has permitted itself to go grievously By vulgar consent, astray with its definitions, that which is intrinsically pure is dubbed impure; and that which is positively immoral in its tendency and effect is complacently accepted as a concession to decency and public order. Until the advent of Mrs. Grundy from Europe, the Japanese were untainted by the unhealthy consciousness which Holy Writ itself marked as the first symptom of a fall from Edenic purity of thought and conduct. The Japanese policeman who sternly ordered a for- eign lady to supply some covering for her baby girl's arms when out walking with her in the heat of summer, was a missionary product, Japan, by no means sinless, had gained a gratuitous sin of which it was before uacon- scious. It would pleasure as to think that the unctuous persons referred to by Mr. de Becker might ponder these things, and thereby come to a sense of all that was implied when certain other unctuous persons were bidden, with a proviso, to "cast the first stone." But as that is too much to hope for, we have no heart to go further; nor to point out that Japan has been for ages, without mis- sionary counsel, striving to cure herself, or at least to mitigate what some sociologists regard as an incurable cancer.
This book, very con siderably revised and added to, tells all about that; so ably, so interestingly, so convincingly, The Government Steel Works in only. that there can be no two opinions as to its supplying material fill a want and do not run merits as a contribution to a study of serious against active local competition inasmuch as moment. We sympathise with the anthor's their prices are higher than the importing cost, depregation of the foreign glibness which whereas the Kiangnan Engineering and chatters about "the immorality of Japanese"; Dock Co., with the advantages under which it but we do not like the advice he thereon started, should be able to book every_contract (in the first preface) gave. Rather we would'that is open to competition.
:
The opening remark is explained by the following letter:-
time
to
Sir,-In view of the fact that our colossal Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. finds it necessary to close some of its establish- ments owing to lack of work, I believe the
is ripe for an expression of public opinion as the legality and status of the Kiangnan Engineering and Dock Co. (which is purely and simply a Government undertaking) being allowed to compete against. public companies for work (apart from the Chinese Navy), especially as the community seems to be adequately served.
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