May 18, 1907.]
MANNERS IN CHINA.
JJ
con-
(Daily Press, 15th May.) In China,there is no doubt generally an excess of ceremonious politeness and outward demonstration of respect. This has often been made a subject of good natured antire and ridicule; it is not to be denied that Chinese politeness at times has its comic aspect; but it is a mistake to ignore that it has also its good side. We may be amused at what appears
to us the overstrained ceremoniousness in the constant use of the title of "great old father often to A person much younger than the one to whom it is addressed-and the constantly recurring
•pitheta, of "honourable" as applied to all belonging to the person addressed and “ temptible to all appertaining to the speaker himself. Such extreme formality may be smiled at as a little out of date; but we must not forget that it does not go so far beyond that which was once observed in all European countries as is often supposed.. In fairness we must remember that the survival of this rather heavy social pro- cedure is only a part of Chinese conservatism. We need not be surprised that social as well as political "olo custom is carefully pre- served by a people so tenacious of everything that is ancient. While Europeans are more inclined to throw aside antiquated forms of ceremony, the Chinese alhere to them simply because they are antiquated, Neither hit the exact mark; and it cannot be denied there is a certain amount of error on both sides,
more and
17
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
GOVERNMENT AND SANITARY BOARD.
80.
319
In
anything about them, we neither give nor ex- | GENERAL prove nothing. The PRESIDENT pect to receive any formal deference at all." remarked, "if figures prove anything, that This is probably somewhat overstated; proves that the byelaws have been but it is not encouraging that the writer effective." In that case, then figures considers such a state of things as quite do not prove anything, for las in India, natural and satisfactory. It is not what so in Hongkong, plague augments and deference to a stranger is looked upon as a tary Authorities may do. Statistics aro you find anywhere on the Continent, where decreases indifferent to what the Sani-
matter of course. to be an unintentional admission that got to say anything. The experiments The assertion seems like some Chinese witnesses: they can be there is some foundation for the com- of the Sanitary authorities have caused a plaints of want of something of the great deal of useless and unnecessary trouble absence of which old ceremony, in the present day, the and inconvenience, and apart from the is somewhat hastily allegatious as to the inconsid rate ways Take away all show of deference even atrappers, it needs no wizardry to see that assumed to be of so little consequence, and general m shehaviour of its under- to people we meet in the streets and of the poor Chinese must regard their intru- whom we know nothing, and life is apt sions unfavourably. Foreigners sometimes to become a somewhat more rough affair get an inkling of what it must meau. than even the most modern and optimistic one case a gang of autocratio disinfectors writers could quite approve of. It has been took charge of a room occupied by a contact, said that the best manners are no manners, harshly disregarded the reasonable require but it does not follow that no manners are the best.
ments of the said contact, and damaged property, and 1 ver went near the room where the original patient must have left any infection he was likely to leave. That was last year, and the same disease is more rampant than over. But even if the Sanitary Board were to be abolished, and (Daily Press, 16th May). AFTER reading the whole page of yesterday's be"
all its experts deported, there would still issue devoted to the meeting of the Sanitary advised. It wants to stop it; it won't try dumping." The Government is so Board, the average reader should still be cremation; then what is it going to do? somewhat confused as to the real issues. Meanwhile the Sanitary Board, by adopting The Hon. Mr. HEWETT earmarked the the Registrar's three resolutions, has per whole discussion of the "dumping" ques-formed the amusing feat of passing a vote tion as indefinite, and it really was
of censure on itself, and by implication, There was a nebulousness about If, however, we look at the practical reforms talked of that was not becoming to
the on its expert advisers. We can approve results of the two systems, it must be ad- the very concrete nature of the evil sought but who is going to revise them? The the proposed revision of sanitary measures, mitted there is something to be said in to be remedied. A few days ago we offered exper's cannot be trusted, but then neither favour of the Chinese way of treating this a suggestion as to one of the most likely can the landlords. matter; and that if they err, their error
It is no good to plunge causes of the Chinese practice of "dumping" from one extreme to another. is in the right direction. Chinese ceremony
corpses ou the street-poverty, and the is undoubtedly overdone. It takes one back conventional extravagance of funerals. This to medieval times, and one is apt to be was not submitted as the only cause, but as
THE COMMISSION. reminded of the lessons given by the dancing one not so far mentioned, and yet one at master to Monsieur JOURDAIN as to the least as probable as those suggested.
(Daily Press, May 17th.) The way in which he was to approach a duchess; REGISTRAR GENERAL referred to it briefly Sanitary Laws and their administration in The Commission appointed to consider the, to make a bow, then three steps forward; by remarking that the statistics now before this Colony report that after seven meetings then another bow; then three more steps. the members of the Board gave no support the question of official corruption presented But China has not yet been blessed with a to the theory that poverty is the cause of itself as a paramount consideration for them. MOLIERE to laugh such nonsense out of "dumping", unless, he qualified, existence. The mode of approaching the prepared to argue that poverty has increased neglect of duty and most reprehensible you are It was not only actual bribery, but gross duchess is very much the manner in which greatly in Hongkong of recent years.' a Chinese Taotai approaches a Yamên in This argument could hardly affect the There has not been sufficient time yet to slackness of metho that they discovered. company of a Consul, the process of deciding effect of the figures, but whether or not, digest so long and so important a report, who is to go first-as an old British Consul it does not seem an untenable position to which once described it generally taking some-take up. If the
we are quoting elsewhere serially, cost of necessaries but to begin with we may glance over the thing like half an hour; the end being that has been increasing, as we have been headings. All sorts of difficulties were both enter the sacred precincts together. told is the fact, then the poor Chi- thrown in the way of the investigators, in At the same time, it cannot be denied that nese must be poorer, for though some itself a suggestion that there was much to "out of a somewhat courteous system of employers complain that the cost of hide. The Commission also finds that ceremony, the ordinary fairly educated abour has also gone up, it has not risen Ordinances have been very carelessly drawn Chinaman, bas learnt how to behave him- proportionately. There are still gangs of up and passed, and harshly enforced. self; and this after all is the chief use of labourers doing a day's work for twenty This, at least, is the general effect we an outward show of deference. If you meet and thirty cents-much less than a penny gather from an educated Chinaman abroad, in America
our preliminary reading an hour; and rents, even of cubicles, are Property owners and poor Chinese have or any of our Colonies, you always find that high when considered in the light of how been alike to be pitied, and the weapon that he behaves in a reasonable, sensible, and cour- much can be spared from daily pittances has been as a scourge to their bicks has teous manner. He does not call you "old like that. However, we are not concerned been Red Tape, of the reddest and most father," a compliment which might not to prove that one theory is better than tapey kind. It is not often that a damning be altogether appreciated; but he treats another, but to look fairly at admitted facts. indictment of such all-round application is you with deference and to a certain degree It is admitted that too many Chinese published, and it is well for other com- with respect. He is easy and self-possessed corpses are left lying about the streets, and munities that such things are not common. and generally has the manners of a well-bred the Government wants to deal with that On the cubicle question aloue, a subject man. This, after all, he has learnt in evil. So far the only tangible suggestion on which the Daily Press has previously his early days in a very ceremoniosu has been to cremate all such bodies; and drawn the Government's attention to the school in his native country; and if such the Government, as at present advised," unwisdom of be the result which is produced in practical does not propose to adopt cremation. It is mission is very strong.
its advisers, the Com. life, one can hardly conclude that the satisfied that the Sanitary Board's plague of the Government apparently did not "The advisers Chinese system, though it may have its mensures have had nothing to do with study the question thoroughly," says· comical side, has not also some advantages. encouraging the practice of "dumping" the report. Of course they did not. It A recent writer in the Spectator says that It does not seem, as at present advised," was a taking fart, and Hongkong has been in the present day as we travel about in to have any idea of its own what to do, and trains and streets and meet our fellow appeals to the Board for fresh suggestions. pane of glass in a covered verandah having run by faddista to a great extent. "A creatures at close quarters without knowing | The returns submitted by the REGISTRAR- I been broken, the owner was asked to send
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