396
companies, they would, each in her own sphere, get something of the knowledge and training which fit men to the business of the State. All experience proves that mere book knowledge of such watters is not only insufficient but often dangerous, and this is the most that the best informed of woinen are likely to at'ain to so long as the chief sphere of their interests must of necessity lie in their homes aud in social questions which naturally come within their cgni. sance. In their own sphere women not only have all the rights of men, but a great deal more, and the advanced persons who wish to claim the rights of men, will do well to consider how much of the privileges of women-they will have to sacrifice iu order to obtain them.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Things farfetched and half understood are the weapons common to the globetrotter of all nations. As a matter of fact, with regard to fashion and dress conventions, Mr. SUGIMURA errs only in imagining that Japan is free from them. On the subject of English servants and their familiar way of speaking, Mr. SUGIMORA shares th same disadvantage as the foreign visitor to Japan. He did not discover the true type. The globetrotter's essay on Japanese ser- vants takes cognisance only of the species that has evolved to wait upon his kind, and this Japanese visitor's ideas of the English servant were evidently based on London experiences of the wailer in a chop-house. It is true he met another kin ), but he has no complaint to make of the butler's manuers. They must have been | irreproachable.
repeating:
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[Jane 15, 1907.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 13th instant in the
Council Chamber.
PRESENT:-
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINI- STERING THE GOVERNMENT, Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G.
MAJOR-GENERAL R. G. BroadwOOD, C.B.,
A. C.D.
Hoa. Mr. A. M. THOMSON(Colonial Secretary). Hoa Mr. H. H. J. GOMPERTZ (Attorney. General).
Hon. Mr. C. McI. MESSER (Colonial Trea- surer).
Hon Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Publio Works).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-
The incident is well worth | General).
wards found that he was a butler!
There is also anotber practical bearing of the subject which should not be overlooked. If women had the vote in a country like Great Britain, there would always be a One evening I visited a certain house and rang danger of a Government being either the ball. A gentleman came to the door and returned or ousted by same sensati nal cry, opened it. He was dressed in evening clothes; which would appeal to women's feelings to he was quite a fine-looking fellow, and spok· the exclusion of all ther and possibly much English very fluently, and he must have been an more important consi lerations. We have Englishman. I took off my hat in defer-nos. seen enough of the working of this prine pleny country we often bow like a carpenter's I bowed very low, in Japanese fashion (for in in the part which the false reports about
measure), then I held out my hand to sh ke Chinese slavery in the Transvaal played in hands with him. I, of course, thought that he the last election. Any topic of that kind,
was an honoured member of the household, worked up in a way which would appeal to Imagine what was my chagrin when I after- the female imagination, would be sufficient to command a large number of their votes, Our critic Waxes રી little superior and there would thus be more danger eveu occasionally, as when he discovers that the than there is at present (which is assuredly English fad of the moment is the enough) that by some similar catchwords of immemorial custom of Japan. The "fresh a taking character the female vote might be | air"
cure? Japan has believed in caught without any reference to or con- pneumotherapy for the past 2,500 old sideration of much more important issues years. And so ou. He tightly cudemns that might be involved in a change of the over-furnishing of the English living Government. We have had warning enough room but then, English writers have already of this contingency as the franchise now dwelt on that, and the Japanese are just as stands, and will certainly do well touch slaves to lumber, ouly they stow it hesitate to introduce a radical change for which there is no real call, which will undoubtedly have the effect of increasing this danger.
JAPANESE COMMENTS ON
ENGLAND.
|
(Daily Press, 14th June). If to see ourselves as others see us be occasionally a good thing, we would like to see more of the kind of articles that have lately figured in the Daily Mail. In that increasingly popular auxiliary of the British breakfast table, Mr. K. SUGIMURA, special correspondent of the Tokyo Asahi, has been giving his impressions of England and English ways. It is somewhat of a bracing douche, for instance, especially to Britons residing in China, to read that England is a Blave to "olo custom." The Japanese *observer remarks: "If I were asked the thing that has impressed me most here I would reply the strength-sometimes the tyranny of the Unwritten Law. Custom seems to rule absolutely in this country to an extent unknowu and unimagined by me before. Custom limits the action of people more absolutely in England than strict, written legislation dues in my own land. The Unwritter Law of England controls from the very great to the exceedingly little, and all men bow to it. I find that my dress, the colour of my purse, and the colour of the very travelling bag I carry are decided for me by public opinion." His illustrations are sometinues forced, but here again he unwittingly helps us to see our- selv. 8, for we are irresistibly lel to suspect *that similar weaknesses must be noted
foreign notes about Far Eastern peuples.
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"
away differently. On the subject of women and clothes, there will arise many to say that Mr. SUGIMURA has scored a buil. They will say it as if jestingly, but with an undertone of earnestness. Mr. SUGIMURA the intrepid hints that it is possible English ladies would gain more than they lost if they devoted more time to home affairs." He is shocked by their at
affecting the kimono, doubtless because they wear it wrongly, but he firmly condemns the big hat and the trailing skirt, and to him, evening frocks are indecent.
11
Corsets have been so much discussed that I shall not deal with hem, except to stats my hope that it will be a long time before they too far in what I say, and if my readers find come into general use iu Japan If I have gone anything offensive in my frank speech, kindly remember that I am a stranger, knowing nothing of your social etiquette.”
He thinks that even good wives are too familiar with their husbands, in England. He prefers the Japanese fashion." We think in Japan that the bushand is greater then the wife, and that the wife should do him reverence and pay him respect. We have many good arguments to support us in so thinking, but this is Lot the place to advance What will he say when he sees a mob of suffragettes?
then."
Mr. J. F. C. da Roza, whose death is announced in our obituary column, was the last survivor of the forty Piagasse heroes in the memorable Passaiosd victory. He resided in Hongkong for over 50 years, was for many years a director of the Hongkong Hotel Co., Ld, and was the origical member of the Club Lusitano, He was also a prominent figure i › The Stockbrokers' Association of Hongkong.❘ In 190 deceased left the Colony to open a oigar factory in Manila, but returned here in May.
Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY (Captain-Superin- tendent of Polio~).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M G. Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C. Hoa. Mr. E. A HEWETT, Hon. Mr. E OSBORNE. Hon. Mr. H. KESWICK,
Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES
The minutes of the previous mesting were read, and confirmed.
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Acting Governor, laid ou the table the report of the Registrar-General for the year 19 6.
QUESTIONS.
The HON. DR. Ho K-I beg to put the questions standing in my name.
The questions were as under :-
(1) What steps does the Government propose to take, and when, in reg rd to carrying out the recommendations of the Public Health and Building Ordinance Commiss on P
(2 If the Government does not propose to carry out the recommendations of the Commis- ion in toto, which of such recommendations does the Government propose not to carry out ? of what they propose to do with regard to the (3) Will the Government make a statement recommendatious of the Commission?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied as follows: (1) A precis is laid on the table showing how Government has d-alt with certain of the re- commendations, how it proposes to deal with others, and how many are still under consideration.
(2) An Ordinance amending the Public Health necessary and steps are being taken to prepare and Buildings Ordinance will be
one. It is impossible at pressut to fira definite date for its introduction,
(3) Recommendations that do not require an amendment of the Law and which are approved will be carried out as soon as possible having regard to the circumstances in each case.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS
ORDINANCE AM NDM NT. The ATTORNEY-GENEBAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled' An Ordinance to amend the Pablic Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. In doing so he said-In connection with this the question of compensation may arise and I beg to lay on the table a copy of the petition presented to the Governor by landlords with regard to compensation under the Bill of 19 2 which subsequently became law in 1993. From
were
this it will be seen that the landowners perfectly well satisfied with all the concessions except one which was subsequently granted.
His EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen. Before I put the question to the Conncil concerning the passing of the first reading of this Bill I would beg leave to make a few remarks. I shall not be altogether in order in so doing but perhaps the Council will grant me the in- dulgence in the present circumstances. This is the first instalment of the legislation which will become necessary owing to the recommendations made by the Commissioners who have inquire) into the administration of the Sanitary Dʊpart. ment. I trust that this Bill and the procis of those recommendations coutaining the pro- possis of the Government thereon wilf be