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September 30, 1907.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REFORT. in a basket.” chair a basket!
A basket-the Hongkong sedan,
Why even the coolier, who will respond with alacrity-at times-to the call of "chair,” would stand stonestill on allusions to the people who use this means of hearing a call for a "basket." Bat our visitor's transportation are not more respectful than his description of the chair itself.” “I have gone down and come back several times since-bat J walked. When I am too old or too weak to walk I may let other men carry me, but aatil then I hope not to get so lazy that I will not walk." Men who live here informed the visitor that in this climate white mea cannot walk, but the
very much concerned when the Governor's, requisition for the extradition of the prisoner did not appear among the number. It then looked as though matters were going to remain at a standstill until farther wires flashed between Manila and Hongkong, for D tective Sullivan could throw no light on the subject, the papers he had received being signed and sealed. On making inquiries, however, the Attorney learned that the requisite paper had been forwarded direct from the Governor of Hongkong to the Governor of the Philip. pines, and thus the difficulty was surmounted.
The next scene was in the Court House, where both witnesses and police from Hong-editor from Pomeroy dismisses the excuse with kong were amazed at the apparent laxity which prevailed. Witnesses and others engaged in the case were allowed to remain seated through- out, and if they felt like it, they could smoke a cigar or a cigarette. de different to Mr. Hazeland's Court where a few draws of a cigar mean contempt of court and a fine of $5! When the extradition had been granted the pri- soner was removed to his cell, and later when Detective Sullivan went to place the handcuffs on his wrists he found they were too amali, so had to borrow both handcuffs and leg irons from the Manila police.
When secured with these the prisoner was conveyed to the e.8, Rubi where he was placed in a first class cabin, and Detective Sergeant Sullivan and Constable Perkins started on their long watch. Throughout the voyage Adsetts was as quiet as a lamb, and it was apparently his singing that the Manila papers mistook for desperation, for on the first night out he was singing choruses of American and other songs until sometime after midnight. Between whiles he would joke with Constable Perkins about their supposed boxing match, Adsetta recommending the Constable to out the report out of the paper and keep it as a record of his prize fighting ability.
Throughout the voyage the door of the pri- soner's cabin was always attended by one of the two police officers, most of the time both. They were armed with revolvers which they had bor- rowed from the ship, and occasionally had the company of some of the wit esses with whom Adsetts would occasionally joke. Towards the latter stages of the trip so great became the want of sleep to the police officers that it was with difficulty they could keep awake. During these weary hours the man they were watching was fast asleep, but so great was the responsibility of those on guard that they dare not follow suit until their man was safely landed in Victoria jail, which event has been accomplished. There was only one thing which Adsetts hoped would not befall him during his sojourn in the cell; and that was to be deprived of cigarettes, "For," said he "if they don't let me have a pigarette occasionally they will kill me."
THE HONGKONG "BASKET.”
AN AMERICAN VISITOR'S IMPRESIONS. The view of Hongkong from the harbour has often been compared with that of Genos, and now from an American paper we learn that the Colony bears a striking resemblance to Pomeroy on the Ohio. The people of Pomeroy have recently been told a great deal about this "great Chinese City builded upon the hills like unto Pomeroy." A few months ago the editor of the Pomeroy Democrat passed through Hongkong on his way to Manila and took a few notes which have found their way into print. He evidently conceived a great respect for the energy and enterprise which have built up the city of Victoria, and we gather that Hongkong can give points to Pomeroy and win hands oown. Hongkong and Pomeroy are alike in this respect, that he who builds a home must first fill up a hole or dig down a hill, but we do these things better in Hongkong it seems than they do in Pomeroy. At least we think such a conviction prompted the wish that the fault- finders of Pomeroy might see Hongkong. Our reclamations and our mountain residences are alluded to with evident admiration, but inci- dentally we gather that our visitor left us with the impression that the white men of Hongkong are a lazy lot.
While in the Colony the editor stayed at a house on the hill from which he wrote his description of the Colony. “I came up here
soorn, remarking, "I have seen no weather yet (and it is said to be very hot bere now that is as hot as the usual weather in Pomeroy during July and August ” And in evidently have no use for the Hongkong basket
omeroy they
MODERN EDUCATION IN CHINA'
[Written for the Daily Press.]
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CHINA'S INDEBTEDNESS TO JAPAN. In educational matters the Chinese have been more influenced by Japan than by any other nation. his is but natural. Japanese have long been and still are fellow The students with the Chinese of the same Chinese classics. The same written characters are used by both countries, with substantially the sa ne meanings. There is much that is similar in the genius of the two peoples. Economically they are more nearly on a level than the Chinese and any one of the European nations. Japan, too, is the model nearest at hand, and, being herself only a recent convert to western ideas in education, her stage of development is but such as to make her deeply sympathetic with China's present day school problems. China's classification of schools and articulation of courses in her new system has been borrowed with but few changes from the J panese system. Chinese students in Japan are numbered by thousands; while those in other countries are counted by hundreds. Japanese text-books bave formed the basis of many Chinese translations. Many more Japanese than European teachers are now employed in Chinese schouls. They cost much less than Europeans, and they live with the people. In schools where apparatus is used it has been the custom hitherto to buy it almost exclusively from Japan. An enter- prising firm in Tientsin, encouraged by the patronage of the provincial government, is undertaking of physical apparatus for
the manufacture of all sorts schools ;-such kindergarten materials; plate glass electrical machines; magnetic instruments; air pumps; apparatus illustrating mechanical power, hydrostatics, light, sound, heat and gravitation; and even small harmoniums. The makers frankly state that they understand very imperfectly the principles underlying all these various mechanisms, and are very appreciative of every bit of help they can secare from anyone who does understand. They are learners, and ask
very modestly for tuggestions and instruction. They confess that they have simply taken apart the various pieces of Japanese apparatus which they purchased, and copied them as nearly as they coud in every particular. The result can be readily guessed at. But the effort is commendable, and if they persevere along this line they are sure to succeed. Their har- moniums give forth an approach at harmon ious sound, their air-pumps create at least a partial vacuum, and with careful manipulation and under favourable conditions their slectrical machines can be made to give off a fairly strong spark.
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AN INSTRUCTIVE PAMPHLET.
199 foreign educator in China ought to res studiously that excellent_monograph on
"The Educational System of Japan, prepared from official sonroes," by Albertus Pieters, M.A., Nagasaki, Japan. This little pamphlet is the capable Principal of the Steele Academy, crammed full of the meatiest sort of informa- tion about Japan's very remarkable and efficient school system. The selection of a few things ' out of this abundance, a process which outlining makes necessary, has almost the appearance of an unfair discrimination against the matter that must be omitted. To secure a copy of this remedy one can recommend for such loss, pamphlet and read it entire is the only adequate
EDUCATIONAL
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MAGNA CHARTA. This very striking declaration is quoted from the introduction to the Code of Education promulgated in 1872: "It is designed henceforth that education shall not be confined to a few, but shall be so diffused that there shall family with an ignorant member. not be a village with an ignorant family, nor a That may
be regarded as the Magna Charts of popular education in Japan.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IN JAPAN.
Japanese law regards it as the duty of every parent to send his children, male and female, to school between the ages of six and fourteen, elementary course by the age of ten years, in unless they have completed the ordinary which case they are exempt. A yearly school census register is prepared of all children who will be of school age before the ensuing April.
A page is given to each child, and the register contains not only his name but also auch particulars as the name, residence, and occupa ion of his parents and guardians, the date of the child's birth, and when the period of school attendance begins and ends, with the date of bis admission to school sad of the com- pletion of his ordinary elementary course, or, if excused from attendance, particulars and reasons therefore."
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at the beginning of the school year, given to An exact list of the children in his distriot is,
the principal of each elementary school. The teachers having checked off from this list those who come to school, look up the remainder, and try to secure their attendance. Then a list of delinquents is handed to the local officers, who, with the school committee, carefully investigate every case. A persistent course of visitation and investigation is followed up until all who have valid reasons apply for and secure an official excuse. made that every child in the empire without The very remarkable claim is
such exouse is enrolled. The annual School Report for 19015 give the percentage of
Children of school age receiving the prescribed course of instruction” as 94.43, Mr. Pieters calls attention to the fact that out of a total population of over sevan and A half millions, between the ages of six and fourteen, more than one million are only sccounted for as "children in connection with education," with- out stating the time or the nature of such connection. They may not be in school at all, and may only be receiving home instruction. This consideration reduces the proportion of total enrolment to those under obligation from 94.43 to 78.91 per cent. It is interesting to note that over 99 per cent of the pupils enrolled are in dail‹ attendance. This is 20 per cent higher than the average in the U.8., which gives one a very high impression of the efficiency of educa tional supervision in Japan. The percentage of the entire population enrolled in the elementary and middle schools was nearly 12 per cent. in 1905, while in the U. S. for the same year it was a little less than 20 per cent., in France 14.25 per cent., while in England and Wales for 1904 it was 17.63 per cent, some ides of the degree to which popular This gives one education has become general in Japan.
A REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE. All this goes to show the reality and extent In this same connection the writer may say of Japanese prestige in matters of education. that this summer he was travelling with a This is now somewhat on the wans. Japanese Chinese friend in Japan, and we were astonished teachers teaching through interpreters are less at the extent to which the people generally are in favour than formerly, and official China is able to read, and even to write in the Chinese of late much less inclined than formerly t character. Not knowing Japanese we had to send students to Japan. It is even reported devise some scheme for making the neces that they intend to prohibit their going. But the sary inquiries for making our way about in influence has been and is still great enough to search of various institutions scattered in sil make something of a study of Japanese methods parts of that great city of Tokyo. My Chinese and tendencies important in order to understand | friend naturally had recourse to writing Chineesa the trend of contemporary education. Every and after a little experiment we found that
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