•
466
productions indeed compared with the highly artistic cards which are placed on the market in such enormous quantities to-day The inventive genius of the age which has rendered the printing of these highly finished productions possible, which has cheapened postal communications, an made rapid travelling by railway possible. has through each and all of these menne strengthened the old associations of Christ mas, which is essentially a festival of the home, and is therefore likely to remain for ever as it was in the ays of SHAKES PEARE, a time "so ballow'd and so gracious."
I
RANDOM REFLECTIONS,
**
am abashed. A correspondent has pointed out to me that I passed a joke last week, and did not realise it. Shades of my Scottish ancestors Bat I will let my correspondent speak for himself. He says Anent your comments last week on Shakespeare and spitting you might have read further, for surely Shakespeare had in mind a side walk in Hongkong when he wrote 'tis true tis spitty and pity tis tis true."
Occasionally we find it diffbult when the sna is shining and the air is mild to realise that Christmas is near but these damp cold days are reminiscent of the weather usually experienced Over- in England at this season of the year. coats have become fashionable and the fire has an attraction that cannot be resisted.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
look simple or ridiculous according to the point of view but it cannot be answered so readily
as the older problem. One might think that a
Chinese born in Hongkong, or the Straits or Australia was a British subject and therefore not a Chinaman, but, according to the law as interpreted this week, it seems that once a Chinaman always a Chinaman is the correct view. This puzzle might take the place of some of the conundrums which do duty at Christmas time.
Apparently we have misunderstood women. and the stage is the principal offender in per petuating the delusion. These are not the actual words of Miss Hilda Trevelyan, but they represent her meaning. Speaking at the (). P. Club in London, she said that the future of the dramalay in the hands of women, who were going to throw off the mask. Up to now men had so presented women in the drama that women had been amused, and had not had the heart to undeceive them. The things they made women do in drama so that men might do better. The holes they pushed women into so that men might lift them out! And women had pretended it was all just so.
Women now had decided to
tell the truth about women in drama. Inciden- tally, that would mean telling the truth about men, so, of course, they would have the police put upon them." Who tie themselves to the grille of the House of Commons Eh! Who interrupt meetings and ridiculous? Bnt, of course, it is ungallant to take the lady seriously.
.
make themselves
80
Retrenchment is in the air at present. The Committee appointed by the Government have got to work and I suppose their recommenda- Christmas, the happiest day of the year!tions will have some weight by and by. But That is one of our earliest beliefs which years why should the Government have been and experience tend to dissipate. Undoubtedly secretive in the matter? It is a question in it is a great day for the youngsters. It pos- which the public are deeply concerned, and it sesses a glamour which fond parents like to would have given greater confidence in the enhance, and the joy for adults to a large exten- Government had they announced that they were consists in seeing others happy. But what man
taking the measures that they have adopted. can be happy when he receives about ten pocket There is no occasion for all this mystery. books, a number of cigarette or cigar cases, fountain pen or two, and other more or less use.
ful articles when he knows there should be a quid pro quo for each? To such an one Xmas
is a delusion and a snare.
Don't let me prejudice you, dear readers. Have a good time, make it a real merry Christmas. Let your heart swell up with love to your fellows, but be careful of your digestion. The plum pudding is not always as innocent as it looks, and turkey may cause unpleasant memories. I will say no more. A word to the wise is sufficient.
I heard a good deal of discussion at the Happy Valley on Saturday as to the merits of baseball, cricket and football. It may have been what is called our insular prejudice that led so many to declare that baseball was not a bad game but it won't take the place of cricket.” or it may have been sheer ignorance, crass ignorance if you like. A number of the onlookers at Saturday's match were unable to grasp the points of the game. and so with a lofty disdain they declared they could not see any- thing in it. But baseball must have something in it to attract a whole continent, as it does iu America. It is the one sport that makes the
• American man forget his business and his troubles and endure discomforts cheerfully. The fury of a presidential campaign, the excitement of a diplomatic crisis or stock market fluc- tuations are as nothing compared to the fevered inquiry in the States What's the score?“
sacrifice
|
You will pardon me if adopt an attitude of superior wisdom, but I had the enlightenment of an American friend who helped me to "eavy" the points of the
I felt proud game. of myself when I saw the value of a " hit and realised the tricks of the batsman as he sought to bluff the umpire or read the signals which told the intention of a player. It was great sport. There is no doubt about it, baseball is a grand gaine.
*
The old conundrum When is a door not a door" is eclipsed by the new one supplied by the Chief Justice which be thus When is a
put may Chinaman not a Chinaman." The question may
L
The Eton Mission to China, with its avowed object of giving China an opportunity of the best education and of learning Christianity, is provoking some correspondence in home jour. nals. The Humanitarian" asks Are the Eton authorities RO devoid of the least grain of humour that they do not see the rank absurdity, of thus posing as the superiors of a highly- civil sed nation, when their own school stands convicted of the most disgusting savagery at home? It would be far more pertinent that China should send a Mission to Eton; and we
shall at least take care that the inhabitants of Chentu, where the Mission is to be posted, are
fully informed as to the character of the sports indulged in by their instructors.
A correspondent sends the following :-
To China's poor benighted race, O'er the far Eastern wave, Haste. Eton! Bring the means of grace
Those heathen souls to save! Teach them to raise the sacred sound
Of Christian praise and prayer; Then lead them forth to blood the hound t
And break the hunted hare !
་་
A Chinese gentleman improves upon this by writing to the Headmaster of Eton a letter in which he says that" with the aid of some fellow- citizens who, like myself, are conversant with English manners. I have determined to return the compliment by bringing a Chinese Mission to Eton, in order to give the boys some elemen- tary lessons in the duty of humaneness to animals. I would remind you of that ancient British proverb. · Charity begins at home. It being notorious, even as far as Chentu, that one of the recognised amusements of Eton boys is the blooding of hounds and the breaking up of hares--practices which would be regarded in any Chinese school as utterly wicked and immoral-it is evident that we Orientals may, 2 message of without presumption, send humanity and offilisation to your young bar barians of the West, of whom it has been said bya well-knowu writer that they begin their education in brutality when they ought to be learning to say their prayers."
RODERICK RANDOM,
*
|
|
[December 26, 1908.
HONGKONG.
His Lordship Bishop Lander held a confirma- tion service at the Cathedral on Dec. 22nd, and · laid hands on a number of candidates.
Mr. C. Paul Chater, nephew of Sir Paul Chater. was married at St. Mary Abbot's Church. Kensington, last month, to Miss Aileen Balthazar.
During the absence of the Ven. Archdeacon Banister from the Colony, the Rev. E. T. Barnett will be Acting Secretary of the Church Missionary Society.
His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Mr. Ross to act as District Officer in the New Territories with effect from the 6th instant, until further notice.
been
His Excellency the Governor has pleased to re-appoint the Honourable Mr. Hewett to be a Member of the Sanitary Board for a further period of three years, with effect
from the 19th instant.
A Peep at the Heavens' was the title of an interesting lecture delivered by Mr. J. I. Plummer, M.A., FR.A.S., at the Y.MC.A. Rooms on Dec, 18. The lantern illustrations were a feature of the lecture.
A Hankow contemporary states that the financial condition in the native city is improv- ing by leaps and bounds, and that already a peaceful settlement at Chinese New Year is
assured.
A marriage has been arranged, and will take place early in January, between Mr. Newton J. Stabb and Ethel Mary, eldest daughter of Mr. A. M. Townsend, manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, London.
At a meeting of the Chinese Commercial Union held on the 22nd inst it was resolved to petition the Secretary of State for the Colonies against recent legislation making spit- ting on the footpaths and in public buildings a punishable offence.
It is notified in the Gazette that Mr. Brayfield has been appointed Engineer Surveyor for private steam-launches under 60 tons, in place of Mr. H. L. Fletcher absent from the Colony, during the absence on leave of M. H. F. Carmichael.
His Excellency the Governor has been pleased, with the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to appoint Mr. J. F. Boulton to be Second Assistant Director of Public Works with effect from the 13th November, 1908.
His Majesty the King has not been advised to exercise his power of disallowance with respect to Ordinance No. 8 of 1908, entitled-An Ordinance to extend the provisions of The Liquor Licenses Ordinance 1898 and to provide for the grant of brewery-licenses.
Mr. Fletcher S. Brockmann, National Secre. tary of the Young Men's hristian Associations of hina, Korea and Hongkong is paying a short visit to the Hongkong Association and addressed a meeting in the rooms, Alexandra Buildings, last night. There was a good attendance to hear this interesting speaker.
On the 22nd instant the officers of the 13th to their, friends on Rajputs were at. home the polo ground, and a very successful gymkhana was held. There was a large attendance, and music was provided during the afternoon by the Rajput Band. Mrs. Watling presented the prizes at the conclusion of the gymkhana.
.
-
From the Broad Arrow we learn that Com- Naval modore Lyon has been appointed a A.D.C. to His Majesty the King in place of Captain E. J. Warre Slade, M.V.O., promoted to flag rank. We extend our congratulations to the new commodore of the Naval Yard in Hongkong.
His Honour the Chief Justice on Doc. 23rd delivered his reserved judgment in the original action in which S. J. David & Co. sued Chan Ut Chiu, late compradore of the firm, for losses incurred by them in their dealings with Chinese customers which, it was alleged, were guaranteed by the defendant, and in the counterclaim by the latter for the return of $55,000 security. à His Honour found for the defendant with costs on the claim, and for his counterclaim. The full text of the decision is published in this issuE,