Page
WESTERN VICES AND CHINESE VIRTUES.
11
прир
MR. ORME'S LECTURE ON.
PEOPLE OF CHINA."
TION CONTRASTED,
THE
Mr. G. N. Orme interested and enter
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 6TH, 1938
CHILDREN'S PARTY
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
AT
Où Wednesday evening about 140 children of well known residents in the Colony were entertained at Government House, by His Excellency the Governor (Bir 8. E. Stubbs, K.O.M.G.) and Lady Stubba. The entertainment was distin-
tained a roomful of ladies at the Helena thing you have get a subject for pride Verbal truthfulness they had not got | guished for its originality, and was
May Institute yesterday morning with a talk on "The People of China," in the course of which he contrasted Western and Oriental civilization, often to the dadvantage of the latter. The lecture was enlivened by many of the philosophie and humorous asides that have characterised Mr. Orme's obiter, dielu on the magis terial bench.
but it is not sufficient ground for despis ing other people. We must look for some more solid ground of superiority than
mere colour."
In considering his ostalogue» af: Chin- that nasty bleached colour which we aeo among ourselves to-day. Soms who went es vices," Mr. Orme caion to "untruth- It struck the Western very north, like the attese, also lost their fulness" black colon but not going into a misty much in the courts and was an undeni climate they chose the rather yellowishable vice. But it depended very much ORIENTAL AND WESTERN CIVILISA-colour, we see and not the dull white on the whole scheme of life in which it we acquired and are now so proud of was employed. The Chinese did not If you are topdog you can make any deceive one another and did not mean to.
particularly when dealing with Euro-immensity enjoyed. The well known rhyme Four-and-twenty peans whom they know did not under children's
On "Lack of courage "Blackbirds" formed the control idea of stand them. (the next item) Mr. Orte remarked that the schome. When the little guests sat Aided by another chart, Mr. Orme the Chinese in some minor forms of cour in length, was placed on the table. All down to tea a huge pie, some four. feet. traced historically some "of the other ago excciled Western, people 'na much as differences which helped to alienate the the latter excelled, the Chinese in thes were focussed on this giant's dish
The Western mens martial kinds
At the proverbial moment Father Christ- white and yellow races. races were quarrelsome people, always at
me, resplendent in red, gold and white, made & triumphal entry through a win- war with one another, conquering or
dow and at his request the children rose fearing conquest China thousands of
and realed off the thyme. At the words sears ago, got into a fairly comfortable
"When the pie was opened the birds be situation, settled, not Inter than 3,000
van opened and the four-and-twenty black- B.C. in the valley of the Yellow River
gan to sing the big pie was mysteriously and there developed a civilisation. They it was the result of their having to work birds" popped up to the amazement of got civilised and we didn't," Mr. Orme for a living: if they were to be rich they the excited and happy children. Father Christmas then proceeded to distribute summed up but later we developed an must be selfish, there was no way out equivalent civilisation and, being at pre of it; so that must be left alone. Self- presents to one and all and before making sent top-dog' we have called it Civilisa assertiveness "-to be strong one must his exit threw crackers amongst
Pointing to his list of Western befassertive. "Hatred, envy and children which were eagerly scrambled tion' virtaes, courage, officiency and the like malice"-probably non-existent but it for
After ten the guests adjourned to the Mr. Orme said "We cannot blame our prosent he regarded. it as a by-product of salves and we cannot congratulate our the theory that one was entitled to get supper room where a cinemetagraph show seive on them. There we were, a lot of what ope could out of one's neighbour. had been arranged, and two aims fea small tribes always fighting one another Love of money and power,some turing the tumitable Charlie Chaplin Consequently we got virtues which we people would put that in as a virtue: to and a symbolical film with Father Christ-
mas were screencil. particularly pride ourselves on; they are the Oriental it looked as if it were a
At the conclusion of the cinema show very numerous and the subject, of con vice. Lack of imagination."-ridicul-
the The guests dispersed to their respective gratulation in all the papers (laughter) ous to call that a Western vice!
But Mr. Romés accompanied by their amaha who Efficiency is one: that is a great virtua; sketching class knew better! courage is another, an excullent virtue, Orme thought that Chinese dramatic per- were present throughout the party in great force. It may be mentioned that always his the other man before he hits formances were superior in imaginative the children were attended by their mahs
Enterprise' is a virtue naturally power to ours. you essential for an island race."
and not by their mothers.
Mrs. Severn, who presited remarked that Mr. Orme needed introduction and the large attendance showed how keen everyone was to hear him.
Mr. Orme said he desired to discuss -Uhinese life and character character because characteristics emerged from the people's character. If one knew Į character well enough one would have no difficulty in understanding charac teristics which otherwise might surprise obe. The subject was of the greatest im portanon because it was part of the search after truth, with particular reference to our relations with the rest of humanity. Mr. Orme recalled the simile of Plató who compared his fellowmen to people chained in a dark cave with their backs turned towards the light and only allowed to watch the shadows as they fitted past on the wall They could not see what was really going on but the lucky ones among them lulled themselves into the belief that they saw the real world before them,
The lecturer next brought forward for consideration catalogus of Western vices," non-existent, of course, but ill intentioned people of other nations com plained about them, not realising that they were not there at all "Selfhness
the
Lady Stubbs and His Excellency as stess and host were present throughout the proceedings,
Amongst Chinese virtues. Mr. Orme “Then." I come to Western vices enumerated choorfulness, politeness (which Little care for knowledge and virtue we did not make enough of but which made HONGKONG A WORLD OF SHADOWS.
that will stick in everybody's gizzard life pleasant for the Chineset in spite of
Among those present assisting in the Plato noticed that in Athens"; re Have we no love of knowledge Have hard conditions), respect for age, good-fur and merriment were: Lady Rees marked the lecturer, be would be more we not compulsory education! But not nees and knowledge, mutual forbearance, Davies, Mrs. Claud Severn and the Hot. struck with it if he could come to Hong perhaps, voluntary education, that is a patience, self-denial "and self-sadrifice Mr. A. G. Stephen. kong nowadays. Here we live in a world better test of love of knowledge. Virtue (quite essential to getting on together of shadows and are too ready to take If you have any, and are wise, you keep when people were miserably poor). · them for realities. If by meeting, togo it quiet. : In a boys' school, you soon get
A; CALL FOR SYMPATHY. - ther and exchanging ideas we can get it, knocked out of you. Porhaps in a to understand something of what we see girls's school it is different "(laughter.history of the Chinese was that, individ- The general result to be traced from the before us it will be some, advance on
uals had learned to govern themselves. the road to truth. That is, if we desire to seek truth. The Greek philosophers Mry Ormo contrasted the development It struck the Oriental that the Western thought it was only necessary that a man of China. The people settled down and had not thought out the problem of life.
thing to follow it. The Washington Con- ference is making very world shaking decisions but those decisions will ova porate if the people for whom they are made cannot enter into some mutual understanding, which will enable them to live together in a world that is rapidly “contracting. We shall soon be much nearer together, nationally and racially, than we have been. Not by meetings at Mac-but-by many small gatherings such as theso stall we get the wader standing necessary for the future peace
|
THE ORIENTAL POINT OF VIEW,
II
more fortu-
THE ESCAPED SINGAPORE
PRISONER.
POLICE COOLIE IMPRISONED FOR
- ASSISTING THE PRISONER. V
detention goom at the Central Police and who is still missing, & Chinese named Station, on the evening of Christmas day, Tang Chiu, aged 20, employed as a gardener at the police station, was charg noon, before Mr. Lindseil
aiding the prisoner to escape from legal custody. The defendant denied the charge.
should know the truth "to seek after it engaged in moral discussions; they co very much. Mr. Orme ürgod, in conch Following upon the daring escape of) but wo have learned since then that it sidered bow to live their life together. Bion, that Western people in Hongkong David Tsa; the prisoner "whose extradi- is one thing to know the truth and another | They did not care much about the central | should try to understand their less fortu- tion is asked for by Singapore, from the
government,village and communal life nate neighbours,-less or was developed. The people developed a nate, according to the point of view. The care for those humbla and to as rather first menus of contact was not even by despicable virtues, wisdom and goodness learning the language or the arts but and there was a great deal of interest ip simply by sympathising..
If some are China in discussing the duties of mind does to veces your need at the Magistracy, yesterday after- man, what virtue should consist of, and and does not hesitate to meet your nd how man could live together peacefully vances. You have to give them your com Going back to the fidence. A lot of people come here and, and harmoniously. earliest remains of their writings therp not understanding the prople, get suspi was apparent to misunderstanding at clous, that does great harm. We are apt all as to a moral virbio was but-com to bully them they notice that very ing down to the Greeks, 1,500 years later much, politically and socially and is the prophets of the Western races there every department. Perhaps the British was a great deal of doubt as to how i are not at all behind in that, the Chinese man was to behave apart from any are more in sympathy with the Ameri- beneficial results to himself.
cans who, not being an Imperial race, are very much less inclined to bully.
of the world.
In asking you to consider the rela tions of East and West, I will get you to assist me by stripping off all thow "trimmings and trappings which we wear but which are not part of our essential "lives. It is not fair. to compare ourselves, by the mere accidents and adornments which circumstances may give us.” Mr. Orme exhibited a chart called "Progress True and False. It set forth advance through care of self, family, society, and state to care for humanity at large and contrasted this with mere.
21
The Chinese had a great respect for productive labour; they were mast anxi "What can we do to help the Chinese ons to foster the artisan and agricultural It is a very delicate matter; they are works of the nation and in that respect
a proud race and not anxious to receive were unsurpassed anywhere. They had a benefits unless they can be given deli You could do something, cau-, contempt for the professions of force and evely violence and for the trader in the prim. tiously, in the poorer neighbourhoods by tive trader there was not much call for giving some entertainment or amusement brainwork and he was addicted to sharp to pour children which would bring a financial practice. In China the warlike pro- little brightness into their drab lives. It aggrandisement "We vaunt ourselves fessions had not been made respectable as is bad for both of us that we should live progress in the West," remarked they had with us; the different stand in the midst of a suffering polation Mr. Orme, and the most popular. form point in this respoet was due almost and have nothing in common with them. I have put on the right (a column of entirely to a different history. The in- The question is not an easy one but one Gellare, increasing from 310 to $100,000). dividual in the West had unlimited free that it is incumbent on you who come You may dissent from it in principle if dom to make what he could out of his out to the Fast to try and solve. It is not in practice, but if this were a men's neighbour but the
of the really very sad that people should come club and I offered by a stroke of a magic Chinese organisation was that the to, the East and live out of touch with the wand, to give my hourers truth" or individual could only make what he people amongst whom they are. You are ten thousand & year each I have no doubt could having regard to his neighbour.nt from our own with achievements in alongside a civilisation absolutely differ which they wo id choose, but if they The acquisition of a fortune was very chose money, they would choose wrongly, jealously regarded fortune was not a literature and art which, when one knows because, as Gilbert discovered, when we man's own except to speed for the good and understands them, will be found all have ten thousand a year we are no of his neighbour. He did not regard amongst the greatest in the world." Mr. better off than when we had one. That is Hongkong as typical in that, respect. A Orme, concluded by quoting an expert on a point to consider when you see swarm great many Chinese came here who want ancient Chinom art who said, "They are, ing masses round you apparently veryed to keep their money instead of spend our masters: We cannot get near them badly off. They may not be as unhappying it on their neighbours in their own "now" as they seem as we look at them from our country.
Mr. Orme is to give a second lecture motor care or from wherever else, wo
on the subjec, shortly and he promised lord it over them"
to answer then questions arising out of
the address just given.
way. By study and sympathy one could draw nearer to people of different eivilisation and colour.
THE COLOUR BAR.
feature
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST INDIAN POLICE CLERK.
FURTHER CHARGES PREFERRED.
Before commercing of the case Mr. Lindsell inspected, the detention room from which the prisoner escapeti It is situated in the East Wing of the new block of buildings, facing the compound The room is a large one, with long win- dows opening on, to the police compound. These windows are heavily barred and eau be opened from the inside. There would appear to be no difficulty in pass ing in small tools to a prisoner through the barred windows which are not more
the than 4 feet inches above
ground level. The lock socket in the door post had been cut away and as a a deception to the guard patrolling the compound the prisoner had arranged a lifelike dummy in the" bed from which protruded pair of stuffed socks. Underneath the pillow of the door in said to have been forced. the bed was found a chisel, with which
From the evidence adduced it appeared that the gardener had acted as messenger between the prisoner and the prisoner's wife, who at that time resided in Sing Ming Lane, On the firat occasion the gardener asked the prisoner's wife for $5, This was required, he said, to buy told to bring a chit as proof. Later the cigarettes for the prisoner. The man was defendant was sent round again to ask for $20. The woman told him she bad money, but was going to pawn some clothes.
no
The next stage in the evidence was the proving that four gardening implementa a shovel, a hatchet and two sharpened wedges belonged to the defendant.. This was proved by a police coolie who at times acted as a relief for the gardener. On December 29th one of the sharpened wedges, was missing. It was afterwards found in
rattan basket containing fire- wood, badly twisted as it had been pressed into the narrow aperture between
the door and the door post. The marke on the wedge were new and the dents in the door fitted exactly with the size of the wedge..
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HOME WESTKAN," WÜKTGES.” Dealing further with "Western virtues Mr. Orme had another chart showing the divergence from one another of and Chinese vices," Mr. Orme indicated Western and Chinese rades since they the Western virtue of "cleanliness" and started together at the period of Early advised his hearers not to pride them- If they could Man." "As he drew it, the divergence selves too much on that.
ince the Middle Ages had become more go back to their forefathers they would Route and he suggested that, as the West be repelled The Chinese might be, a bad become rich and powerful, the little behind us at the present day in divergence had become much greater than cleanliness but Shakespeare and Dr. John
son would be more inpleasant to us in Father Mahomed, an Indian clerk as the discovery of the escape of the A Chinesa Constable, who gave evidence. it was a fow hundred years ago. West had had such a good time and had that respect than our Chinese neighbours ployed in the Police Accountant's Office, prisoner, and who had difficulty in ra so many opportunities that it had be word. The Western virtus of concern was again brought before Mr. Lindsell membering the dents of escape, was describ come more and more difficult to get into for physical suffering Mr. Orme sug at the Magistracy, yesterday, in connee ed as a "fool" by the Magistrate, and touch with people who lived in a different gestel was a virtue of a life of well tion with a charge preferred against him asked how long he had sient during hisWm
Sensibility in this of having & quantity of goods 4 hours, duty on that particular-night. being and leisure matter depended a great deal on the by false pretences.
Two statements made by the defendant hazdnem or softness of the life one lived, It was stated at the previous hearing on his arrest, were produced and read to Shakespeare and Dr, Johnson did not that on December 28th, the defendant the defendant by the Station Interpreter. bother much about physical 'muffering; obtained four rugs from Ab Men and The first was important. It was that. The most insuperable difference," con- they laughed at a fellow who was suffer Hing Cheung, the tailoring firm in the prisoner's wife had offered the defend. tinued the lecturer is the colour baring. In this contortion Mr. Orase quoted Queen's Road Central, stating that they ant $90 to get a chisel. In the second We feel, and partly acquire, a feeling of a passage from Boswell" about skin were required. For the Police motor statement the defendant said he knew contempt for people who are not so plea ning eels alive which showed no sym-ambulances. The firm referred the order nothing about the escane, an santly bleached as we are ourselves, pathy with the celThat was only to the Police Accountant's Office for The defendant pleaded ignorance With a view to making it easier. I would 150 years ago, he reminded the audi- substantiation, and this resulted in throughout the case and at one stage said
What is ono like to recall you to your ancestors I see and continued:When you live Mahomed's arrest.
man's word against won't take you to the Ice Age because oorafortably-it-is very easy to treat the cat At yesterday's hearing two further truly 1 you will find it rather cold but I will nicely, to sit in an armchair and stroke charges were preferred against Mahomed; Mr. Lindsell ordered the man, to be take you back to the pleasant days when it, but if you have a big family and the one was of obtaining a sum of $2,000 by sent to prison for six months. mankind first found it possible to subsist fifth share in a crowded floor you cannot false pretences, and the other was that without getting into caves-when civilis bother very much about the cat; it must of using a forged chop to obtain this tion began to dawn Those days must fend for itself. And if you get 20 cents sum of money, have been passed in some warm, tropical for carrying chickens in erate, however climate and, whether wo were all one nic it would be to give them all plenty family or not, I think there was not very of accommodation, you cannot afford to much to choose between us in point of make two journeys if one will do." -golour. We were pretty well browned, Then Mr. Orme looked at the question if not, blackened, by the sun. Subsistence in another light"Our Chinese neigh- became, difficult and we outsiders, be bours," he said, do not regard us as cause it appears that the negre is a rather so very much ahead of them when we go higher type than ourselves hind to begin out to shoot birds. But, it in a noble moving north and south to FL colder sport and puts us above concern for elimate and we began to lose that delight physical suffering. Even the gentle art ful colour which we now associate of fishing is unpleasant, I believe, for naturally with the negro. We became the fish."
Mr. T. M. Hazlerigg Assistant Crown' Soleiter, conducted the case for the pro- seccion and Mr. Longinotte represented the defendant.
In reply to a request for bail Mr. Lindsell said that he could not see his way clear to grant the application.
Mr. Hazlerigg pointed out that the maximum penalty for such an offence was 14 years, imprisonment.
The application was refused and the defendant was remanded in polion our Cody for one week.
SING SONG GIRL'S FATAL FALL
A sing-song girl, aged 20 years, fell from the verandah of the Kam Ling otel (third floor) Shektongchui at 1.30
fatally
death taking place two hours later It is reported that thay. young woman had been engaged to he married for some time. A few days pre vious to her death her lover broke off the engagement and the girl was very much upset. The circumstances point to suicide.
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