15
!
From personal observation, I will say that the more
cultured and refined the Englishman the less was he guilty of
incivility to the Chinese, but, particularly as the Chinese have
so seldom shown signs of resentment, it was hard for him to
remain unaffected by the example of others.
Unfortunately, many of the British in Hong Kong have
had to draw their conclusions of the characteristics of the
Chinese from intercourse with their servants, and the more illi-
terate and the 'gold digger' classes. Kost Englishmen in corrier-
cial life have naturally no opportunity of social intercourse
with their Chinese subordinates. And intercourse with the families
of Chinese of the reserved, educated and cultured classes in their
homes is most difficult without suitable introduction.
In the enervating climate of Hong Kong, no European can
afford to be without a house servant. Too often the dishonesty
of the servant is the 'first rude awakening' to the British house-
wife, and a strong prejudice against the Chinese people commences
from this bad start. I have heard English women say, "I have
spent a lifetime in China, but I have not been able to find an
honest Chinese servant." Chinese themselves have told me that
trustworthy servants are indeed very hard to find. The psycho-
logy of the Chinese servant is something for which the European
housewife should be prepared before leaving for the Orient.
Faults in the social structure and educational system
of the people in England may have an indirect bearing on the
attitude of the British people in the Colonies towards the
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