1932-04-06 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1932.'

BOOKS ON CHINA

AN ADDRESS GIVEN TO THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION,

by

Professor C. A. Middleton Smith, M.Sc.

Movements that have taken place in this country have affected other peoples. Great men figure in the nation's authentic history of forty centuries. Owing to the old polity of seclusion the intellectual leaders have

world's never received the

we them; but aS homage due to learn more of their works the ques tion of nationality is lost sight of in the consciouszeSS that men of to all humanity. genius belong Kublai Khan and Mencius are names worthy of a place beside Julius Caesar and Luther.

Selection of Books.

of Bulky histories the Chinese have been published but the aver- age European is ignorant of the causes that have sustained the most numerous and the most long-lived nation on earth. If we would learn we must read what others have writ- ten. And of book-making on China But there is the there is no end. old, old difficulty of selection.

3

a novel by Pear! Buck.

of Kal

I have mentioned "The Good

It runs

THE CHINA MAIL

In

1

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L

NO

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COLUMBIA

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THE MODEL HAS MET A REAL DEMAND FOR A FLOOR IN- MODEST STRUMENT AT A PRICE THAT EMBODIES THE FAMOUS COLUMBIA TONE,

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Average

соди He

survived in the pagoda and on the For fory-two years Parkes work It was my good fortune to meet! During most this graduate of the Hong Kong sign of "The Staunton Arms" ated in the Far East. the Park Gates.

of the time he was the dominant College of Medicine. I am afraid that I should find it difficult to write It is strange that I should be ten Euroeapn personality,

His daughter, Mrs. James about him with the enthusiasm of years in the Far East before dis- covering that Staunton had ved Keswick, entrusted to his blogra-his teacher the Jale Sir: James Perhaps it is unfair of out here. Since then I have tried pher many letters which "show the Cantlle. hard to find out all about his softer side of the indomitable Eng me to judge Dr. Sun as a result of life.

one interview for he was a sick man lishman." It is a remarkable story. It commences with a voyage out

At the age of fourteen (1842) when we met; a disappointed man.

Of course no one exists absolutely, to China at the age of thirteen, to Parkes took his place in a great

And into foin his father in Canton. A year historical scene the reception of but by interpretation. later the small boy is amongst the the Chinese Imperial Commissioners the interpretation the interpreter There can be, no doubt Arst of the British to visit Peking authorised to treat for peace with enters.

political pro and is conversing in Chinese with the "outer barbarians" for the first that, by careful

time in the history of China. paganda, Dr. Sun is being made to the aged Emperor.

Later comes the struggle to main- Off Nanking the British Admiral) appear to-day as China's noblest new-comer to Hong China is, to-day, under the search, them to any

tain the monopoly of the East India and General-on the flagship Corn-saviour.

attacks of the wallis-received the Chinese Com- There has been ne life of Sun to light of publicity. For centuries Kong.

1 will mention three books, each Co. against the

The deck was ablaze compare with Marley's "Life of Even scaled.

other free missioners. the country Was

with officers in full dress uniform. Gladstone;" possibly the day will now the part that the Chinese have typical of a section of writings in Mathesons and the

"In the midst of this pomp and come when be will be as popular played in the history of the world English. They are "Chinese Charac- traders.

Finally he is a Hampshire squire, has not been appreciated by Euro-teristics" by Dr. A. H. Smith, Art

published about forty years ago and an M.P., LL.D. and F.RS., the fore-pageantry of court and war, a slim with biographers in China as

authority in England on fairhaired boy with eager young Napoleon with French aspirants to peana.

still up-to-date: "China under the most

ly presented to the Imperial Com- Passion, Folly and Heroism. Empress Dowager," by Rackhouse China, an able writer and a notable face and vivid blue eyes was formal-literary fame.

I would encourage ambitious! and Bland; and "The Good Earth" scholar.

I cannot resist quoting from one missioners."

two sentences. The "Life" gives us glimpses of young Chinese authors to write, ia And I really must add "The of Staunton's book

Lung" by Ernest The first, written in 1850, is from Hong Kong in the very early days English, readable blographies of their national heroes. There are Wallet

It reads "Our pre-which are of great interest. It stands in a class of it- his own pen.

another this period

name writers about great men or about Eramah. Belt, because of its delightfulgent position in China is generally

felt to be a 'critical one."

stands out that of a British Con-peoples who may be just; but they His book) affect the mind like a blue book or humour..

The other is from the Report of sul T. T. Meadows. Ás

But if you its title suggests "Chinese

Parliamentary Committee of "The Chinese and their Rebellions" table of statistica.

is difficult to obtain. There is so exclude the intimate details, ro- Characteristics" deals, more or less, ja with the psychology and social life which he was a member.

as follows:-"Your Com- much of wisdom in it that I think mance, passion, folly and heroism It is an excellent of the Chinese,

in my judgment comes mittee regret to state, on undoubted 1 learnt more from one chapter on from the conduct of human affaire book, and, first in order of merit because it is evidence, that the trade with that the philosophy; morality and polity you fail to interest the

new country has been for some time in of the Chinese, than from any other reader.

It taught Last year Kelly and Walsh of great practical value to

a very unsatisfactory position, and source of information.

result comers.

of our extendedj me to respect certain views often published "Eminent Authorities on "China under the Empreas Dow that the

The Amazing Yehonala. that he has found no really ager" is an historical account eon-intercourse has by no means realis much misunderstood by Europeana. China" by Ronald Hall, who explains

Next comes the phase of the clusive book on the subject cerned with perhaps the most re-ed the just expectations which had

In this

"bewilderingly con- has noticed the markable woman of whom we have been naturally founded on the freer

access to so magnificent a market." Boxer rebellion. an authentic record.

Both of those sentences might nection let me remind you of Put-diverse and not infrequently flatly Earth" as the novel about China have appeared in the recent report nam Weale's "Indiscreet Letters contradictory" judgments of the He mentions so many books to be recommended above all others of the British Economic Mission from Peking," which gives a vivid different writers...

account of the siege of the legations.

after I had read this because it is the story which pleas-that visited China in 1980-81..

But beyond all other books of this that Staunton was appointed deputy to most, It Was America's It is easy to complain of books, el mae

Lord Amherst in the Second Em-period there is "China under the work it seemed to me that my efforts had been wasted during my acquaintances, we come bat seller for 1931. As with

bussy to Peking. Henry Ellis Empress Dowager." In Old Canton.

It is the history of the life and long leave last year, when I spent across those that we forget more

"Chinese Characteristics" comes wrote a "Journal of the Proceedings

times of Yehonala. There is a pro- quite a lot of time preparing this frequently than those that leave Insting impression on But Est on my list, but I confess that of the Late Embassy to China."

Another Pioneer in China. mise of romance simply in the sound address. I had to re-write it. But I might have come here and simply there are books that are of immense I have found books dealing with

The other remarkable figure of of the name.

named Hall has It would easily be possible to give said "a man importance in

They the history of this part of the world our lives.

book on this that they rank daring the last 150 years more en- this period, of whom biographies affect us so much

Chinese are of interest, was the Revd. not one, but many lectures, upon published recently a

all the with our parents, our proven tertaining than those on

So Robert Morrison, the pioneer mis-the dynamic character of Yehonala. subject-It will give you friends and our passionate experi- pychology, and social customs.

sionary who arrived in Macao in Born in 1835, she ruled the teeming clues needed to lead you on to a ence, so great is their influence upon Ishall deal with them first.

Great as was his piety and millions for half a century nearly complete study of China and the that would have! The history of the British in 1806. our mental outlook.

China has been closely pssociated missionary zeal, his claim to fame a cycle of Cathay with the autocracy Chinese;" and

rest upon

his remarkable of which only a woman is really cap- served my main object.

A list is given of authorities on During twenty years of residence with trade. During the intercourse must

Ten years to of the two peoples we find these work as a sinologue. It was Staun-able. Yet when she first came into in the Far East 1 have tried

trade so ton and Morrison who first opened the picture, as a power, rebeliton China and their works.

ago I tried to persuade my learn something of China and the ubjects of history and Chinese. I had no guide; I went laterwoven that we must consider up any sort of national communica was rife all over the Empire.

tion between the Chinese and Eng- This haughty, and very determin-publishers to include such

It was, therefore, the them both together. in a haphazard manner to

ed, but yet attractive woman, was and failed. We are all interested in some fish peoples.

even the Emperor's wife gratifying to me to see this guide shelves in libraries and in book-

The Revd. Dr. Pearce, some years not

his concubine; a lottery in way or other In history, especially

yet shops to

in to the industrious in print. find them

He gives lengthy extracta which there were a hundred blanks we grow older; perhaps because ago, lent me a bulky life of Morrison but

books includ- ve so often see history repeating it-in two volumes, but I cannot re- her masterful manner, she ignor- to a prize.

ed the stricken Emperor, brushed from various

and "Annals I suppose that the true his-member the name of the author.

and, ing But the prizes made me happy alf.

"Push and Go" Parkes.

Empress Consort

the court of torian is very truthful, and so is

is while yet in her early twenties, of and some, perhaps, made me

The next period of interest

and R. F. Johnson's ""The Lion and little wiser. And now I am re- inclined to make all the characters!

about the time of the Taiping Re-seized the power of the throne.

Also Is there anything on record to Dragon in North China," porting to you, as under oath, the to human that they are ordinary.

the And yet I remember once hearing bellion (say 1850) and the name lasting impression favourites have left on my mind. Mr. Baldwin say that unless a man that comes to my mind in this con-equal the astounding personal suc- from "Humanity and Labour in He mentions the "Memoirs of I shall give you no catalogue, and, makes his charactera into herces or nection found a blographer in Lane cess of this amazing adventureas? China" by Dame Anderson.

Guile and Charm. an-Poole. He wrote an excellent remembering that books about devils, or both,, he is seldom

"Life of Sir Harry Parkes" in. 21 It has been said that the history Thomas Hickey," a very racy auto- books are usually dull, I shall at interesting writer.

vola,

of the world would have been very biography giving a glimpse of Can-

had ton life in the late 18th century. tempt to interest and even to enter.

This remarkable man entered the different if Cleopatra's nose I want to persuade you that if

If you

Many Civilisations. we wish to make people read about public service in China at the age been half an inch longer.

He also relies on "The Chinese He was interpreter, read carefully you will come to the

Catholic conclusion that, whatever the Empire", by a Roman desire, I am confident that soon you the history of the last century and of fourteen. will become an earnest student of a half in China, we must pick out vice-consul, consul and Minister.

length of Yehonala's nose, whatever Priest, H. Hue; Dr. A. H. Smith's heroes or devils and write history

Woodhead's "Truth the subject.

handicap of personal appearance she works, and

He might have possessed, she would about the Chinese Republic." have conquered in the end. For contrasts the views of authors whom she had guile and charm as well as he labels "realists," "pessimista" braine. She always knew what and "optimists. A

In summing up, he says "with re- ahe wanted and, as is not unusual with her sex, she invariably got it. gard to the pessimist party, it is She probed into life in all its not surprising that it should contain varying phases eager, inquisitive, a fair sprinkling of missionaries." determined to satisfy every emotion 1-have noticed that, in their writ of her complex nature.

ings, this class is either unduly But the terrible tragedy of the optimistic or very pessimistic,

Or is that they come out keyed up Boxer movement was Yehonala's supreme mistake. True it is that with enthusiasm and write in she suffered but little for it, in bouyant style reflecting that mood; comparison with those whom she and then gradually find themselves aided and abetted, and who sub-disillustioned? Do those of us who H.K. Electrics, $72/78/sequently paid with their lives the live longest in China grow more and Hong Kong Ropes, $16.

penalty of their loyalty to this as-more pessimistic? And is that al- tounding female.

together the fault of China or is As the authors remind us, the some of it due to Anno Domini?

119.

Blanks and Prizes.

which

P

For if once I can lead tain you. your thoughts in the direction

Heroes and Devils,

Most of the writing on China is around the characters. And that

of

merchant ad- XIXth cen-

LOCAL SHARE MARKET.

by people who know the country, at is why I shall mention names. though sometimes I think there are The most interesting periods, to First of all who resemble one of my mind, are these. novelists

to the early efforts Dicken's characters. In order write about Chinese Metaphysics, venturers before the

The official summary issued by he took down an encyclopaedie, tury.

Everyone knows of Marco Polo's the Stock Exchange to-day states: read up China under C, Meta-

"Anson's voyage round Rates were further marked up physics under M and combined the travels.

and fair all round the World" (1744) gives perhaps thir morning, information.

the earliest glimpses of the life of enquiries are in evidence.

Balcs, Re- It is an obvious qualification that European traders in Canton.

Hong Kong Banks, $1,500. another. book entitled

Raubs, $37.

Local Qualification.

a writer should have resided in the cently

country. But residence alone is "Europe in China" by G. F. Hudson not sufficient.

It has been praised! As Dr. Smith re has appeared. .marks, you may work for years fa in the Spectator.

It is a survey of

a silver mine and still be unable to foreign relations from the earliest write a treatise on currency.

times to 1800. Some Europeans are familiar Then there is the time when the with the pottery and porcelain of power of the East India Company and was on the "wane China; some have had an oppor, in Canton tunity to take an interest in her Hong Kong was ecded to the Bri pictorial' art. Few, however, hava tish-say 1800 to 1842. The name acquired any knowledge of the that stands out in my memory in extensive literature about the pes this connection, is not the famous ple.

missionary Dr. Morrison, not the

Yet in China, for centuries, the active Mathesons, nor Captain Eliot, scheler was the super-man, the but Sir George Thomas Staunton. "superior person.” To the mind I came across his "Miscellaneous

of an educated Chinese, great liter Notices Relating to China" quits

ary work has always been consider ed to be the supreme expression .of art.

accidentally some ten years ago,

There were two Stauntons, father and son, who lived in Canton, and the son was probably the most ro mantic European In China of the

If you really want to learn some thing about a subject: you should try to lecture or write about nineteenth century,, And so I made the attempt, yeui In The Early Days. ago; to put down my impressions He was a great Englishman who about China on peper. It served that East India Company, in 'much more difficult than I had anti Canton for many years. On his cipated. But it sent me again retirement he lived at Leigh Park and again, to the bookshelves that in Hampshire. As this Park ad- :contained the wisdom of others. Joined my father's small estate," I

Typical Books,

knew it well as a boy. Often

I found that I was often dis wondered what was the origin of a appointed. There was such a kč small pagoda with the family of dull reading. But certain tablets. The Stauntons had wolames pleased me. It is there passed away Leigh Park was fore natural that I should command owned by others, but the name

Providents (Old),;$4.85.-- Hong Kong Realties, $10.90. Ewos Cottons. Tia. 143⁄4---

Watsons (Rights), $814/.50. Govt. Loans, 4% Premium, - - Buyers.

Hong Kong, Banks, $1,500, Bank of East Asia, $114.

Benguets, $12.85. Raubs, $87. : Wharves, $141.. Docks, $22.

Providents (Old), $4.85. Providents (New), $21⁄4 Hotels (Cam. Rights), $18.85. Hotels (Rights), $2.60. Hong Kong Lands, $77. Hong Kong Realties, $11. Chinese Estates, 385. Ewo Cottons, Tis. 14.70... Hong Kong Trams, $21. Star Ferries, 1910 ke Malala' Hong Kong, Electrics, $72, Telophones (P.P..),, $25.75. Cements (Combined), $18.15. Watsons (Cum, Rights), 315 Watsons" (Rights), #8, Amusements, 1214 Antadores Constructions (New), $1.85

Govt Loans, 34% Premiiaam.

Malabon Sugars, $21. South China Enterprises $10.

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CORDON BLEU.

life of her Court was one of pro- Valuable is Hell's opinion: "Itu ban quch hàn found learning and crass stupidity; it sometimes said that China is not

of infantile alety and sudden a nation put a civilisation. It is. THREE STAR

not a civilisation, but tragedy, of flashing fortunes and however, swift dooms,"")

many civilisations, ranging from the Fierce as an effective oriental most primitive to the most re ruler of her period had to be, she fined."

could on occasions be kind, And About Hong Kong. she had a rough sense of humdur.There are many references to which must have been a great asset Hong Kong in various books, but and was possibly her salvation... there is no complete history of the

At times she was extravagant Colony A

and Hoentious, at others she was Eltel in 1895 published his Just an eager gossip. She won the "Europe in China" which is really respect of scholars because of her a story of the first afty years of lope of literature and profound Hong Kong. The book is dull yet knowledge of history. She... useful, but is out of print. 19

Alas! I am Hmited in time. Norton-Kyshe wrote A History Turn to the book that gives you the of the Laws and Court of Houg true, true story of the world's Kong." The tale is carried only as Worlder woman, and be thankful far as 1883 It is tedious reading you have lived outside the circle of but is a mine of information för e

really "live" story

Young China's Hera,

Then we come to books about overthrow of the

and the emergence of Honal bero. Dr. Sure

Hong Kong Around and About” has been recently published. The Authors are Mr. Peplow and

(Continued in Page 5

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