443
fully their reasons for adhering to the distinction drawn in the notice as to admission but would state that were the Chinese to be allowed unrestricted admission during the hours the Museum would practically be closed to European ladies, respectable Chinese women, and also to almost all the European residents of the Colony.
The position that women hold in China and the fact that a Chinese lady seldom goes outside of the private apartments of a house renders it perfectly impossible for a large number of Chinamen to understand the freedom accorded to ladies in Europe and America. This fact above renders it extremely undesirable that ladies should only be able to visit the Museum when it is crowded with natives.
The personal habits of the Chinese of the lower classes, who are glad to observe flocking in large numbers to the Museum, who eat with them rice, and whose clothing in winter is not in the cleanest state and in summer is of the very scantiest description, are quite sufficient to discourage Europeans from visiting the Museum during hours when it is crowded.
The Committee would have wished to avoid putting forward such an argument but feel bound to do so when pressed for the reasons that have actuated them in the matter. The arguments that might be adduced with reference to such places as the public gardens are totally inapplicable to a room on some occasions visited by 4 to 5000 Chinese in one day, where the crowd occupies a very large portion of the space which is not great, and where the temperature for many months ranges between 80 and 100 degrees.
Another fact that the Committee would call to your Lordships' notice is the necessity that exists for closing the Museum in the middle of the day in order to allow of its being swept out and cleaned. The staff attached to the City Hall is, owing to financial considerations, kept as small as possible with due regard to the amount of work that has to be done, and were the Museum to be crowded all day long, a larger staff of employees would be required.
The Committee wish also to inform you that though
443
fully their reasons for athering
to stre distinction drawn in
the notice as to admission
but would state that were the
Chinese to be allowed to you
unrestricted admission during
the
thie kusseum would day practically be closed to European ladies respectable Chinese women
and also to almost all the European residents of the Colony.
The position that
سند
women hold in china and the 'fact that a Chinese
lady seldom sen outside of the private apartinente of a house renders it perfectly impossible for a large number of chinamen to understand the freedom accorded to ladies in Europe and atuurien. This fact above renders it extremely undesirable that ladies should inly be able to visit the Museum whow it is crowded with natives The personal habite of the chinese of the lower classes who dan glad to observe flock in large umbers to the Museum, who
with them rice, and whore clothing in winter is not in the cleanest state and in
lat
garlie
summer is of the very scantiest-
description
are
quite sufficient
the
to discourage Europeans from visiting the purecum
during hours when it is the crowded.
The committee world have wicher to avoid putting forward euch
arr
argument but-feel bound to do so where pressed for the reasons that have actuated thum in the matter. The arguments that might be adduced with reference to such places as the public gardens
are
totally inapplicable
to a poom on some occasions visites by 4 to 5000 chinese in one Jay where the shour care occupy a
very large portion of the space which is not great and where' the temperative for many months ranges between 80 and 100 degrees.
Another fact that the Committee would call to your Lordships notice is the necessity that exists for closing the Museum in the middle of the day in order, to allow of its being swept out and cleaned. The staff attached to the City Stall is ouring to financial
considerations Kept as small ad
possible with dice regard to the
amormt
of
work that has to
be done and were the Museum to be crowded all day long a larger staff of employee's would be requires.
The Committee wish also to inform you
that though
at
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.