education
Central School. It has been said that the man is a benefactor to his country who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before. (Applause.) Our own little island is not an agricultural country, but it is, I hope, to take some part in the spread of manufactures and in the spread of technical science, which I am convinced will before long take root throughout China;
I think the Chinese gentlemen who are present should take this matter into consideration and open an institution at which not only Chinese students who have attended at the Central School but others also could attend for the purpose of advancing themselves in technical education. By so doing they would be doing a great good not only to themselves but to the whole of the Chinese empire. (Applause.) It is not an uncommon thing for free libraries to be instituted in the United Kingdom, but I would much rather see a thing of this done here by yourselves, brought about by your own unaided efforts, and I am satisfied it would bring, if not to yourselves, to your countrymen, a very large increase of wealth.
At the same time, if you will bear with me for one moment, I would say to you all, as I am proposing your health, it is not the amount of riches one can acquire that brings credit. The greatest credit a man can attain is the knowledge that he has done the best he could—(applause)—I think I am at liberty to say so because I feel that you, in subscribing for the Stewart scholarship, have done a good work. (Applause.) It is not a selfish feeling that has induced you to subscribe for it. Your object, as I take it, has been to do honour to your Head Master and also to encourage those who are to come after you. (Applause.)
I ask you to consider that your work is not done. This is the beginning of small things, to be followed, I trust, by greater things. It is not a matter that concerns yourselves alone, but the future of the school, and I hope that future head masters' names may be linked with the institution as Dr. Stewart's has been. I hope you will recognise, and also the boys now in the school, that you have each and all of you a certain amount of influence which you can use. I hope your influence may be used for good and that there will be an esprit de corps established such as exists in the public schools at home.
When we hear a man speaking of Rugby, Eton, or Harrow, we know he is attached to it and that he would not do a thing that would disgrace it. I hope the same feeling will prevail with regard to the Central School. (Applause.) Knowledge is power and union is strength, and if you, the old boys of the Central School who have grown up to manhood, will exercise the influence you now possess—in consequence of your training in the Central School and the knowledge you have acquired here—if you will exercise that influence for the purpose of showing that Western nations are not antagonistic to the Chinese—if, I say, you will do even this, then the institution of the Central School will justify itself.
I would ask the gentlemen whose health is proposed that they will not leave off with the founding scholarship. (Applause.) Apart from any Government assistance, I hope and should be rejoiced to see them take into their own hands the provision of a higher education than that of the Central School, and that old scholars will feel it not only their duty but their privilege to supply the scholars who are to come hereafter to the Central School with some means of continuing their studies. (Applause.)
Mr. WEI YUK, in responding, said—Your Excellency and gentlemen, I thank you for the kind and courteous manner in which the toast has been proposed and received; we are very much obliged to you all for the great pleasure and honour you have conferred on us by your presence on this occasion. (Applause.)
HIS EXCELLENCY—That, I believe, concludes the toast list, and I am sure every one here, English and Chinese, will agree that we have spent a most agreeable and satisfactory afternoon. (Applause.)
286
education
Contral Sobool. It has been said that that
blades
"dannatian they could possibly receive at the
man is a benefactor to his country who makes two of grass grow where only one grew before. (Applause.) Our own little island is not an agricultural country, but it is, I hope, to take some part in the spread of manufactures and in spread of technical science, which I am convinced will before long take phies throughout China;
I think the Chi-
ibe
nese gentlemen who
take
a kind
all
to
kind
and
aro present should
the matter into consideration and open of institution at which not only Chinese students who have attended at the Central Sabool but others also could attend for the purpose of advancing themselves in technical education. By so doing they would be doing a great good not only to themselves but the whole of the Chinese empire. (Ap- plause,) It is not an uncommon thing for free libraries to be instituted in the United Kingdom, but I would much rather soe a thing of this dona here by yourselves, brought about by your own unaided efforts, and I am satisfied it would bring, if not to yourselves to your coun- trymen, a very large increase of wealth. At the same time, if you will bear with me for one I would say to you all, as I am pro. posing your health, it is not the amount of riobes one can acquire that brings credit. The greatest crodit a man can attain is the knowledge he has done the best he could-(applause)- I think I am at liberty say so because I in subscribing for the
moment,
that
and
feel that
ject,
late
you,
to
Stewart scholarship, have done a good work. (Applause.) It is not a selfish feeling that has induced you to subsoribe for it. Your ob. as I take it, has been to do honour to your Head Master and also to encourage those who to come after you. (Applauss.) I ask you to consider that your work is not done. This is the of small things, to be followed, I trust, by greater things. It is not a matter that con- carns yourselves alone, but the future of the sobool, and I hope that future head masters'
are
day
names may be linked with the institution
as Dr. Stewart's bas been, I hope you will recognise, and also the boys now in the
I
a certain amount of influence
which
you
school, that you have each and all of you cau use. I hope your influence may be used for good and that there will be un esprit de corps established such as exists in the pablic schools at
home. When we hear a man speaking of Rugby,
Eton, or Harrow, we know he is attached to it
and that he would not do a thing that would
disgrace it. I hope the same feeling will prevail
with regard to the Central School. (Applause.)
Knowledge is power and anion is strength, and if you, the old boys of the Central School
ing
I
I
of the Stewart
who have grown up to manhood, will ssor- cise the influence you now possess-which you now possess in consequence of your train- in the Central Schoof and the knowledge you have acquired here--if you will exercise that influence for the purpose of showing that Western nations are not antagonistio to the Chi- zese-if,I say, you will do oven this then the insti. tation of the Central School will justify itself. would ask the gentlemen whose health are asked to propose that they will not leave off with the founding sobolarship. (Applause.) Apart from any Go- vernment assistance, I hope and should be rejoiced to see them take into their own bands the provision a bigher education than that of the Contral School, and that old scholars will it not only their duty but their privilege to supply the scholars who are to come hereafter the Central School with some means of continuing their studios. (Applause.)
Mr. WEI YUK, in responding, said-Your Ex. cellency and gentlemen, I thank you for kind and conrtoons manner in which the toast has been proposed and received, are very much obliged to you all for the great pleasure and honour you have conferred on us by your presence on this occasion. (Ap-
feel
from
the
We
planse.)
of
HIS EXCELLENCY-That, I believe, concludes the toast list, and I am sure every one here,
English and Chinese, will agree that we bave
spent
a most agreeable and satisfactory after-
noon. (Applause.)
286
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