1933-02-28 — Page 6

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Sunimit

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coat-cut style

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Courtesy and Service" is our slogan.

THE PIONEER SILK STORE CHINA BUILDINO,

A Reflection of the quality of the famous Kohinoor Diamond to be found among the silks and

satins at the

QUEEN'S ROAD, CENTRAL.

KOHINOOR

OOR

INOOR

DIAMOND

Proprietor SILK STORE

V. Rupchand CHINA BUILDING Tel. 25350

SINCERE'S

CLOSED

TO-DAY

FOR STOCK-TAKING

RE-OPEN TO-MORROW

NOTE THE CHANGE OF OUR BUSINESS HOURS

MARCH

COMMENCING

WEEK DAYS

From 9 A.M. To 8.30 P.M.

SUNDAYS

rom NOON Ta 8.30 P.M.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1933.

MASS EDUCATION IN CHINA

ILLITERACY NOT DUE TO DIFFICULTY OF CHINESE LANGUAGE

CHINESE PEOPLE LEARN EASILY AND SPEAK WELL

-(From Our-Own Correspondent).

THE CHINA ENTER- TAINMENT CO.

Decrease in Takings at King's Theatre

STAGE PLAYS BESIDES CINEMA SHOWS

The annual meeting of the China Entertainment and Land Invest- ment Co., Ltd. was held at the Còm- pany's offices, King's Theatre Build ing, yesterday. The Hon. Sir Shou- now let it be known that this gentle-son Chow was in the chair, and in man's card informed me that he had the course of his report, dealt with been Educational adviser to two the decrease in the takings of the provinces, I know he was a member King's Theatre which he attributed of a Mission sent to Japan years ago to trade depression and general ad- to investigato Educational affairs, verso conditions. He also referred This man in a few days brought me to the films, and said that besides. an answer to Mr. Wei's address in cinema shows, the management aim English, with which I will not to present first class stage plays trouble your readers but just one obtainable in the East. point, he said that the present sys-

KANCHOW, Feb, 18. Some days ago I read the report, of a lecture given in London by Dr. Joseph Wei on the above subject, and if the lecturer has been correctly -reported, ho-made some astounding statements. The report says Dr. Wei told his audience" "The reason why China had a very large per- centage of illiteracy was due to the difficulty of the Chinese language" I must confess this staggered me,tem of education was tending to it never occurred to me that any make more illiterates, I questioned educated Chinese gentleman occupy this, but he proved it. The doing ing such a high position in the away with the old village school in educational world of this land, could which the very poorest could bave really make such a great blunder. their children taught, was a step in It was a very simple thing for the the wrong direction, as the present learned Dr. to write a few Chinese cheapest school is far removed from characters on the blackboard. which the ruonetary reach of thousands of to the uninitiated would look very those who could get some education: formidable, but if his thesis is true in the old days. With this in mind then the great amount of illiteracy I began to look around the city, to be found in some of the European and found that at present there is countries is due to the difficulty of only accommodation for two thou: In the Profit and Loss Accounti the language of those countries, and sand children in lower primary you will notice in the Balance from of course the great amount of schools, while there is at least the Working Account that the net.

Those present at the meeting (Chairman), Hen. Dr. S. W. Ta'n were: Hon. Sir. Shou-son Chow (vice-chairman), Mesara. Chang Fat, Li Jowson, Chang Kwai Yuen, Liang Chi Hao, George Y. Sun and Wong Kwong Tin (Directors), Messrs. P.M. Hodgson, Fung Fook Tin, Chow Tung Sang and Li Lin Chee (shareholders).

In moving for the adoption of the report and statement of Ac- counts, the Chairman said:-

ASSETS

£13,000,000

BY APPOINTMENT

CLAIMS PAID

£40,000,00

GENERAL

ACCIDENT, FIRE & LIFE ASSURANCE CORPN., LTD.

All Classes of

INSURANCE

WORLD WIDE

ORGANISATION.

AGENTS

JAMES H. BACKHOUSE"

1A, CHAFER ROAD. TEL. 21733.

illiterncy to be found in England three times that number of school earning is not very much different ITALIAN

ode hundred years ago was due age, who ought to be spending some to the difficulty of the English lan- time every day in school. Thus this guage, I wonder how many of his new system as it works out right audience really followed the lecturer, here, is condemning two thirds of ains there was no good Aquilla or the rising generation to the ranks Priscilla present who would take of the illiterates. Dr. Wei says it the good Dr. home for a cup of is because of the difficulty of the tea, and instruct him in the way of Chinese language!!! Education, more perfectly.

Lack of Facilities.

St. Paul and China To-day.

from that of the preceding year. Our theatre takings have suffered a decrease owing to the trade depres- sion and the general adverse condi- tion prevailing throughout Inst year. As far as I know a few of the other theatres have suffered a similar decline.

Fortunately for

Stage Plays,

+1

us our Theatre is, the most modern and centrally situated in the colony, and this advantage, coupled No Dr. We the illiteracy to bo

with a careful cutting down of our The Chairman's names was Giles,. found in your good land is not due now that is a name to make any ous tain more or less the same balance expenses, has enabled us to main- to the difficulty of the Chinese who has been in China feel. sure as that of the previous year. gunge, the real reason lies in a very the things he did say we find It Theatre Building. I am again pleas

of hearing something, but amongst The offices and shops in the King'a different direction, and just in the is still impossible to be understood ed to say, are all occupied and the same direction as illiteracy in any when you read aloud any book ir rental therefrom, excluding Rates other country Viz:-The want of Chinese" I remember a classic in- and Taxes, amounts to approximate- educational facilities. . Let the Government provide sufficient lower years ago on a street in Hopan Pro-

stance of a famous Missionary many ly 87,000 per month. primary schools for hil children of vince, and when he had finished schools, age, and enforce the atten reading aloud the first Chapter of dance thereat, for say, twenty Romans he was in great danger of

In the Land and Building and years, then investigate and see being mobbed by that crowd who there are also slight increases-b where your illiteracy stands. The insisted that he had incorporated

Fixture and Equipments Accounts

when in his home district in Ulster, people of this district, Might I ask Rooms in the Theatre. The Thea- writer is old enough to remember into this book the bad doing of the ing works done on the stage and the Dressing where as a boy her often wrote let did they understand what was read tre is now ready for stage presenta- ters for illiterates, but at present One hardly knows what to think tions as well as Cinema shows, and there are no illiterates to be found when, auch things are put over on it is the aim of the Management to in all that district, how was it over-unsuspecting audiences, by people present first-class plays that are ab- come, simply by Free and Compul-who ought to know better, but again tainable out in the East. sary education for all, no change we say perhaps they have all been was necessary with the good English wrongly reported. alphabet, neither is there one, ista of reason for the changing of the characters of Chinese in order to combat illiteracy.

the completion: of

Last year the Cooling Plant work- ed splendidly throughout the sum

The Films.

The films shown at the

theatre

If it had been recorded that the mer months and proved a real boon Chinese Classics or other works to the numerous patrons of King's written in that style could not be Theatre. understood when read aloud then All Chinese Speak Well. we say, Amen, such are made for

the Eye not for the ear, but that during the year included many of Hundreds of Chinese boys and world's Classic The Bible, which is the finest screened in the Colony. girls have passed through the still the best seller, and the most This year we have an even stronger writers hands these thirty odd years, widely read and understood book in line-up of high-class films, compris and are to be found all over China, this and all other countries, for this ing elections from the leading film but of these found any great difficul- I say, to be deliberately left out producers of the world. And I may ty with the Chinese Language nor of count is not to the credit of the add that it is the aim of the Man- with the Characters used to express people concerned. The writer has it, and by the way was the lecturer held the privelege of reading aloud agement to run only the best in all justified in blaming the language out of this Old Book very often,

kinds of Entertainments. for the difficulty found in the and although he is only a Foreigner character. I have never met one can be understood by the ordinary Chinese who did not know his own man, even if the latter be unable language and speak it well, except to read because he has not had been the Dumb, but I have met many able to spend five or six years at who could not write it, the kindest school. Yes. Chinese che be read thing will be to believe he has not aloud to and understand." been correctly reported. The hun dred odd who occupy these desks to-day are not finding any great dif- ficulty in these characters, only thatj which we found when we started to make those books, and made them badly at our first attempts.

Defence of Chinese Script.

Now just a word about what was mentioned about Phonetic Script at that lecture, to those who know a little about this great language and

2t.

in any way the Educational authori-sacrilege to lay

CONVENT PRIZE GIVING

THE SCHOOL'S HIGHEST ENROLLMENT SINCE 1860

LADY PEEL DISTRIBUTES THE PRIZES

The Italian Convent School, Caine Road, bald their annga! prize distribution and concert at the school yesterday evening. In her report the Headmistress remarked that the school had at tained an enrollment of 507 pupils, the highest recorded since the schools inception,-in 1880.

The occasion was honoured by the presence of Lady Peel, wife of H. E. Sir William Peal, the Governor, and the Right Rev. Bishop Valtorta. In school hall was a happy scene many parents of the pupils and friends being present.

A delightful concert preceded the prize distribution in which the school children showed remarkable dramatic talent and musical ability. The feature of the programme was the pianoforte selection by little Miss Annette Chen, age 8 years. This little player was not tall enough to reach the pedals and bad to be assisted into the chair! She showed an exceptional knowledge of music and after rendering "Knight Bopert" (Schumann) she play-

an equally difficult piece by memory.

ed

A scene from William Tell" and the flower song entitled "The Intruder' were very cloverly` presented. The final item on the programme, a recitation by little Miss T. Podolsky, who was dres ed as a 17th century gentleman, won the warm applause of the audience.

THE HEADMISTRESS REPORT

The Headmistress in her report stated:....

!

A more interesting method in the teaching of Arithmetic has been also introduced with success.

writing off 838,474,20 amounted to The net profit for the year after 8106,441.72 and with $1,318.10 being balance brought forward from the record on the School work for the hygienical conditions of the Class

I have no outstanding feature to previous year, the total amount past year, except that the Pupils room and Boarding places have The health of the Pupils and the available $107,756.89.

for

distribution is come to School with an increasing been favourably reported by Dr. sense of happy concentration on Balean to the Education Depart Your Directors recommend paying their study that is all gratifying ment in his half yearly visits. & dividend of $1.00 per share for to the Teachers and visitors and Physical culture and drill have been the year, absorbing 809,558.00 and when they leave school it is with regularly attended to and in the leaving a balance of $7,696.02 to be keen regret and the purpose to re: Supomer interclass drill-display carried forward to next year's ac turn and live over dear school Class 7 gained the silver Cup for

The report was seconded by memories, were it even for a short the year 1939.

count.

Speci

tile. If Dr. Wei in what he is reported the symbols employed to express

Wong Fuk Tia and was passed un

During the past year some dis- animously.

The enrolment has been maintain tinguished visitors to hate told his audience represents

were taken On the proposal of Mr. Chow ed at ite highest level and reached around the class rooms such as It seems little removed from

hand on it or Ting Seng and seconded by Mr. Lithe total of 587 Bupils in the month Bay Father Byrne, Professor Fos ties of this land then the outlook in any way to try a substitute of Lin Chee, Messrs. Percy Smith of March, a figure never attained ter from the University, the new for Education is lark indeed. With any kind of description. We know Beth and Fleming were re-elected before since the founding of our Italian Consul, and various other all the talk about advancement and that the great world of commerce auditors. reform it must be conceeded that with typewriters to sell, will sooner

Institution in the year 1880. Theré personages, and all showed keen the Chinese Government have not or later make a successful raid on

is no abatement in the keen desire interest in the doings of the Stud yet began to even think about the it, and all such invaders will be

of the Chinese girls for the acquisients and were specially well in removal of illiteracy, or of the pre-greatly helped by such incorrect lec

tion of Western Knowledge whether pressed with the Manual work, ad paration of this great mass of hu- turers as Dr. Wel. Leave the great

in language, arts or music, and tion songs and clear, recitation of mans for the task of Constitutional Language, literature, and Idea

this bears out the great foresight the little ones in the kindergarten of the Foundress when she desired Department. Governmicht.

graphs, as they are. Let those who

that a sound education for girls want to spend a few years at them. None who take up the study of them away like all other things worth in earnest will ever fail, it gives while, before Hard Work.

Not Meeting the Problem. An educational friend visited me some time ago, I gave him the re- port of Dr. Wel's address to read. he was very much annoyed by it,

THREE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

O: A. BUNTING.

·SOLDIER FINED FOR ASSAULT

HITS TAXI DRIVER FOR NO REASON,

FI

with

Twenty two Students' passed the Senior Examinations obtaining e Distinctions in English, one in History and one in Geography, and Miss. J. Chaillet obtained the Mont agis French Prize.

based on high moral ideal should University Shocesses, be made the purpose and scope of A very brilliant result was ob all Sisters sent out in the Far, tained by Miss Josephine Wong who Fast

1 passed the Matriculation Private Ray Thomas, of the South Wéles Borderers was brought before

The School was visited by In-English and Geography and besides Honours "getting Distinction in Mr. Schioheld at Central Magistracy spector A. B. Sutherland in the the Government Scholarship. Tw yesterday on a charge of assaulting month of October o devoted Candidates passed the Matricula a taxi-driver den

three whole mornings to a thorough tion Ezam. NU According to Inspector MoWalter inspection and it is gratifying that the accused ofgaged a tati at the he remarks that the tone and at Pedder Street stand on Saturday mosphere of The School Is Excel- night for a drive round the Co-lent; all the pupils are manifestly lony. Before betting out, he had well-cared for and Happy in their vehicle. He was knocked down, but a dispute with the man regulating

work. was not seriously injured.

the time, and when near Pokfulam Throughout the School the pupils Twenty Students passed the Li Yik Wong...a private.motor the face with his stick for no reason telligently, geography: bistory, and Distinctions in English, & in Ari he suddenly struck the driver on answered questions readily and in- Junior Examination obtaining 3. Thres traffic accidents were re- No. 849 along Castle Peak Road whatever. The accused had a very drawing are all very well taught ithmetic, 1 in Drawing, 3 in Need ported to the Police over the week knocked down a Chineso, Chi Wan. Poor record having been sentenced Mrs. Butherland kindly spent, a The Headmistress is well pleased

at the beginning of last year by a morning oxamining the Needlework end, but fortunately, in all of these / aged 32 who received minor injuries Portsmouth magistrato to 98 days which she found excellent and use to note that there are now eight the victims escaped with minor, in-

to his head and arms." juries/At about 3 pin on Bud Minor injuries were also received bicycle.

imprisonment for the theft of a

ful, and care and Undergraduates studying in the day, Ngan Kap Chung, Licensed by a fourteen year-old boy, Fong

University who were former pupils motor driver WAK

On being informed that the mili-

We endeavour to keep the school of the Italian Convent; the progres g's motor Hau who was knocked down by a tary authorition would settle the equipment at its highest standard, I of the young ladies will be watch- lorry No. 1862, along Lang Lung motor Street hen a boy of eight suddenly Wingpa

Nathan Road near fare which amounted to $2.30, His there being a plentiful supply of ed with keen interest by the Stall Sthat rond in front of

reet. He was taken to Worship decided to fine the accused new pictures for conversation and and may their behaviour be a credit Boy Kowloon Hospital

aral Composition,

ontinued on Page

BAD TIME FOR “ JAY- WALKER."

car owner, while driving his car

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Jawork. M