1881-12-20 — Page 3

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH-TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20TH, 1881.

spent years in learning the true nature of substantives and proucans, when required to is surely at a discount. All his composo, mass of theory cannot raise him to a par with the practical student, who has taken to languago as au art, and knows that proficiency in arts la guaged by the capacity of doing, net of knowing.

cantor. We noticed Phantom walking in the paddock bandaged on both foro.lugs from his knees to his coronets and ho cortainly looks ompletely "Borewed-up," which is much to be rogrotted, as this was probably tho speediest of all tho subscription griffius.

The pedagogaos who have followed in the Dauntloss, Lord of the Isles, and

wako of Ollendorf are legion, I will mention, Lochiel were restricted to walking a fow Dr. Smith has adopted the systom to exercise; anil. Strathavon and Strath-hi"Principia Latina," one of the best mo. thods of learning Latin. He has also publish. paffer are still confined to trotting

o his Principin Grmos," on the samo work. To-morrow morning promises principle. Dr. Ahn has published the gram- to be rather interesting, as a lot of the mara of several madorn languages on the subscription ponies will be "powed." Qllendorffing ayacom, slightly modifled, Thomas Tate has employed the identical mothod in his olomontary treatise on Algebra. T. W. Piper has made use of the same indicative procoas in his Elomoutary Arith- metio. Joba and Thomas Hall have publish. ud a very compact French Course, after tho samo progressive and colloquial system. R. Young has applied the Ollendorffian method to the Gujarati Langungo. I could name

MACAO.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Macao, 13th Dagomber, 1881. That method is an indispensablu factor in all human undertakings, is a maxim univor. sally admitted as beyond doubt, Founders of grant systems, discoverors as well as the most rabidroformers have invariably followed some methodical process to nitain shoir onds. Tho promotors of tho Macao Lyceum thiomselves, whilst rajooting the system of

many others, but my spaco being limited, I will only any that the practical and pro- grensive system of those authors and poda- gogues is far superior and more useful than the old theoretical grammara and courses of

languages. Their morit consists in being synthetical and induptive, and consequently best adapted to the learning capacity of youths.

eudation at provont adopted here, uphold the oxcellence of samo ideal motlled, which it would be interesting to ascertain. Wo nay presume that the method held up as the model of reform, is that which roigus The promoters of the 'Lycoum syatsın of supreme at the untional Lycoams in Portu. odusation should make a comparative study gal. Now, by a judicious process of coin- of the methods prosently adopted in Macao parison, it will bo onsy to show the promo-sehools, before they assert such mothada re- tors that although their desire of effo: ing a quire a radical reforma. 'I' will expose the sweeping change of method may be singore method presently adopted at one of our odu- and landable in itself, again, under existing cational establishments, and ask whether effaumstances, their coach, unlike that of tho students will be gainers or losers in its Midas, will not couvert what actually crist boing substitutod by the old theoretical into gold nu lefiled-

aeystom uphold by the Lycoams. At the Commercial School, the national language is

I will promise a few remarke on what may bo understood by method, particularly in education. When we suo an army formedia batilo array, bright, glittering and pompons, wo do not call that the method of warfare. But when we sea the massiva columns being divided hors nud there, a battalion advincing in akirmishing ordor, another protecting the flanks, the main column ready to open a torront of fire, the artillery in position, the cavalry roady to charge, the actual firing and charging; the confusion, the appareat moléo, the thunder of cannons, &c., through that dongo fog of gunpowder smoke we ado the real method of warfare, producing victory out of apparent disorder and confusion. The Fame may be said of method in education, ospecially in its clomontary stage, and above all, in the study of languages. Grammar, in, its theoretical form, with its pompous array

of nouns, pronouns and verbs, with its pon-

dorous Syntax, its Prosody, and its intermia- ablo Rules, is just like a rogiment formed in purado; it is no more language, thaa parade. is war; it may be held as the law of the

language, bat as the students are not re- quired to apply that law to notunl composi- tion, to apply it in a thousand different ways from the manner it is writton in the digest of grammar, it becomes a doad lotter; the law falls into desuetude; the soldiers are not apt to fire; they are only a toy army.

Tonohors of languages of the old typo go- morally adopt their barron, theoretical ma- thod. They analyso grammar into its com- ponoat parts, and teach each part separately, thon, they give rules of constraction and agreemont, douominated Syntax. While the students aro loarning by heart the abstruse definitions, the long train of declensions and conjugations, they do little or no exorcise in the language they intend to acquiro. That oxeroise is mostly coufine to analysing olas- sioni tracts; the export analyser is considered to have completed the course of his national language. Should he study a foreiga lan. gungs, aftor grammar, ho moroly learns to translato; but after translating, he is not asked to compose. This is the system ao- taally in vogue in the Lyoaums. Thoro is a shadow of composition at the end of every yoar, but the bulk of the programme coit. tains a purely theoretical knowledge of the national language. As to foreign languages, there is not a word of practical exercises.,

It does not require very grant acuteness to coo that such a method is hardly worthy of the uppellation. Things ought to be taught as they can be learned. "We do not learn art by analysis, but by synthesis and induction. We may be a thorough gram. marian and bo nanblo to write half a dozen linos on a given subject. To learn a lan gungo is to acquiro facility of speech and correct writing. When we speak or write, we do not go by Etymology, conjugations or duolensions; we do not run the scalo of tonso- and moods, to find the note that suits our parpose; we are supposed to know thom in such a way as to be able to apply thom instantaneously and correctly; and thie knowlodga is not the result of more theory, but of long practice, which is a crangely neglected in the system of tuition of many schools of our daya.

not taught in its dry, abstract form, but by a constant application to the art of compos ing. At the first stage of tuition, boys aro taught to grasp at ideas and notions of things,

complata Portagause version of Baker's Circle of Knowledge is placed in their hands. While reading and grammatical analysis is going on, the teachers endeavour to make the pupils understand every thing they rand. They thus amass a stock of notions and. onrich their memory with words and phrasva. They are next required to express the same subject in various ways, to comment ou it, nad tako notes of everything romarkable. When they pass to a higher class, the same course is gnus over again, bat they are literally required to compose by themselves, and to point out every grammatical rule are uplified. They are thus accustomed not

The movomont towards substituting theory by practice, originatod mainly with Dr. Ol- londorff. Ho dissooted grammar into ita minutest parts, and gave enoh part the place it ordinarily oscipios in speech or in writing; he reduced language to its colloquial elo- mouts; gave these olements à constant appli cation, and made out of them progressive exercises, from the most simple phrases to the most complex. The student is required to talk and write his grammationi kuowledge at the same time; to have his daily exercises daly corrooted, to keep those corrections and make them a subject of further rosearch. Translation is only resorted to at the ont of the course, and then the pupila bogin to re- constract grammar by themselves, reducing the numerous rulos they have stadied in concreto, and in apparout confusion to their proper honds and formulating tho grammar of the language. Ollendorff's is a purely -inductive method, and although a littla tedious, it is productive of capital results. The Lycoum grammar student who has

only to the intron in friv til

to the formation and derivation of blouA. They not only mako grammatical analysos, but logical odes, and without ever studing syllogisms or the theory of propositions,

they are practically taught to argue, to dis. cass and to demonstrato, both vocally and in writing,

This is surely a great step beyond the old formality of learning graamar by heart and parsing, which is so wrongly considered as learning one's own language. When the boya como to study aglish, they go through the whole course of Ollendorff in the first year, writing down overy exeralso, and practising at the black board. Twice a week they have a clam of familiar conversations for three hours each time. The grammatical ruləvare copied in a 'separate quire, and studiod by heart. Oncompleting tho first year's,course, they have to write in English any parass or Bentonce given in Portuguese, and vice

vera L.

At the general examination, short trasts are givou for randing and translation, and explanation is required in English of all gram-natioil points of sono importance.

So much for the first year. During the

ments, to calculate freight, to make state ments of gonoral and particular average, to calculate the course of exobango, &o.

In Latin, the old-atyle grammar has been disonrdod, and Dr. Smith's Principia Latina introduced. In elocution, the Portuguese classics are analyond and the figures of spooch are practically learned,

Such is tho practical method adopted by one of our educational establishments. Tho promoters of reform ought first to demons trate that that method is radically wrong. and that their theoretical programme is radically right, before they dare to hold up the latter in preference to the formor. As I happen to bo more or loss acquainted with the so-called method of the Lyceum, I will eudeavour, in a subsequent article, to show its seamy side.

second year, the following couras is pursued. Grammatical rules are delivered by hoart daring the first half hour. Then, three times a week, the pupils are exercised in written composition. A short tract is pre- viously dictated to all, from some well written egy of a dobating character; the traat is afterward analysed, and its loading idea or argument set forth as clearly na pos- sible. A progressiva translation is made into Portugueso, fret by single words, then by phrases, sentences, and periods, finally in writing. When the tract in thoroughly understood, its leading idea is given as tho subject of the written composition either in the epistolary or in the didnotio furm. Boys write their compositions at home, and road tiem atschinol for correction. The corrected exervisos are then compared with the original piece takon as its model, and the discrepan- cies are pointed oat. Twice a waok, the saite subject that has been written upon, is mado the topic of familiar conversation and of a short speech, when mistakes are again corrooted and diffult points explained. By a persistent adoption of this method, pupils are insensibly led to porosive and appreciate the grand ideas, the arguments, the reflued expressions, and what may be termed the literary mannerisms of some eminent author, and while they learn the language, they cultivate their minds, enrich their momories, and insonsibly areep toward the perfection of the literary model sot ap for imitation.

AMOY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

AMOY, 15th December. In your issue of December 10th you stated that H.I.G.M. corvette Hertha went out to render assistance to the German barque Pallas, but failed to find the stranded vessel. I have since

been on board the Hertha, where I heard the following version of that affair from her officers:-"At noon of the 7th December, we were informed that a British steamer had reported that at Hui-tao Bay, a German barque was ashore, so directly got up steam and left Amoy two hours after, steering to the North along the coast in search of the wrack. We experienced outside a strong N.E, monsoon, almost amount- to a gale in strength, so we were unable to reach Hui-tao Bay in day- light. After sunset, or when it became quite dark, on account of the shallow.

ness of the water we love to about four miles from the Bay lowered oar. pinnace, armed u crow, and sent them in search of the wreck, with instructiona to render all the necessary assistance and return the next day to our ship in Amoy. The pinnace found the wreck the same night, a few hours after she parted from us, and reported that the vessel, the German barque Pallas, was totally wrecked about 200 yards

from the shore. Chinese soldiers had opened fire on Chinese junks that were hovering about in that vicinity with the object of plundering the wreck. The junks, on perceiving the pinnace, left the scene of the wreck and pro. ceaded out to sea. The officer in charge of the pinnacs then proceeded ashore and met a mandarin in the next village who had fifteen prisoners in custody, and who informed the officer that he had administered fifty bamboo lashos to each of the prisoners for attempting to pillage the ill-fated vessel. The officer of the pinnace being satisfied that the vessel was a total loss, and that the captain and crew had left one hour before in a junk for Amoy, returned in the pinaaoo to the Hertha, in Amoy, the next afternoon." An investigation, with closed doors, into this affair is being held at the German Consulate, the particulars of which will, I am told, be transmitted to Germany, for the consideration of a higher tri- bunal, where the final decision will be given.

only one article, coloured tin, at Tls. 8 per box for cash, or exchanged for goods Tls. 7; just the reveres of the practice hitherto pursued; the Chinese wonder what the next move will be.

The German corvotte Harths, Cap- tain von Kall, left this for Foochow this morning, en route for Japan.

The oldest Chinese and foreign in terpreter at Tientsin, Mr. Oban Lai- sun, left a few days ago for his winter holidays, and, if possible, to ascertain in Shanghai, if any redaction has been made in the price of Nordeufeldt guns.

In accordance with instructions from the Comte de Pourtales-Gorgier, French Consul at Foochow, Senor D. Tomis de Lozano, Spanish Consul-Ġeneral at this port, has been appointed Vice-Consul for France in place of Mr. Da Westley Layton'.

TIENTSIN.

Mr. Tong King-sing is to leave per Hadling for Shanghai. According to his report to the Kaiping coal mine shareholders, he is sanguine of getting next spring an output of 600 tone of coal per day, instead of as previously reported 1,000 tons; even the 600 tons is questionable, for according to native reports, they still say the same as they said three years ago-that the place solooted by Mr. Tong King-sing is not the right place, and therefore there is very little hope of gotting coal there, but there is no doubt that the

The Shanghai Mercury correspondent, writing on December 9th, says that Sir Thomas Wade is still there, and has had several interviews with Li, and is likely to remain a fow days more. Foreigners are anxiously waiting to hear how Sir Thomas Wade and Li Hung-chaug will arrange the opium duty, and bayers at present will not bay any

The Chinese London Morchants Company's prospectus in pamphlet This is done at the Englith class. Thoro in'o form is out, and creates a great sensa. separate class of commercial correspondeucation among the Chiueso; foreignors for those who are studying Commerco. Thoy hare to write Commercial lottors in Port- guosa and in Baglish on some given transac tion, and then compare them with "Andor son's Marcantile Correspondence" on the identical sabjorts, taking note of all tooànical words and phrases.

lu Book-keeping, after six months of prae-

tical oxplanations of the theory of single and double entry, the papils apend a whole year in posting a completo sories of transactions in the auxiliary and principal books. Is commercial nocounting, they do not only

Jearn what ara invojdos; account sales, &o. but are required to make oat those dogn,

wish all success to the Company, as cording to the pamphlet it is sure to to subosed; Li, former Customs Taotsi of Tientsin, is the chief Chinaman.

Dr. J. H, Maolenzio has loft at tho

roquest of Li Hang-chang for Poking

iron mines will be a success; that is,

to attend the brother of the Enstorn Empress, so medical skill is sought by the members of the Imperial family.

if the different ores, sent home to be reported apou, can be mixed.

Treasurer Eagan, of the Land League at Paris, telegraphed to Now York on November 4th as follows :--" Will Wendell Phillips come to Ireland to advocate 'no rent during the suspen. sion of constitutional liberties? The League will pay all expenses." Phillips in reply said: Ireland to-day loads the van in the struggle for right, jus- tice, and freedom, Let Ireland only persovore in her sublime patience, keeping within limits a peaceful agita tion, and her victory is certain. With unbroken front let her assault despo. tism in its central point-rent. Honest rent is the surplus left after the tenant has

comfort-material, intellectual, personal, and social comfort. Ireland owes none to-day, certainly not to the class whose government is the prison and the bayonet. How cheerfully would I do my part. How gladly would I share in the honors of such a

for

struggle, but the state of my health obligos me to give up public speaking. I can only bid you Godspeed and pray your speedy and ¡ complete success,"

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE,

THIS DAY, One P.M.

EXCHANGE. -

3/80 ...... 3/9

3/02

On LONDON-Bank Bills, TT.......... 8/84

Bank Bills, at 80 days' sight *. Bank Bills, at 4 months' sight Credits, at 4 months' aight Documentary Bills, 4 months' sight. 3/9 On PARIS-Bank Bills, on demand...... 4.67 Credits, at 4 months' sight *****.............. 4,79 On BOMBAY Bank, T.T. ...........BRIUM 223 On CALCUTTA-Bank, T.T.

...................................... 222) On SHANGHAI-Bank, T.T...

Private, 30 days' sight. .............

73 73+

HONGKONG TEMPERATURE: (TAKEN AT MESSES, FALCONER AND 00.8

A décided weakness both in Banks and Docks is the most prominent feature of this day's doings on the Stock Exohange. Banks are freely offered at 120 per cent. premium, and a firm offer at a lower rate would, we doubt not, be socopted. Dooks, after find- ing buyers at 37, are decidedly weak, and offers to sell at the same figure, either for cash or the end of the month, meet with no response. We observe from our Shanghai advices that business has been done in that Bottlement in Yangtze Insurance Shares at Taols 875, an advance of 10 on previous quotation. A few Hongkong Fires have changed hands, at 925, a slightly lower rate that we previously quoted; and at 392) good, business has been done in China Firos. Steamboats are also rather weaker, a few small lots being obtainable at 23 par share premium. Sugare have been dealt in rather fargely at 158, considerably over a hundred shares having been negotiated at that rate, the stock leaving off quite firm.

SHARKS,

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpo

ration-130 per cont. premium, Sellers, Union Insurance Society of Canton-$1,600

per share.

China Traders' Insurance Company $1,550

· REGISTER, QUEEN'S-ROAD),

Hongkong, 19th & 20th December, 1881. BAROMETER-1 P.M................ 30.834

Do. THERMOMETER-1 P.M..............57.

4 P.M.' .........................................30.300

per share. North-China Insurance Company-TI 1,128

por share. Yangtze Insuranos Association-Tle. 875.

per share, Chiness Insurance share, sellers ̧ ́ Man Oa Insurance Company, Limited-$25

per share premium.

Company-$290 per

On Tai Insurance Company, Limited-Tls.

150 per share. Hongkong Fire Insurance Company-$925

per share, Bales. China Fire Insurance Company-$292) por Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company-

share, Seles,

37 per cent. premium, Sellers. Hongkong, Canton, aul Masan Steamboat

Company 23 per share premium,

Bellers.

China Coast Steam Navigation Company→→→

Tls..102 per share.

Hongkong Gas Company-$35 per share. Hongkong Hotal Company-3100 per share.

Bellora. China Sugar Refining Company, Limited→→

$158 por share, Sales. China Sugar Refining Company (Dabentares)

-3 per cent, premium.

Hongkong Lee Company-8130 per share.

Hongkong and China Bakery Company,

Buyam

Limited $50 per share. Chinese Imperial Government Loan of 1878

1) par usut premium, ex interest 24 per cent. premiums

Do.

Do Do. BAROMETER.

4 P.M.............57. 1 P.M. (Wet bulb)...52. 4 Pal. Do. ...54.

AM 30.87± THERMOMETER-A.....5 6.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVALS.

Dec. 20, CARTSFORr, Captain H. F. Ste-

phenson, O.B., 2,383, Amoy 18th Do- comber.

Dao. 20. INCONSTANT, 5,780, Capt. Charles N. Fitzgerald, Amoy 18th December. Dec. 20, Baconanra, British corvette, 4,100,

The Chinese criticise very much a new form lately introduced a foreign-Chiness Tuportal Government Loan of 1881. firm offering to sell goods, naming

Captain Lord Charles Scott, Amoy 18th Dec.

Dec. 20, NINGPO, British steamer, 761, R. Jass, Shanghai 17th Dec., General,-- Siemisen & 00.

Dec. 20, NORDas, Danish steamer, 778,

Rasmussen, Chinkiang 16th Deo. Butterfold & Swire. Dec. 20, SIN-NAN-ZING, British steamer,

747, Drake, Canton 19th Dos., Jar- dine, Matheson & Co.... Dec. 20, CHINA, German steamer, 648, H. Schoor, Swatow 19th Des., General. -Kwok Acheong & Sons.

DEPARTURES.

Dec. 19, RIBSTON, British steamer, for

Bangkok.

Dec. 19, Aнor, British steamer, for Shang-

hai.

Doc. 20, NORDEN, British steamer, for

Canton.

Dec. 20, CRUSADER, British steamer, for

Saigon. Dao. 20, CHILTON, British steamer, for

Shanghai.

PASSENGERS. ARRIVED,

Per China, steamer, from Swołow, 103 Chinese,

Por Norden, steamer, from Ohinking, 2 Chinese for Canton.

Per Ningpo, steamer, from Bhanghai, Major General Modulyo, Mr. Schmiar, and 97 Chinese.

The following passengers departed yes terday, per M. M. steamer Djemaah :— From Hongkong for Saigon.--Ber. Jean N. Bonaald, Rev. Louis E. Louret, two French sailors, and 1 Anuamite child, and 11 Chinese. For Singapore.-Mr. Wo, Davenport and Captain Elias da Silva, For Marseilles.-Messrs. G. Montgomery, Michelson, Mr. and Mrs. Manuich, Miss John Lomb, William Craig, F. Bark, Ch. Haha and 1 child, Mr. and Mrs. Vogel,· Miss Bartsch and six children, and Cap- tain Thompson..

MAILS.

The following mails will slose :- TO-DAY, 20th December,-

For Straits Settlements and Calcutta, por Japan, at 2.30 p.m. For Singa- pore and London, por Hootor, at 3.30 p.m. For Shanghai, per Kamsohatká, and

per Sia-aan-zing, at 3.30 p.m.

For Pakhoi and Haiphong, por Hainan,

3

at 5 p.m. For Usatoa, par Ningpo, at 4 p.m.

TO-MORROW, 21st Domber,--

For Swatow, Away' and Fosshow, par Thales, at 5 p.m. For Manila, por Esmeralda, nt 1,39 p.m.

Oa FRIDAY, 23rd Dsqзmber,

For Port Darwin, Cɔɔktown, Townsville,

Brisbane, Sylasy, Melbourne, Ado laide, &o., por Math, at 11.30 a.m. For Koba nad Yokohama, par Taka- mago Maru, at 11.30 am. For Anɔy and Manila, per Enny, at £.30 p.m.

L. THEVENIN,

COMMISSION AGENT, WINE AND SPIRITS MERCHANT: CHAMPAGNE, BURGUNDIES. COGNACS, SHERRIES, LIQUEURS,

WHISKY &o., &o. -

FRENCH BOOTS AND SHOES -- FOR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HONGKONG HOTEL BUILDING. NOTICE OF REMOVAL.

MILLAR &

A. PLUMBERS, GASFITTERS,

&o, &o, have REMOVED their Office and Ware-room to No. 6, BEACONSFIELD Repairs will be punctually attended to. ARCADE, where Orders for Fittings and Hongkong, 11th November, 1881.