1923-07-19 — Page 7

TEACHING OF PORTUGUESE.

"Foreigner's" Pertinent Question.

Foreigner writes : ---* dua. foreign resident and a taxpayer I object to helping to pay for the compulsory teaching of lang page which for everyday pur- poses will, in after years, be

summarise, as follows ——Mr. Ref Foreigner" Answered. medios says that he would have Str—I have slosely, followed followed implicitly the advice of the controversy now going on the Consul General for Portugalanent the teaching of Portuguese had Foreigner not attacked in the public schools of Hong- him personally. Therefore he feels kong, and I must say that the be ought to ophold the unstained Portuguese community ero per bonour of the local Portuguese fectly, right in demanding that We have received the following community. He also fools sure their children be taught their lotters for publication:- that avery Portuguese citizen was mother tongue.

Sir, I crave your indulgence|able to rand the advertisement to again be permitted to reply to issued by their Consul General, the several correspondents who Mr. Romadies states that in his still continue to try and discredit letter under date 14th July he me in the columns of your valu answered all the queries put for able newspaper.

ward by Foreigner." The latter In the first place I must thank is again called upon to not useless." "Citizen ofthe World" for recogni- liko "a true gentleman" and It is certainly impossible to tion of my clear and outspoken reveal bis identity. He asks follow "Foreigner's" argument. opinions regarding the Teaching how Portuguese children can From "Foreigner's" point of view of the Portuguese language. Aabɔ expected to understand the Portuguese language will, in ho truly says, my viowa were not sermons in pure Portuguess if after years, be useless, but to my actuated by any personal spite they have not had an opportunity mind (and I am sure all sane against the Portuguese com of being taught that language. people will support me) the lang munity. A man is not's renegade This is a matter which concerns/uage would certainly meet with because he holds different views the Board of Education and the the fate that "Foreigner" predicts, from the vast majority.

local Portuguese community and unless it is properly taught and

To "Lusitania" I would reply" Foreigner" should not unless a genuine desire is fastored that I have consistently confiaad terafers. He says in his opinion amongst the younger generation my remarke "to the point of Foreigner" is not at all certain of the Portuguese for their mother ultility or otherwise, of the cf his own assertions. Mr tongue. Portu ues latiguage." It was Remedios has through Nuttalls Foreigner" aska how many because I thought that the Standard Dictionary made him- Portuguese did really understand teaching of pare Portuguese self acquainted with the meaning the advice of their Consul writ would be only a waste of time of the word "dialect." He had tan in Portuguese, and by and money that I wrote as I did not the remotest intention of advancing this absurd argument in my first latter.

insulting any Englishmen. He he defeats his own ends. Surely closes with a list of bonours and it must be apparent to any rational distinctions gained by himself at being that if the Portuguese.com- St. Joseph's College and the Lamunity as at present, constituted Salle Extension University of cannot thoroughly Chicago, III, US A.

I would also remind Mr. T. C. Barrotto chat to quote such a say ing as he did was in very bad a person holds taste. Becauso different views it does not follow that he is ignorant. Abuse, my friend, is no argument,

With the passing of the days, I note that the anonymous con- tributers, to what you are pleased

Humour and Indignation, Sir, I am very pleased indeed to call The Portuguese Contro. to read that." Cosmopolitan" has veray," have become more bume.como to the assistance of "For rous. I do not, of course, object signer" in this language con to that, but the few who have troversy, and would like to see subscribed their names to their wore of his allies express their

views. latters may as well be anonymous

understand pure Portuguese, it is all the more reason why it should be taught to. their children at least.

Any person with the slightest spark of patriotism will, as the Portuguese have done all through- out this controversy, fight tooth and nail to uphold the traditions of. bis

race, be it what it. way, of which he is justly proud. Foreigner apparently cannot claim any nationality and baving no patriotle feelings cannot ua- derstand why the Portugueso appear to be so beadstrong id their demand.

for all the weight they have The local Fortuguese have among the Portuguese com-

stirred up all this trouble them munity. All true thinking Portu-selves, and now, when faced with guese agree with me that these the plain unvarnished truth, find Portuguese who try to justify that they have bitten off far more

Obviously Foreigner" is out themselves in their demand for a than they can digest, and, as a perfectly useless language are last resort, their Consul invites to air bis erudition rather than but like little children calling for them to refrain from replying to to fight for the French language,

Apologising for taking up so| giving them a glorious opportunity much of your space and thanking to fade out of the limelight and you in advance, swallow their bitter pill.

the moon."

the so-call d insolent letters, thus

·

Yours etc.

AN OUTSIDER.

Draw N Harsh Line.

My compliments to Mr. Victor Soriano. In these days of increas ad disturbance, the Hongkong Police have enough to do without

Your correspondent “1” states being present at the City Hall that the Education Board of Hongkong, July 19th., 1923. and being called upon to guard Hongkong should accept without poor "Foroigner" from the in-any further discussion tho decision fantile assaults of such as he and of the Portuguese community.

It appears to me that the local his kind. Do not be silly, Victor. |

Sir. The discussion of the sub- WF" writes a nice letter Portuguese want to rule the roost jact of teaching Portuguese in with moderate language but in in matters concerning education. Hongkong not having concluded, one regard he is altogether wrong Why should these people dictate allow me space to express my in his facte. At a meeting of the to the Board without any oppost-opinion from a general point of Asociao Portuguese de Socoros tion? Is this correct in a British view. Mutuoe, held in the Club Lusitano Colony, and ebould Britishere be

on Tuesday, 18 h June, the indirectly told to shut up! following resolution animously adopted :---

War Un-

In the first place, it reste with] the Education Board to decide whether French or Portuguese be taught.

Is thie to be the thin edge of the wedge whereby local "That the teaching of the Portuguese will get a firmer I certainly do not agree with Portuguese Language be compul- footing in the affairs of the line takon by "Foreigner" in sory for all Portuguese Students Hongkong, which wedge will be his first letter. He may be the attending the schools in this Colony gradually driven further and father of some children and and that Mr. Silva Netto on-further until it will be unbearable interested in education. Ferhaps deavour with the Board of Eduta for Britishers to live in Hong- he is a Frenchman who wants tion to carry out this Resolution." kong ?

his offspring to learn their mother Another of your correspondents, tongue. will you please, Mr. Editor, put J. P. V. Remedios Esq., in your I am of the opinion that the above underscored words in Paper of 16th. inst. calling "For Portuguese should at once be | eigner " insolent, writes: "I taken in the curriculum of a Your correspondent "L" says quite admit of the absolute neces school where there are that the Portuguese language is sity of learning at bedrock the tuguese boys and girls, and olassical and hard to learn. Of English language which is by far that the Portuguese language what use then, I ask, is a classical the most useful dialect spoken AS # subject should .be language in a business place throughout the British Dominions made obligatory for Portugueso like Hongkong. I have conced. beyond the seas."

candidates in the Matriculation

In order to emphasise my point

Italics.

ed that in an academical sense) any language MAY be 190-

not

and insurance business.

Por-

Talk of insolence! Who ever examination of the Hongkong heard of the English language be University, just as Chiness is for ful, but to youths who ing called a dialect?" Now Isee the Chinese candidates. No have to earn their daily bread why the Portuguese language harm will arise in taking up the and butter. Greek also is useful should be taught in Hongkong language, though it is not spokon in a cultural sense but of what English is not good enough; it is locally, but a student has a wide use to a boy who has to be only a dialect.. Perhaps I am a field before him after leaving familiar first with bills of leding little hard in calling this college, and be many find a post, solence, as others may take it in perfect harmony to himself, When I said I had a right to for ignoronce on the part of your where without a knowlodge. of enter this controversy because I illustrious correspondent.

Portuguesa BO man would. bei happened to be a taxpayer as well If "Foreignor has only

suitable. as a "Foreigner,'' I did not succeeded in becoming a laugh- deny the Portuguese as a whole ing-stock to the local Portuguese, a similar right. They can express why, may I ask, are all their opinions if they like but these feelings of rightful in Portuguese community is con they cannot say that this is a dignation"? Who ever heard of corned, they are keeping up the matter which only affects the humour and indignation going best traditions of their old race; -Portuguese.

So you see I am not in the least] intertering. This is a maiter

band in band?

Yours etc,

which concerns everyone who Shameen, July 17th. 1923,

pays taxes not only Portuguese because it happens to be the

Portuguese language which is being discussed.

In conclusion, Sir, I would like

Without going into questions of who persons, forefathers were, 1

can state that as far as the local

they unite for the maintenance of peace and order, and are law.

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* BRITISHER, abiding citizens in this distant Backache is rarely due to

" outpost of the great Ally under kidney trouble. Doctors will tell whose flag they live in peace and you that kidney disease, when it concord.

exists, may be very far advanceday be read the same from top to bottom as from left to right. Yours, etc.

indeed before It indicates its pre- They are formed from the letters ALUMNI sence by means of pains in tho Hongkong, July 19, 1923.

composing the six words: sender, back.

Ready to Help: Sir-Being a foreigner, and a

a plalu straight-forward answer true friend of your correspondent from any one of my saveral signing himself Foreigner", assailants to this question: Which beg to state that I am ready to is of greater use in a commercial help him in the following sub. career, French Portuguese ? | jootm That is all I want to know.

1. Proper reasoning.

D

2. Progressive ideas.

Yours etc.,

FOREIGNER,

Hongkong, July 18, 1923.

A Summary.

We have received another letter

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION'B

NEW HOME.

In the vast majority of cases onions, babble, manner, smiled, Lumbago, like all other forms of lineal. Rheumatism, is caused by pole-

onous secratione in the blood, and the functions needs the stimulant. After 14 years in their present Dr. Williams Pick Pills, by ex which only pure rich blood can headquarters in Whitcomb street pelling this poison and making the give. Women everywhere tell the Automobile Association and blood pure and rich, have curad one another that t Motor Union are to move into a tens of thousands of cases of DR. WILLIAMS' PINK PILLS 3. Learning another language new six or seven-storey building. Lumbago and Rheumatism during give inst the help needed, dispel besides the English and or Chin to be erected in Leicester-square the past thirty years.

back-pains, restore regularity, ese. (I leave to a Portuguese the at a cost of about £115,000, stater

Nerve Debility means that the rosy cheeks, good appetite, bright teaching to him for Portuguese), the Industrial Daily News.

nervous system has become "run-spirits and perfect health. 4. High, Christian sentiments.

down. The blood feeds the nerves Obtainable from medicine ven- Thanking you, Mr. Editor, for

and Dr. Williame" Pink Pilla feed dors everywhere. Dr. Williams' the blood.

Pink Pills can also be had from With women back-pains usually the Williams Medicine Co., 60 arise from Annemin (bloodless Kianger Road, Shanghai $150 per ness) and in any case prove that bottle (6 bottles for $8.00), post Worlde, Arklow. Ask Montrics for a datalog the delicate machinery regulating free,

from Mr. J. P. Vieira Remedios the insertion, which, by reason of its length and the fact that he has introduced points not germano to the issue, ⠀

Yours eto.

A THIRD FOREIGNER

we have been been compelled to Hongkong, July 19th,, 1923,

Victor by prozacy

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