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348
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE LATE PROFESSOR" to the hope that, in the fearful crises |
MOMMSEN'S APPEAL.
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"which our civilisation will probably have to meet, England and Germany will stand together as they did once, when, at La "Belle Alliance, they united to put a term "to the preponderance of France."
(Daily Press, 11th November.) NO SURPRISE will be felt at the fact that the report of Germany's promise to Russia of active support in the Far East is doubt- A French comment on the above, found ed. The rumour may be surmised to have in the Paris Temps, is amusing. The writer had its origin in Petersburg. It is a says:-"After annexing the English lan- couple of weeks now since it was intimated gunge and WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Professor in telegrams from Europe that the German MOMSEN concludes by offering with one Press was looking coldly on suggestions hand an olive branch to Mr. JOSEPH CHAM- that such an agreement would be the out- BERLAIN and by pointing with the other come of the meeting of Kaiser and Tsar, towards Waterloo and the French frontier.' and although the tale has been revived Yet the majority of thoughtful Britons several times since it has never been traced must hope that MOMMSEN's wish, which he to any trustworthy |source. It has been utters in the last sentence of his article, and semi-officially stated on many occasions that which is therefore his last word to us, may Germany has no interests in Manchuria, and not be incapable of realisation. "Still I is averse to taking any steps which would hold the creed," he said, "that German and be likely to compromise her in the wrang. Englishman are destined to go forward hand ling over the province. In accordance with | in hand." This appeal seems to have been the German interpretation of the Anglo-rend with mixed feelings in Germany, many German agreement respecting the integrity holding with the Berlin Post that it un- of China,`this is logical attitude, and duly blames Germany for Anglo-German what inducement Germany could have to coolness, and that its publication is only to The depart from it to such an extent as to bring be regretted by all true Germans. in sight the possibility of Germany having French journal Le Matin, on the other hand, to go to war' to support Russia it looks on the article as a patriotic appeal would be indeed difficult to imagine. addressed to the English, entreating them Particularly at this time it might be to forget the wounds inflicted on their thought that the statesmen of Berlin would amour propre by Germany during the South "This new entente cordiale be unwilling to embark on a line of policy African war. distinctly threatening to (reat Britain. seems to have for its openly avowed object The overtures of late made by Germany to to counteract the effect of the recent Anglo- Britain have every appearance of sincerity. French demonstrations," says the Matin. The latest of these which we have seen is Possibly this is the juster view, or rather one from the pen of Professor THEODOR Professor MoмMSEN probably wrote with a MOMMSEN, the celebrated historian, jurist, double object. In any case, his last word It is and politician, who died since writing the deserves to be read and thought over. article which appears over his name in the not without a certain pathos, now that the first number of the new Independent Review. illustrious writer is dead. This article is headed “ Ein Deutscher an die Engländer," in English "A German's Appeal to the English." This article attracted, it seems from the recent mail papers, no little attention, not only in England but also in Germany and in France. The aged pro- fessor asked why it is bat the wholesome and necessary criticism which all nations exercise towards one another seems to degenerate into race hatred. He had no doubt himself that this was brought about The by the late war in South Africa. vigorous expression of German feeling, wrote MOMMSEN, could not but give offence in England, but he asked if it is too much to ask to day that Englishmen should understand these feelings in Germany. He admitted that Germany has her national fools-"Pan-Germans" is their name in our country, he adds-who believe in a special Teutonic ADAM, doncentrating in his own person all the glories of the human spiri. But, MoMMSEN claims, the Germans feel themselves more early akin and in every respect more intimately allied to the English than to any other nations. The English language is, after all, in its main elements Saxon; and SHAKESPEARE has been the spiritual deliverer of our country, and in fact the father of its poetry." The article continues:
(
"Nor is the attitude of Germany to the new English Imperialism in any way a hostile one. From a large point of view, every increase of the weight which England asserts in the politics of the world is certainly no disadvantage for the future of Germany. If England, by drawing closer the unity of her Empire, "succeeds in warding off the dangers which the last war in particular has disclosed, if that will no more injure our vital interests than English interests were injured by the conversion of the German Zollverein into the German Empire. We may hold fust
14
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
not
(Daily Press, 9th November.) There is no doubt we shall hear a great deal of God save the King! to-day in Hongkong, and I am sure that the wish is very for uttered. Tedious persons have computed on former occasions the amount of times which the expression is used per diem all over the British Empire on such great days as this, and the amount of noise made by the National anthems played in the twenty-four hours. I am glad to say forget both sums, but I remember enough to be thankful I am hearing all these anthoms at once. A feu-de-joie I hear that it is likely is quite enough for me. to be so also for some of the horses at to-day's Parade in the Happy Valley. It has eveD been binted that we may see an officer or two suddenly dismounted; of course I would not for the world mention about which this prophecy has been made. It will doubtless be think that such things a consolation to have happened in the best regulated cavalry, however, will certainly be enjoyed by all and even in Royal processions. The Parad nationalities in our varied selection on this Island, and by none more than by the Chinese.
corps
There are two matters of domestic concern which one rarely fails to hear discussed now. adays in Hongkong wherever two or three householders are gathered together. I refer With regard to the to rents and gas. rents which residential property now mands both on the Island and at Kowloon, I have heard the opinion expressed that rents are higher in Hongkong than in any other city or town in the whole world. It may
sɔ, bat, on
the other hand, there
com.
are
few places I suspect, where the cost of building a house approaches the figures wlie are now asked in Hongkong. Lucky are the men who invested money in house property ten years ago or more. I heard recently of an offer of $70,000 being made for some house property on the Hill which originally cost its owner only $7,000, and that offer was declined. Rents in recent years have taken very big jumps,
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£
November 16, 1903.
Houses which let seven or eight years ago for $40 and $50 a month are now sought after at $100 and $120, not including taxes. Evidently some people in Hongkong must be making money in spite of the instability of the silver dollar.
As to gas-well, if the supply were in the hands of an individual rather than in those of a company or corporation, which in classic phrase without a body to be kicked or a soul is to be damned," bis lease of life would be short. The complaints made in the few letters which have appeared in the local papers are re-echoed apparently by scores of consumers on the higher levels of the Colony, and from the many cases which have come within my own knowledge I imagine the time of at least one clerk must be pretty fully occupied in reading and giving unsatisfactory replies to letters of complaint both as to deficiency of pressure in the mains Let us hope that with and erratic charges.
the completion of the work which the company now has in hand-I rofer to the provision of larger mains-these causes of complaint will be remedied. This work ought to have been taken in hand long ago.
Jack ashore dearly loves a bicycle. Any evening as the dusk approaches one can see him wheeling his damaged machine back to the bicycle-shop, for it is a curious thing that he nearly always contrives to have a spill in the crowded streets. The other day I saw two blaejackets coming from the East end into town. One's bicycle had broken down, both pedals gone, and the other had the derelict in tow with a rope. There is just a suspiciou, though, that some of the Chinese bicycle-hirers
fake the machines before letting them out to the sailors so that they will be almost sure to collapse in some part. Then of course the dealer pockets the $5 security which Jack had to lay down before he could get out the bioyole.
Many Hongkong residents will regret to learn of the death of Admiral Sir Alexander Buller, K.C.B, who was Commander-in-Chief on the China station from 1895 to 1897. During that time the Admiral made himself very popular in the East, and the highest regard was entertained for him. He died with painful suddenness last month whilst hunting in his native county of Devonshire. Admiral Buller was I believe the first president of the Devonian
Society of Hongkong, and a prominent place is always found for his portrait on the wall of the room in which the society has its annual dinner.
It is not generally. known that among the celebrities of Hougkong there is a famous old canine campaigner. He is a little bit of a dog and has the honour of wearing five medals for the service he has seen, namely Crete, Egypt. South Africa, North China and the Relief of Peking. He belonged to Sergeant W. Jones of the Welsh Fusiliers, and it was with regret that the regiment had to leave him here, owing to the regulations in force. Mr. F. T. Robins, of the Victoria Gaol staff, is the present owner.
BANYAN.
THE KING'S BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY.
CELEBRATION IN HONGKONG.
In common with all parts of the Empire throughout the globe. Hongkong on Monday celebrated the 62nd anniversary of the birthday of His Most Gracious Majesty King Edward the VII. Excellent weather favoured the occasion. In the morning the Royal Standard was hoisted at Headquarter House, at the Naval Yard, and on H.M.S. Tamar. All the warships and the shipping in the Harbour were gaily decorated with bunting, and at noon a Royal Salute was fired. In the afternoon there was a grand review of the troops of the garrison by His xcelleɗoy he Governor, Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G., and this was witnessed by a great concourse of spectators. In the evening a ball was given at Government The Portuguese cruiser Diu waa House. notable for its illumination by night,
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