20
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
C
A.
(January 11, 1904..
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
(Daily Press, 4th January.)
The Christmas and New Year holidays have passed off in Hongkong in the usual fashion, no startling novelties in the way of entertain- men's being introduced. Indeed such are not needed. The season is one of private tiffins and dinners, diversified with a few enjoyable dances and some sporting events like the H.K.C. fixtures, the Polo international, etc. One thing that may be said of this Christmas is that the bright and charming. It seems also to be healthy enough, from the little one hears of illness. Even the time-honoured (and once, we must suppose, funny) joke about Christmas fare seems this year to glance off our robust forms like water off a duck's back. The only man have heard complain was not a Hongkong resident, but a visitor from another place. He said that bis wife went to so many dances in one week that he, who did not dance, had to cultivate a perpetual thirst, the refreshment room being the only refuge from the hall-room. Of course in Hongkong we all dance.
Maritime Customs, has indeed recommended one not believe in the sincerity of their pro- a scheme to the Government, which we
test. We have heard of no one else in reproduced in these pages some time ago; Canton who thought it a matter for regret but there has been no indication that or disapproval that the line to Fatshan Peking has looked favourably upon it. An should be opened on a Sunday. uniform silver currency will not do away for the natives, it naturally makes no with China's monetary troubles, though its difference to them on what day, not adoption will be a move in the right direc- А festival day, a foreign enterprise tion. The absurdities of exchange between is inaugurated. The Missionary Con- phe various provinces will cease, but the ference speaks, in the protest, of a belit- tollar will not cease to respond to the risetling of the teachings of Christianity in the and fall in the price of silver and the other minds of the Chinese. If the Chinese took smaller factors which contribute to the the trouble to study the "Sabbath" keep-weather has been all that co ld be desired, both instability of the dollar. It is somethinging of the foreigners who come out to this gained that the Chinese Government has part of the world, they would certainly come had the currency question presented to its to the conclusion that railway-opening is a eyes, and it is to be hoped that the latest very venial offence compared with the mass development in Mexico will be duly of breaches of the day made by their Christian impressed on China by ontside alvisers. visitors. The Sabbath," as a Sabbath, Undoubtedly it is a most important develop- does not exist in the foreign settlements of ment that the great silver-producing country China. It is true that most people do not of the world should contemplate "going go to their offices on that day. They may gold." No less than four-fifths of the go out and kill birds, may golf or yacht or whole area of Mexico (which is over eight walk, may play bridge, or may
"lie off," as times the size of Great Britain, it must be the expression runs; but what percentage remembered) are mining districts, and of them reflects on the question of Sabbath 45 per cent, of Mexican exports consist of
or no Sabbath? Such non-observance of silver and gold. The latest figures to which the day should really give far more pain to we have access give the silver production of these excellent missionaries than the formal Mexico as 45,641,000 ounces. The best opening of a railway. No doubt the fact of idea of the importance to Mexico of silver its being a public ceremony directs their might be obtained, had we any means of disapproval publicly to it. But, as we have computing how many Mexican dollars are in said, a railway is not Christian. Sunday circulation in the Far East; but the task was chosen as being the only day on which would be too stupendous, even though the some of the invite guests could put in an receptive countries are now cut down to appearance. The presence of representa China-and Hongkong. The fact that the tives of the British and United States Commission of experts appointed by Mexico Governments is especially regretted by the thinks fit to advise the gradual conversion Conference. These "ignored the established of their country to the side of the gold-practice and Christian sentiment of their standard states, though the minting of dollars | home lands, and by their attendance at this is of course no small profit to Mexico, shows function violated the sanctity of the Sabbath how convinced they are that stable currency tends to the benefit of the whole world. This being so, and their opinion being shared by all the great nations, the question remains, when is China coming into live a question to which the bulk of the residents in Hongkong above all others would like to know the answer.
THE RAILWAY AND THE SABBATH.
(Daily Press, 4th January.) We publish to-day in our correspondence columns a protest forwarded to us from Canton by the Missionary Conference, in which the signatories express their "un- feigned regret and deep disapproval" of the recent opening of the Canton-Fatshan branch railway line on a Sunday. We glad ly accede to the request of the Conference to publish the protest, but at the same time we cannot refrain from saying that the ob- jection seems to us a little unreasonable. In the first place, we are not aware that the Canton-Hankow Railway is a Christian enterprise. As a matter of fact, we know of no railway that is. Religion and rail- ways are not even remotely connected. The organisers of this new railway are not build- ing it to further Christianity (we could not undertake to say whether they even wish to), but to make money. They and their agents do not deserve unfriendly criticism for selec- ing a day most convenient for them, and more particularly for their guests. The only real objection that could be urged would be that their action hurt the susceptibilities of the people of Canton; the European re- sidents, that is to say. But did it hurt them? Apparently a certain number of missionaries were offended. One might be tempted cynically to say that it is their business to be offended in this matter, did
It is not only the foreign community that has been holiday-making at this season of cheer which all abstention from their avocation comes and goodwill. There is one community from
as a very great surprise-this more so when one thinks of their lost opportunities! The com- munity referred to is the criminal class. The absence of all law-breaking, except in the way of petty offences, has been remarkable. The Magistracy has been almost deserted, and the magistrates themselves have come very near earning a daily pair of white gloves. Long may such a condition of affairs last, but my experience of the Oriental makes me just pes- simist enough to fear it won't, though it won't be for lack of police effort in that direction.
could on such occasions take out the rowels and insert round discs in their place. This would be a concession the ladies would greatly appre- ciate.
At the very successful Ball given by the Cen- in a way which would not have been permitted in our home lands." The latter tipedes on Tuesday last at the City Hall, the ravages of the military spur were very apparent. part of the staten ent may be challenged. The ladies' dresses suffered greatly on this Sunday banquets and formal excursions are occasion, and to a considerable extent at the pre- certainly not unknown in England and vinus Bachelors' Ball also. It is very mortify. America. We do not know that a railwaying to the fair sex to see their new dresses, if has even been declared open in either only of a diaphanous materia', torn to ribbons Surely field country on a Sunday; it certainly is not by the uncompromising spur. impossible. The absence of British and officers entitled to wear this mark of distinction United States representatives would have been merely foolish and would in no way have advanced the Christiau sentiment of the home lands of H.E. Mr. MAY or Mr. MCWADE. We fear that the Missionary Conference is only beating the air in attack- ing this question. The signatories have a right to their honest convictions. But the problem which really confronts them is larger than one of formal opening of a railway on a Sunday. For instance, it might be looked on, in one aspect, as the question whether either the British or United States Government is Christian in the true sense of the word. Into this we do not propose to go here.
The N.-C. Daily News correspondent, under date Kobe, 24th December, telegraphs :-" The Taichu Maru and Fukuoka Maru, belonging to the Osaka Shosen Kaisha, and the Chiyo Maru. deosan Maru, Ariake Maru, and Mandensan Maru, belonging to other owners, have been is unusual activity at the arsenals and naval chartered to convey coal and supplies. There centres, also at Kumamoto, the headquarters of the Sixth Division of the army. There is to be an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet to-morrow." The same paper's Tokyo cor- respondent on the 27th ult. said :—“ An extraordinary meeting of the Privy ouncil is to be held on Monday forenoon (28th), to be attended by all the Ministers. An Imperial tiffin will be given to-morrow (28th) to the Privy Councillors and Ministers. The signifi. cance of this must be apparent. In the after- noon the Ministers will discuss certain urgent measures.”
I am glad to note the High Level Tramway Company have adopted my suggestion and put up notices in the terminus at S. John's Place to the effect that " Tickets may be had on the Car." This information will, I hope, prove
sufficient to relieve the anxi-ty of strangers
intending to make the trip to the Peak,
I wish the Government would act as prompt- ly in reference to my suggestion re that most Hall. That seems to be growing rather than unsightly rubbish heap below 8. Patrick's diminishing. Would not the material be useful for reclamation purposes?
It is surprising the number of travelled Chinese one meets in Hongkong and the neighbourhood. Over in the New Territory you will find them in every village. They are ooked upon as prodigies by their countrymen. They will talk with familiarity of Sydney and Melbourne or the cities of the Pacific coast, as the case may be. A curious thing about them is that they are shy of speaking English in the presence of their own people, though if one meets them singly they generally show a thorough knowledge of that language. One very old man I met recently had lived for twenty years in New Zealand and 1 ad returned to his own country about the same number of years ago. He had forgotten bow to talk English connectedly, but was able to tell the English names of any articles pointed out to
him.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.