184
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[ March 7, 1904.
sole Hospital, which is situated on a higher to Russia's intrigues and movements at that history until the present day) with the pioneers level. A Chinese lady, having generously place. What has happened since, or the out-of Western religion and civilisation in the Far offered to build a hospital specially adapted lines at least of what has happened, we know. East. It may be noted that Mr. Murdoch does not for in-patients, and the Colonial Government It is to be noted that Mr. Hamilton severely write in a spirit of thorough sympathy with the through the good offices of His Excellency Sir consures the conduct of the Japinese in Corea early missionaries. He is keenly alive to their Henry Blake, K.C.M.G., having promised a toward the natives, and insists that, if the faults indeed, and takes a very different view of site, immediately to the west of the Nethersole relations between the Powers are to continue some of their actions from what they themselves Hospital. there is every prospect that in 1994 a upon a satisfactory footing in Corea, it will be and their usual European critics took. Never- scheme for extension will be carried out. Ou necessary for the Japanese Government to theless his judgement is on the whole very fair 23rd July Lady Blake, in the presence of a repre- rendy existing abuses. He says that it is the and impartial. He certainly endeavours to do sentative gathering of those interested in the scum of the Japanese nation which settled justice to some of the Japanese historical hospitals, laid the foundation-stone of the Alice down on Coroa. It behoves Japan to get rid characters who suffered through the pens of Memorial Maternity Hospital. It was with of this reproach.
their missionary adversaries; but, all the same, great regret the Committee had to record the In the chapters which are devoted to the treaty he does not attempt to disguise the death of Mrs. H. D. Stevens, Matron of the hos-ports, commerce, and finance, the writer bas got of such men as Ilideyoshi, eto, His character- many faults pitals, who since 1891 had been closely connected together much valuable information, and has con-drawing of the peasant Tokichiro, who after- with the daily work of the hospitals,
Mrs trived at the same time to avoid the dulness of war s became the hero Stevens was a faithful and efficient nurse. They
Hideyoshi, is an mere statistics. Ho is not encouraging to British admirable piece of work. The story of his rise were fortunate in having the services of Miss. readers in his remarss on the loss of Corsan to the position of master of Japan is one of Langdon, who had come as a voluntary worker trade by British merchants and shippers. He thrilling interest, It is very curious in these to help Mrs. Stevens. The Evangelistic work quotes Egures to show that of the 1,160,865 tous days when we are reading of Japanese torpedo, has been carried on daily in the out-patient and of stoum shipping entered at the open ports of attacks on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur, of in-pationt departments, and large numbers have Corea during 1902, 877,13 tons were Japanese, their naval gunnery, of their infantry trained heard the Gospel who could not have been 165,782 Corean, 101,222 Russiau, and 11,998 on German principles, and of their regulations, reached by other agencies,
British. And he remarks that of the carrying with regard to war correspondents, to turn back trade of the Far East in general, the figures to the old days when the gift of a few which support our pre-eminence are misleading. arquebuses by Christian missionaries enabled If the true conditions were made manifest, one small dimyo to exalt himself at the expense it would be seen that, so far from leading the of his neighbours, or when the fighting Buddhist shipping of the world in the Far East, Great monks of Negoro were a power to be reckoned Britain could claim but a small proportion of with in war. There is a wonderful charm in old the freights carried. Although we may own Japanese history, which is only intensified by the ships, neither our markets nor our manu the outward entire break between it and modern factures are associated with their cargoes.' days. Yet we know that the spirit of daimyo Mr. Hamilton dwells strongly on the necessity and samurai is not dead, and it is therefore of securing a British nominee as supervisor of interesting to read of its manifestations in the the maritime customs. His sketch of Mr. old feudal times and to compare them with those McLeavy Brown, the present Chief Commis- of new Japan. Mr. Murdoch's book helps the sioner, is well worth reading. The point stands reader to do this, and he deserves our thanks out clearly that Mr. Brrowu is a most remark therefore. He and his collaborator are to be able man, who has done more for Carea than complimented on their achievement. anyone else, Corean or foreign, to keep the tottering country from falling in ruin. How he has done it still remains a marvel after reading Mr. Hamilton's able description, i
Rer. H. R. WELLS submitted the Hon Treasurer's report, from which it appeared that the income during the past year amounted to $14,567,14, being $3,227.16 less than the expen- diture.
On the motion of Mr. G. MURRAY BIN the Treasurer's report was adopted.
Rev. Mr. PEARCE moved a vote of thanks to Messrs. H. C. Nicolle, H. R. Wells, and P. Lawson for their work in connction with the accounts. The motion was agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. J. GoogMANN, Mr. WELLS was re-elected Treasurer.
Dr. MACLEAN GIBSON moved, Hon. Dr. Ho KAI secunded, and it was agreed that Hon. A. W. Brewin be re-elected chairman for the ensu- ing year.
Hou. Dr. Ho KAI moved that the Alice Memorial Maternity Hospital be affiliated with the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospi- tala so that the one Finance Committee could manage and administer the three hospitals. He mentioned that the Maternity Hospital was almost ready for the reception of patients, and that ground had been acquired for the extension of the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals, so that they should have a new hospital in
about two years.
The CHAIRMAN seconded the motion, and it was agreed to.
.This was all the business
REVIEWS
Korea. By ANGUS HAMILTON. London:
William Heinemann.
1
Most assuredly Mr. Hamilton could not have chosen a better time at which to bring out his book on Corea than now, when the eyes of all the world are turned in the direction of that little known country, where stiring events are already occurring and may be expecte 1 to occur increas ingly for a long time to come. He has, more- over, not only chosen his time well, but he has also placed a good book before the public. Mr Hamilton writes well and interestingly alike of Corea's people and of its so nery--about which latter, by the way, he is quite enthusiastic. Certainly in parts it must merit his eulogies. About the Coreaus themselves Mr. Hamilton
does not find it possible rhapsodise; iguu- rance and filth are not pleasing characteristics in any nation, and the Coreans show them to excess, Yet the author is not unsympathetic or unfair; only he cannot suppress the truth. The most important sectious of the book, however, are those dealing with the political side of the Corean question. Mr. Hamilton discusses British, American, French, Belgian, German, Russian, and Japanes influences in Corea, naturally devoting most attention to the two last-named in finences. He sketches the unending struggle of Japan and Russia for predominance at Seoul and throughout the country. The story is a striking one, and it has, of course, just now reached its most ex- citing stene, in which the future of Corea must be settled, if not finally, at least for a long time to come. Mr. Hamilton carries the narrative dow to the 23rd October last, when a Japanese warship dropped anchor in the Yalu estuary near Yong-ampho, as a counter-demonstration
|
Korea is excellently illustrated f.om photographs, has a large map of the country, and is in every way a credit to its publisher. We may mention that the price is 15/-, at which it should command a good sale, especially just
now.
A History of Japan By JAMES MURDOCH, M.A., and ISOH YAMAGATA. Kobe: Kobe Chron cle Office.
The manner in which he work has been tnrned ont by the Kobe Chronicle office is more than creditable; and as we have already stated, the maps which accompany the text are most excellent-and, moreover, are on paper that does not tear away from the book like the average map.
East of Asia. Vol. II. No. 4. Shanghai: North-
China Herald Office.
Though we cannot appreciate the colouring of its cover, the new number of the East of Asia magazine is one of more than usual interest. Two of the best articles in it concern Japan-Mr. Francis McCullagh's "The Japanese Army Manoeuvres" (extracts from which have already been quoted in the Daily Press columns), and Mr. C. E. Bruce-Mitford's
THE full title of this work is A History of Japan during the Century of Early Foreign Intercourse (1542-1651.) At the end Mr. Murdoch announces that he proposes to conțin us his task in a future volume, a promise which Up Fuji with a Camera," the only fault we will be listened to with pleasure. Mr. Murdoch's bays to find with which is that some of the name as a writer ou Japauese historical subjects photographs are rather poorly reproduced. is well known in Japan and in a less degree Other excellent contributions are Dr. R. C. outside that country. A certain amount of his Beebe's Stories of Nanking, Dr. Macklin's work has seen the light, we believe, in the Triennial Examinations iu China," and columns of the Kobe Chronicle, the Editor of Mr. S. J. Woodbridge's "Kaling." But there which paper bas seen the pages of the work are several other readable articles, and the before us through the press. Of Mr. Isoh majority of the illustrations are very good. Yamagata Mr. Murdoch says that besides being Au interesting notice of Mr. F. Gumont's responsible for the maps (which wa mus State Mysteries of Mithra occurs among the book are of first-rate quality and splendidly executed) | reviews. he suppliel him with thousands of pages of translations from Japanese authorities; and he further compiled the Index.
A special notice states that the next issue of the East of Asia will be a special number, which will deal almost exclusively with educational subjects in the Chiu-sa mpira. It will be embellished with photographs of the educational establishments and prominent educationalists in China; and it is hoped that it will be published in time for the approaching, S. Louis Exposition, for which a special edition will
Buddhism. Vol. I, No. 2. Rangoon : Intern -
tional Buddhist society
It would be impossible without devoting a great deal of space-more, in fact, than in these times of war news and war rumours could be ivea to a single review-to do full justice to Messrs. Murdoch's and Yawagata's work. It is exhaustive of the period which it covers, and there seems no reason why it should be super-be prepared. seded by any English work of a similar kind. Further, though it is full, it is not diffuse nor
dious. The only grave fault which mars it is one of style, for Mr. Murdoch is too apt to drop into slang or similar unworthy language, bringing the discriminating reader up with a sharp shock occasionally. This would be easy enough to avoid, and we trust that Mr. Murdoch in a future edition will strike out some of his less dignified expressions. His History of Japan is too good a book to suffer from the imputation of slip-shod style in places.
The tale which Mr. Murdoch and his collaborator have to tall is one of notable interest, that of the first contact of a remark. able people like the Japanese (for remarkable they have been from the beginning of their
The second number of this enterprising quarterly, published at Rangoon by the International Buddhist Society, maintains the high level of its predecessor. The greater part
of the first 30 pages are taken up with an account of the installation of the Thathanabaing (Archbishop, practically) of Upper Burma, and with some reflections on the ceremony. Soma accounts of this a good many have read bafora ; but the rest of the magazine has plenty of new matter of an interesting character. The whole magazine is marked by the sincerity of its tone, and whatever we may think of its object we can but admire its spirit. The contributors to the present number include Professor Rhys Davids,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.