7
May 20, 1905.]
go. It may be noted that she was alive to the advertising value of the act, and of its possible influence in rehabilitating her long tattered reputation in foreign eyes, for she was careful to explain that l'ingchih was an ancient Chinese custom, and not a Manchu one. The disapproval so implied is some- what belated after her long apell of acquiescence in, and even encouragement of, the more severe and vindictive forms of judicial punishment. However, for the present it is law, and if all the Viceroys loyally adopt it (which they will not do), and if nothing sufficiently irritating occurs at Peking during the remainder of Her Majesty's reign to make her change her mind, the present generation may see Я considerable improvement of a Chinese feature which Eas in most foreign eyes disgraced the Middle Kingdom ever since it came under abservation. The coincidence to which we referred in opening lies in the fact that almost immediately after the publication in English of the Decree in question, it was made public that some Europeans in Hong- kong, convened and inspired by the Italian Consul-General, Chevalier VOLPICELLI, had been busying themselves in a sort of educa- tional crusade to bring about the reformed state of things which the EMPRESS-DOWAGER, by a stroke of the vermilion pencil, is now supposed to have inaugurate:l. In the account of the doings of these good-hearted people, which was supplied to the press, no mention was made of the fact that the object of the little society had been secured, Those aware of the Decree might not unnaturally have assumed some connection of the two things; but we note that in the north, all credit for the reform is given to His Excellency WU TING-FANG, who, of his own initiative, and impelled solely by humanity and a pure loyalty, has laboured to remove from his country one of its darkest stigmas. I have learned that he has been at this affair for some time and had difficulty in securing the help of the necessary coadjutors before he was able to lay the memorial before the Empress Dowager." The correspondent whom have just quoted, after praising Wu's kind heart and gentle spirit, seems to have had a sudden thought of another side to the shield, for he makes the following curious reflection, that
"
The conditions of life in China, the morale of its inhabitants, aud their insensitive nervous organisations, are such that unhappily a more severe code of punish- ment is necessary here for the maintenance of order than in more fortunate parts of the world."
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. seems to us that only very modern history records such things; but if a moral has to be applied, perhaps Mr. KIPLING will oblige.
EAST AND WEST.
31
17
(Daily Press, 19th May). The more amusing than mischievous item from the Daily Mail, elsewhere referred to, is a fleabite to the scandalous devices that are resorted to in some quarters to misre. present Japan. One of the worst cases we have noticed is one in which an ingenious journalist puts into the mouth of "a pro- minent Japane e statesman some dispar aging comments on things Japanese It might be Oriental politeness sometimes to speak of my insignificant country,' "the unworthy individual now addressing your Excellency," and so on; but such phrases are always recognisable as figures of speech. We may take it for granted that no minent Japanese statesman
would say: "I have witnessed in your best homes the perfect accord of husband and wife, the intellectual equality of woman with man, the plain sympathy between parents and children. I see your women, with clear brains and real intellectual development, comrades and companions of their hus- bands," and then proceed to sneer at the humility, obedience, meekness, and charity " of Japanese wives; and to add:
"
pro-
Notice the face of one of our own ladies, save among the younger women who have come under Western ideas and have been educated after the new methods.
not
看着
13
were
You will
<<
315
that old fashioned ways were sometimes good who commiserate the woman of the Orient for her sheltered (or, as they call it, "shut-up") life. It is certainly not proininent Japanese statesmen" who deny that the good Japanese wife and mother is a domestic model for the world. Publicists of some insight are dreading the results of foreign meddling with her status.
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was hold in the Board Room on the 16th May. Dr. F. Clark (President) presided, and there were also present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham (Vice President, Major Josling, Dr. Pearse, Dr.
Macfarlane, Dr. Gröne, Hon. Mr. A. W.
Brewin, Mr. H. E. Pollook, Mr. F. J. Badeley, Mr. A. Rumjahn, Mr. Lau Chu Pak. Mr. Fung Wa Chun and Mr. W. Bowen-Rowlands
(Secretary).
MOTIONS.
The President, pursuant to notice of motion, moved-
(1) That the Board; under the provisions of Sections 30 and 256 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance No. 1 of 1903, depute Dr. William B. A. Moore to institute summary proceedings before a Magistrate for the recovery of any penalty imposed by Part II. of the said Ordinauce, or of any Byelaw made thereunder."
Mr. F. J. BADELAY seconded the motion. which was carried.
14
(2) That the Board, under the provisions of Sections 30 and 256 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance No. 1 of 1903, depute Inspectors Charles William Ward and Thomas Abley to instituts summary proceedings before a Magistrate for the recovery of any penalty imposed by Part II, of the said Ordinance, or by any Byelaw made thereunder, when SO instructed in writing by one of the Medical Officers of Health."
Mr. LAU CHU PAK seconded this motion. which the President explained referred now only to Inspector Ward." Carried.
FIGHTING THE PLAGUE.
A minute by the President suggesting the insertion of advertisements in the local press urging householders to report to the Medical Health whenever their houses Officer of
appeared to be rat-ridden, was read.
The PRESIDENT—As you know, gentlemon, the plague is slightly increasing, and now
averages about three casees a day. In view of the intimate relation between rats and plague, it struck me that it would be as well if we again advertised as has been done in former years, so as to encourage people to report when they find rats in their houses. No doubt certain people object to have their premises disinfected, but perhaps the wiser ones will report the matter. I move that the Board call upon householders to report when they find their premises infested with rats.
see the wide-open- eyes, the looks proclaiming an intelligent and broad outlook." Those words
strung together by some foreigner who had no acquaintance, or no reputable acquaintance, with the helpmates of our allies. No small share of the glory attaching to Japan during the last two years must be given to the Japanese wife and mother, behind whose " humility, bedience, meckness, and charity We
"there is also a quiet heroism and a philosophy that the inventor of this 'Japanese statesman is not the sort of creature to discover. Besides, if it comes to a question of comparing the domestic virtues and merits of the Japanese and foreign woman, there is much to be said on both sides. It is reported that a recent Oriental visitor to England, asked for a farewell opinion of the country, answered "Too much woman." Taking that cryptic criticism as a text, a popular writer voices the male complaint that the Western World has been handed over to woman. The subjection of sex is as inuch Occidental as Oriental, but the relative positions of the
"In reversed. middle-class circles, the man is now the woman's servant." Whereas, under the
natural an Oriental or
arrangement, the domestic tyrant did something to justify his position, affording protection and ask sustenance, the modern feminine slave-owner does little beyond shouting for her rights. She grumbles at housekeeping duties as "domestic slavery;" blames providence (in her novels, at any rate) for not creating man the child-bearer; and insists upon absolute equality with man, but sets as though she were his superior. It is only now that, in the West, by leaving home work for outside employment, she is beginning to have her doubts of that equality. Man has good naturedly made things as easy as possible for the new competitor, or she might have found out sooner that for neither sex is life all beer and skittles or milk and honey. It is only those who have not yet learned to be infected,
This is the theory, or rather the fact learned by experience, which stands as excuse for the otherwise apparent severity of European treatment of Chinese criminals. It seems to be admitted that the Chinese do not feel what are to Europeans heavy penalties. This paves
the
for way academic discussion upon which we have no present intention to enter; but readers interested in such speculation may themselves whether it does not follow that a less sensitive nation is more physically fit than a nation all nerves and feelings. In the days when England was called "merrie," we were almost as brutal as the Chinese. Is it undiluted improvement that now we can scarcely bear the sight of blood, have abolished flogging, and are rapidly travel ling towards the abolition of all capital punishment, which is as often styled judicial murder as not? Did Englishmen shudder before microbes, die for vermiform appendixes, and claim exemption from jury work or the score of hyperesthesia, in the brave days of joust and tourney? It really
sexes are
upper
and
Mr. BREWIN seconded the motion, which was carried.
MODIFICATIONS OF REQUIREMENTS. A number of applications for modifications of the requirements of different Sections of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance were dealt with. The application for permission to erect another storey at Chinese houses Nos. 282 and 284 Des Voeux Road was refused, the PRESIDENT informing the Board that Section 188 allows buildings of a height of four storeys only, except in the case of hotels and offices, and even then special permission must be obtained.
VERY SATISFACTORY." The mortality statistics were laid on the table Mr. RUMJAHN had without being read. minuted thereon-"Very Satisfactory; but the PRESIDENT pointed out that the death rate was
lightly above the average. RATS.
During the week ending on the 6th instant 637 rats were killed, of which 36 were found to be infected, and 37 out of 707 caught during the week ending on the 13th instant were found
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