412
A
fi
The
Shanghai, native Amoy, or native Canton. We are glad to see that the author has found, and acknowledged, the usefulness of the Hongkong Daily Press. Every one of his closely printed 332 pages has its anecdote or humorous remark, so that we could go on quoting indefinitely. If he doesn't happen to have a story rightly belonging to China, the author is never at a loss, He takes from his teeming re- pertory a suitable one belonging to some other place and makes it fit. Frequently it is prefaced by the formula "A friend of mine,' which seems shockingly mendacions when we recognise the happening as having occurred to, or been told by, a friend of ours. Sometimes, when this formula is used, we think how true it is that history repeats itself, for the story is in the Gesta Romanorum! Hongkong Police news of the last twelve months is even drawn upon for some illustra- tions. Mr. Hardy claims the story of the well- labelled cabin trunk (from which a too industrious servant scraped all the travel trophies in which the owner took pride) as happening to a friend of his. What in a layman is but a figure of speech seems from a parson rank tarradiddle. Also we would remonstrate on the rev. gentleman's objection to humour in others. He heard Hongkong man speak of coolie labour as rice power," and says it seemed to him a brutal way of speaking of man made in the image of God. Hoity-toity, and humbug too, for he himself seems brutal in the comment (page 235) that "the fee of an executioner is only fifty cents per head, but he does not do badly at that, for business is generally pretty brisk! Fancy a parson talking of the mutil tion of the image, etc., as a brisk business. In this chapter he pretends to be shocked at "the globe-trotters who can take snapshots of such scenes" (Chinese punishments) and he illustrates the very chapter with a grim photograph of three partially strangled men. ("Jail-birds in cages" even a pun, you see.) He makes a remark which we have tried to impress upon the faddists, and that is that "Eastern women do not desire the liberty that is attaining alarming proportions in the West" and that China is a hen-pecked country as it is. In elaborat- ing the old theme of the topsy-turvydom of China, the anthor mentions the Oriental habit of smiling where we would look sorry or sad, but later he thinks Chinese have no nerves because a wounded Chinaman was smiling "as if it were a joke." If he means seriously that Chinese laughed when in trouble. then his wounded friend was not treating his mishap as a joke. This book is written for out siders, so it ought to be understood that they should not take the "information au graud serieux. He illustrates the impudence of the Chinese thief with the mouldy chestnut, about the man who stole the Police Court clock while the Court was in session; and Singapore is olaiming that now. It is a mercy he didn't
their
43
in chance
and
work in the formula of "a friend of mine." He would have done better to keep off the Religions of China, unless prepared to study them. Could anything be more monstrously unjust than his summing up that "Taoism is interest gambling luck"? He tells us that to make sure of reaching the regions of the blest, the Chinaman -every Chinaman-takes passage by all three of the religious routes-evidently under the impression that China has only Confucianism Buddhism, and Taoism And then this, which the poor missionaries at Linchow discovered to be a ghastly mistake: "If a missionary is sarcastic about the idols after the manner of Elijah and the writer of the 115th Psalm, their worshippers are not offended, but rather pleased because they do not love the idols but only fear them." In the inevitable chapter on missionaries, he refers to the "ignorant abuse of these people, although he himself was in no better position to champion them than are some of those who criticise them. He does not appear to have thought it out both ways to admit that were missionaries "cockroaches they could not have been more scorned than they were on board the ship" that brought him to Hongkong. Even the captain, who seemed "good and sensible man," became mad when he spoke of them. And Mr. Hardy goes on to admit that some missionaries are “idiots," others “untrained Americans” (of course all the bad
B
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24
[December 11, 1906.
HONGKONG REGATTA.
Patrons-H.E. The Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M G., H.E. Admiral Sir Gerard Noel, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., H.E. Major-General Villiers-Hatton, C.B.
THE HONGKONG WEEDLY PRESS AND
ones are either foreigners or Catholics), that female specimens " are often "auaemio, unlady- like, partially deformed." In the course of this chapter, which is really more against than for, The Hongkong Regatta, held on Dec. 9th at he can think of only two excuses for their Aberdeen, was eminently successful. It could presence-
-their advantago 8.5 commercial not well have been otherwise considering the advance agents (men of commerce seem strangely patronage under which it was conducted, the ungrateful) and “the Lord's marching orders," experienced officials who managed it, and the which had reference to highways and byways enthusiasm of the members and the keenness of in the disciples' own coun ry. He says they the competitors who came forward. With such modify prejudices: others say they augment conditions, it only required weather favourable them, When urged to kill missionaries,”
for a good exhibition of sport and a large he says, "Chinese mobs do so with regret," attendance of the public, and happily that was which irresistibly reminds UA of Izaak forthcoming. Undoubtedly one factor in the Walton's method of impaling a worm. After popularity of Saturday's proceedings was the pleasing us by his previous reproof of those who fact that the day had been proclaimed a public want to transform Oriental women into Euro-holiday, and this contributed to the unusually pean models, he now turns round and urges that large number of sightseers. the missionaries deserve credit for having done most to elevate the women! He tells us that "for unmarried missionary girls to travel about, either alone or in charge of a male missionary, shocks at first Chinese notions of morality." He says that that idea soon dies, but we doubt it. On page 3 6 we are actually asked to believe that whatever may be said of Roman Catholics, (again the cloven hoof), Protestant missionaries, if killed, do not want any notice to be taken of it, no gunboats, etc.; as "they know that if St. Paul and the other first apostles had been pro- tected by gunboats we would not be Christians LOW It is amusing to note his innocent joy in the progress being made. "They come over in families," he says, not thinking that conver- sions en bloc must be of somewhat doubtful value. And even the bad and irreligious lives of nominal Christians in the Far East cannot stop the progress of mission work," we may add, the manufacture of nominal Christians. It is hard work. "Think for instance of the difficulty of explaining to an ancestor worshipper such words as, “If any
TE t
which is,
man come to
Stewards: --Hon. Capt. L. A. Barnes-Law- rence, Sir H. S. Berkeley, Kt., Hon. Sir C.
P.
Chater, K., C.M.G., Colonel Darling, B.A., A. Denison, Esq., Lt. Colonel H. G. Fitton, D 8.0., Sir F. Piggott, Kt, H. E. Pollock, Esq., K.C., E. H. Sharp, Esq., K.C., H. Skott, Esq., J. B. M Smith, Esq., A. Turner, Esq., Commodore H. P. Williams, R.N.
Committee of Management:-Hou. Mr. Ger- shom Stewart, Chairman, Lient. C. Cooper, B.E., E. W. Mitchell, Esq, G. A. Caldwell, Esq., C. H. Grace, Esq., O. H. Gale, Esq., F. Lammert, Esq., A. B. Ronse, Esq. Hon. Treas., F. W. Warre, Esq., Hon. Sec.
Umpires:-C. E. H. Beavis, Esq., C. H. Grace. Esq., W. H. Potts, Esq.
Judges:-
-E. W. Mitchell, Esq., H. P. White, Esq., Lt. C. W. Beckwith, R.N.
The day broke dull and hazy, with but little wind, and there was every prospect of a smooth sea for the interesting series of rowing races. About half an hour before the first event, the wind freshened considerably with the result that the water became more turbulent. Indeed so choppy was the sea beyond the opposite island that it was deemed advisable to alter the course for the several races where the distance to be covered was a mile. Accordingly they started Aat the half mile mark and finished half a mile further down the channel. In this way every- thing passed off satisfactorily, and as sunshine brightened the surroundings in the afternoon the visitors enjoyed to the full the beautiful and interesting sights.
more
Me and hate not his father, he cannot be My disciple. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father." If they have actually been trying to explain that, we do not wonder there have been so many martyrs. That missionaries are not such fools as they look" is not a comforting saying, we imagine, for his friends! One quotation, and then perhaps enough. mandarin, after visiting a missionary known to
me. questioned the missionary's house-boy about his master's habits, as though he were a wild beast. 'What does he eat' 'How is it cooked
When does be go out and so on." We can see or hear the giggles with which this is meant to be read; but is not this book an effort to answer identical questions (as if they were wild beasts) by a gentleman who boasts that " by going round shaking his own hands, Chinese fashion, and showing his gold filled tooth," he had the entree everywhere! He winds up by tell ing how Chinese used to watch a regimental goat accompanying the Royal Welsh Regiment to church, and says that with far less to go apon, a western globe-trotter would dub the Chinese goat-worshippers." With more to go upon, he has succeeded in crowding a good deal of misinformation into this very readable, enter. taining, brightly-written and well-illustrated book, which unreservedly if it had plainly printed on its outer cover the necessary words: salis."
should recommend We
more
Cum grano
TENDER ASHORE NEAR APO
ISLAND.
At uine o'clock on the evening of the 5th instant, as Captain Arthur of the s.8. Foo Shing was passing Apo Island, he was signalled by rocket. Coming to about a mile South of the Island, he spoke the tag Robert K. which was engaged in towing the lighthouse tender Tablas off the reef on the S. E. end of the Island. Those on the tag communicated their wish to send a letter to Manila, but as the Foo Shing was bound for Hongkong, and as the tug refused any offer of assistance. Captain Arthur decided to proceed on his voyage. The master of the tag said he hoped to get the Tablas off on the next high tide, which was 4 a.m. on the following morning.
As before the course WAS from the Aberdeen Docks in the Hongkong direction,
mile and half mile being measured off. This stretch of water was very suitable for all the events, with the exception perhaps of that for the men-of-war gigs and whalers, when the 13 boats which competed had not enough room. For the others the course was admirable.
The arrangements for the management of the The Dock Company placed their premises at regatta, were of the most adequata description. the disposal of the committee and thus enabled a suitable enclosure to be marked off for the events on shore. At the docks and con- nected with a gangway was the flagship San Cheung, gay with bunting. Here most of the spectators took up positions from which to view the races. The umpire and starters attended to their important duties from No. 3 Cosmopolitan Dock Launch, while the judges were accommodated opposite the docks. Instructions had been given for launches to sail at half speed thus avoiding the backwash which would have been uncomfortable for the light boats of the competitors, but unfortunately sampans got in the way during one or two
races.
At Aberdeen the occasion was marked
by a brave show of steamers and bunting The two German vessels in the docks, the Andrée Rickmers and the Vorwarts, dressed ship, while other vessels in the harbour. contributed to the display of colour.
In the neighbourhood of the flagship was a great muster of most diversified craft. Gracefu ailing yachts, grimy launches, dainty little motor boats were moored side by side, but the vessel to create the most interest by its appearance was a Star Forry launch, which brought a large party.
The event was patronized by a distinguished assembly as well as by the populace. His
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