January 22, 1906.J
ucceed. For the sake of each individual as well as for all, he hoped the full number of attendances would be made, not by 25 only, but by 250. He closed with the following piece of adviop. "I have noticed of late," he said, "a tendency on the part of certain young men to devour indiscriminately all sorts of literature, and to follow blindly the precepts inculcated therein. I warn you against such baneful influence. Mere reading is not knowledge. As Solomon says 'Get knowledge, but above all get understanding. You must, therefore, think over and understand what you read; and, un derstanding, you must not attempt to achieve that for which you are not well equipped. You cannot run before you can walk. What you | ought to do is to strive to improve yourselves morally, mentally and physically. Let your study be prosecuted with diligence and per- severance; let your ideal be of an elevating character; and let.
your conduct be guided by the dictates of your own conscience. With such materials, as it were, you can build a strong foundation upon which you may rear an edifice towering and lasting."
After the prizes were presented, Mr. LAU CHU PAK, on behalf of the committee of the Ellis Kadoorie Chinese Schools' Society, thanked Mr. Ho Kom Tong for the trouble he had taken, and especially for presenting such a munificent scholarship. As a stimulant to education on Western lines, his example was worthy the emulation of his compatriots. After com- pliments to the audience, and praise to Mr. Nichol, the speaker addressed the boys as follows: It is beyond doubt that recently a peculiar and, I may say, harmful, idea has been instilled into young heads like yours. You are yet too young and too raw to form opinions on things around you. In your way of thinking and calculations, I know that some of you fancy that you have grown wise and old enough to be called men. Supposing they were, it is still their bounden duty to rightly and properly guide those who are not so wise and old as themselves. They must not, in order to serve their evil ends or simply for the sake of mischief, lead the younger ones out of the path of right- eousness. It is a sin to impose upon the ignorant and abuse the innocent mind. That a good teacher cannot do as much as a good schoolmate in modelling the character of a boy is only too true. Now almost every day the words freedom and independence are between your lips. What do lade of your age know about these two words?
It is all very well for some people to constantly cry for freedom and independence, and they even say they ins et on having it at whatever cost. I wonder if these people themselves thoroughly and clearly understand what it means. By free dom and independence, I hear, they mean that
I
every man, no matter to what station of life he belongs, is at liberty to do everything in his own way without restriction or opposition. If so, shall say they talk about what they do not understand and raise an outcry for that which has never been existent and can never exist. là no country, civilized or otherwise, is perfect freedom and independence enjoyed or allowed to any person. Even the most powerful nation cannot do a thing without complying with the be restricted to a certain area, beyond which it is dangerous to allow it to go. Before un-
laws of the nations. Freedom of action must
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
all be condemned without a careful comparison with those of other people and without regard to the conditions of our country. Where there is room for improvement and modification, con- sider maturedly, take systematic action, and do not risk things indiscriminately. Those who are, or, who suppose themselves, competent to take the lead to effect the necessary improve. ments should mark out their lines and submit before the public their suggestions with full comparative details. If such suggestions are really sensible and better than what is existing. I am sure their countrymen will adopt them. But, my young friends, as students, it is not your business to talk politics of this kind. You should avail yourself of every opportunity now before you to train your mind. increase your knowledge and cultivate your habits. Your future career is entirely in your own hands. Do not allow yourself to be led astray by mistaken ideas while you have not the experience and knowledge to judge for yourselves, or you will never become useful and gool citizens. There is always a time and way for everything. Whenever you imagine or feel that the re strictions imposed on your conduct at home or in school are too hard, which are. by the way, all intended for your good, make yourselves sure of it first and then set to work to have it re- moved in a gentle, reasonable and proper manner. A. rebellious and arrogant attitude, which I notice is every day becoming con- spicuous amongst boys of your age, will not help matters."
The proceedings closed with much cheering.
BELILIOS PUBLIC SCHOOL.
CHINESE AND WESTERN KNOWLEDGE.
His Excelleney the Governor presided at the annual prize distribution of this school held oa Jan. 21. There were also present Messrs. E. wood, G. H. Piercy and many of the papils, A. Irvine, Inspector of Schools, W. D. Braid-
parents and friends.
included recitations and physical exercises, was On the Governor's arrival a programme, which proceeded with, and on its conclusion Mr. Irvine read Mrs. Bateman's annual report, from which the following extracts are taken:-
As this will be my last report, a short resume of the work of the 15 years during which the school has been in existence may not be out of place. The school was originally started by Dr. Eitel, H.M.I., whose object was the education of Chinese and Eurasian children.
|
This
It was first located in a private house in Hollywood Road. Miss Manu, a certificated teacher from England, took charge in March, 1890, and began her work with 2 girls. She left in August of the same year and was succeeded by Miss Ward, also a certificated teacher from England. On her resignation Dr. Eitel asked me to undertake the duties of Head Mistress. Hence my appointment, which dates from September, 1891, when the increased to 95; then it became necessary to number on the roll was 70. In 1892 it had
seek greater accommodation. It was then that the Hon. E. R. Belilios (whose death we have so lately mourned) came forward with his. generous offer to provide a building if the Government. would give the ground. This restricted and unopposed freedom aud inde- offer was accepted by the Government, who pendence, nothing for the welfare of mankind gave the ground upon which the Central
School for Boys previously stood. can exist; Government, family, society, peacebuilding, perhaps the most spacious and airy and order will all be disorganized and wiped off, thereby reducing men to the level of beasts. Even the savages are subject to the rules of their tribe. Confucius says those who ignore propriety should be municated. What is propriety? It is one of the many restrictions of freedom and indepen- dence, the observation of which makes a good son, a good husband, a good father and a good aitisen. The United States is the only country called the Land of Freedom, and yet the people there, including the President himself, do not enjoy freedom and independence in an unlimited form. Their actions are restricted as in any other country, and this is essential for the maintenance of good fellowship and good citizenship. The ques tion of the day, I am rather of opinion, is whether the restrictions of the freedom and independence of the Chinese ought not to be slackened and modified. They should not
2
excom-
school routine.
school in the Colony, was given fully furnished with desks, black boards, easels and every requisite necessary to the carrying on of It was opened in December. 1893, by His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Robinson. The change was a most welcome one to teachers and children, but in the spring of the following year our bright prospects were darkened by that first and terrible visitation of plague in the Colony. During the months of June and July our he teachers came daily to find only empty school was literally "decimated" of children. desks, the average attendance for the month continued until the school closed on July 21st of June being five out of a roll of 95. This for the midsummer holidays. We, however, started again in September with 60 children, and from then the number steadily increased till in 1898 it reached its maximum of 185.
The school was then at its zenith, and was the school for English girls in the Colony. In September, 1901, the fees were raised from 50 cents to $1.50. This was afterwards modified in cases where more than one child from u family attended the school. Other schools were opened in the Colony, such as the Diocesan Girls' School, where girls could be boarders, a thing often desired by Eurasians. Then the Kowloon British School was opened, and all British- children were expected to attend it. Still later. a school for Indian boys was started, and all Indian boys attending our school were drafted to it, as were Chinese boys to the District Schools; this seriously lessened our numbers. In 190 the number of pupils increased, the average attendance in February being 116. In 1904 the average was 113, and in 1995, 9.28. If all pupils who entered during the year attended regularly, the average attendance would be very good. As I have previously stated, the school was started with the idea of giving an English [ education to Chinese and Eurasian girls, but as times went on more English girls entered, taking advantage of the education given, which is the same as that given in a high school at home where girls are prepared for the Oxford Local Examinations. "In 1898 two girls at their own request were prepared for their examination; both passed, and one, Ethel Long, gained distinction in English History, heading the list of candidates. At the present time she and several other girls who have received their education in this school are occupying important positions in influential firms of the Colony. In December, 1903, I was asked to send specimens of the work done in the school to the St. Louis Exposition. Specimens. of maps, and Chinese embroidery were sent. Early last year I received information from the secretary in Shanghai that a certificate and medal had been awarded for embroidery; but neither have arrived yet. An examination five of our girls entered and four-Elia for the Belilios Trust Fuad was held in April;
Hyndman. Esther Noma, Annie Lesbirel and Martha Peterson-gained prizes. This year the girls in the upper classes have been greatly interested in the study of hygiene, which has been promoted by His Excellency the Governor,
and to which he gave great stimulation by the awarding of valuable prizes. During the past year 29 pupils received certificates for regular attendance, 11 of whom were not once absent, while the remainder were almost within the full number of days.
The following is a list of prize donors:-The Hon. Sir Paul Chater, Hon Mr. R. Shewan, Hon. Mr. C. W. Dickson, Hon. Mr. Gershom Stewart, Dr. Ho Kai, Messrs. J. R. M. Smith, EW. Mitchell, W. Wilson, Hughes and Hough, W. J. Humphreys, H. Humphreys, Ho Tang, Ho Fook, Fung Wa Chuen, A Forbes,
Deacon, J. Wheeler, D. Clark, Kelly & Walsh, Lock Hing, G. M. Bain, Tak Cheong, A. S. Mihara, Chan Pat, Goddard, Shellim and Dr. Kew.
Matthew, after which one of the senior Chinese The prizes were then distributed by Sir pupils addressed him in Chinese, the translation of her speech reading:-
Your Excellency, as this day is the finish of our year's school work, we sincerely thank your Excellency for honouring us with your Presence, and also heartily thank you for presenting these prizes, which, more than the during the ensuing year. I deem it a great prizes, will be a great incentive to our studies honour that I should be selected from so many to express to your Excellency the thanks which every pupil in the Chinese girls' department feels. We also wish to express our gratitude to the English Government, that we, who are not English, are given the privilege of an education. While our own nation has neglected its weaker sex in this respect, the English Government is changing our position as the moulder changes the shape of the iron, and teaching us brighter and better ways of a great future. And, to be honoured by one the rest of the world. To us it is the dawning
so great flatters us in the extreme, and, also invigorates us to harder labours. Once more, on teaches us that here "merit is rewarded,” and behalf of the pupils of the Chinese Girls depart ment, allow me to express our heartiest thanks
HIS EXCELLENCY said :—Ladies and Gentle-
men-I confess that I was myself among those
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