976
representation of objects, the first phase of which we find among the ancient Mexicans. "From this point, "he continues, "have been derived by gradual modifications, and very different kinds of signs, the systems of hieroglyphics of Egypt and Chalden; and an a al gous system is still in force with the Chinese." He adds that our alphabe- | tical systems have their origin in a transformation of the hieroglyphic signs whose original construction was not phonetic. In illustration of his subject M. Bertholet gives some startling instances of the variations in pronunciation which actually exist in the present day in different paris of France. Such a simple word as 'moi" is pronounced in different places moa and moué-as great a variation as is to be found in most words in Chinese between the Peking pronunciation and that in Canton, Foochow or even Shanghai. Curiously enough the "Reformers" have suggested as a remedy for this a system exactly similar to that which is adopted with more or less success in China-that is the adoption of one special standard of pronunciation 18 a kiud of Mandarin Dialect, which ought to be understood and adopted by all people of education. He justly observes that an attempt of this kind would be of little use as no amount of teach- ing at schools would prevent the local pro- nunciation becoming mixed up with that which was taken as the standard. Of the truth of this we have ample illustrations in China, where the officials are all supposed to speak the pure Mandarin dialect but in reality always speak it with variations which are sufficient to indicate to the Chinese ear what province the speaker hails from. The impossibility of preserving a given pronunciation is in itself an ample ground for abandoning any attempt at introducing a fixed standard of spelling on a phonetic basis; but the French "Reformers" who evidently do not intend to be haffled by any trifling difficulty, have suggested that the aid of the phonograph might be called in but, among
other little difficulties, it is pointed out that the "records for phonographs are obtained in wax and that so soft a material might be subject to awkward mechanical or chemical changes. These, however, would probably not be greater than in the course of years would arise in the recognised pronunciation itself so that even with all the appliances of modern science, it would prove impossible to maintain a phonetic standard of any language for any great length of time. On the whole we think that most people will agree with Mr. Bertholet that the matter is one of those in which it is better to leave well alone. Even orthography, painful as it may be to scholars to recognise the fact, is not invariable; much less so the pronunciation of words.
11
The best that can
be attained is a system recognised by general acceptance, but susceptible in some instances of varieties, the legitimacy of which will be recognised or repudiated by the educated public,
PUBLIC APATHY.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
For instance, paragraph 156 must have touched many citizens, as dealing with almost everyday occurrences. It says, "In the general cleansing as in the disinfection of infected houses, too much power is left to the foremen. The inspector makes a few notes and gives a few orders, the Medical Officer of Health gives far too little super. vision, the foremen and coolies have too much their own way and pay no regard to the wishes or feelings of the people whose houses they invade. Furniture must be removed into the street, that might have been left where it was. Articles washed must be washed again, resulting in much needlees friction. These men have been known to march into people's houses and extort money by threats of the trouble they would put the inmates to, if their demands were refused. In the disin- fection of bouses, their behaviour is characterised by insolence, rudeness, and frequently violence, which of course adds to and to a great extent accounts for the hostile feeling of the Chinese towards the Board. That is a very strong indictment, so strong that the Hon. Mr. MAY, who does not accept it as warranted, has described it in a Minute as a "lurid picture.
He would be glad of the adduction of facts and of specific complaints, because at present the absence of such leads him to believe that the general cleansing, and disinfecting have "on the whole been carried out with as little inconvenience to the public as in the circumstances might reasonably be expected". Now this is one of the very points on which members of the public can strengthen the position of the Commission, if they have any specific com plaints to make, and if they wish for reform. We happen to kuow of one specific case in which a gang of unsupervised coolies invaded a foreigner's quarters, where the Medical Officer of Health did not attend at all. where an insolent disregard of the reasonable wishes of a contact was shown, where "articles washed "-clothing folded up in covered receptacles that had not been touched by the patient-were taken away to be re-washed, and where there
was
"
$1
[Jane 10, 1907.
CHINESE REFORMS.
а
(Daily Press, June 6th.) Captain BRINKLEY in the Japan Mail expresses the conviction that "the Middle Kingdom is the storm ce re of East Asia," and goes on to quote ith approval some Japanese opinions of the hopelessness of real reform in China. The writer quoted had just returned from a long sojourn in China, and is, according to Captain BRINKLEY, man evidently of considerable weight and position. According to this Japanese observer, the movement for administrative reform in China has resulted in numerous contra lictions, and created a situation abounding in anomalies. The upshot of his observations is that Chinese con- servatism is perennial, and that none of the apparent progressive impulses can have any effect other than temporary lislocation. As this pessimism appears to
be
some
au intelligent echo of obiter dicta frequently overheard in many places on the China const, it is of interest to note of its specific grouads. Allusion is made to the benevolent activities of Viceroy YUAN, who had the nominal approval and support of the Central, Government, but whose authority, according to this contributor to the Hochi, was actually crippled and reduced in various manifest ways. He (YUAN)
advised in the forefront of his schedule that the powrs of the purse and of the sword should be matter of finance complete failure was the out- handed over to the central government. In the come, and in the matter of military affairs the only issue was that, out of the six divisions organised and controlled by Yuan, four were transferred to the central government and two were left an 'er his command. It was a species of compromise which did not amount to either fish, fleeb, fowl or good red herring. Even the Military Academy iu Paoting, which, as a nursery of officers, ought necessarily to hava passed with the four divisions to the control of Peking, remains in the hands of the Viceroy. It has been theoretically handed over, but on the ples that the formalities of transfer have not been fully complied with, the War Office in Peking decline to find fands for the support of the Academy and that responsibility rests on Yuan's shoulders. Meanwhile his programm. having been thus frittered away and his policy having proved an abortion. the ready.money politicians of China as they are called, no longer darken the portals of Yuan's Yamen."
to
actually an ignorant and stupid refusal by mere subordinates to leave the contact sufficient clothes for immediate use, so that, but for the contributions of friends, even the laws of decency would The good faith and impartiality of Captain have been outraged. According to the BRINKLEY's witness may be considered to Commissioners, there have been many cases be somewhat established by his reference worse than that. Is the general public not the Japanese military instructors neglecting a plain duty by remaining silent? at the Paoting Academy, whom he does not The most complaints, of course, come from hesitate to describe as a disgrace to their Chinese, and it is worth pointing out that country," but whether it is incompetence or the charges of the Cominission are levelled malpractices that makes them such is not against Chinese subordinates, the guilt of stated. The movement for sending thou. the foreign employees being that of neglect sinds of Chinese students to Japau be ing to look after these rascals sufficiently. ridicules as a mere fashion without any No one who has had any experience at all logical basis." We know that these can have failed to note how thoroughly students, on returning to China, have not objectionable a low-class Chinese can make been received with open arms by the himself, if left with any show of authority authorities, but that has been largely due at all. It is the nature of the beast to be to their own indiscretion. They come back unreasoningly arbitrary, and where not often, not as well-informed reformers but as carefully and closely supervised by those impatient iconoclasts, full of maldigested paid to superintend his work, is quite cap-ideals that are still further misunderstood able of all and more than the conduct attributed to him in this paragraph 156.
4
f
"1
by their stay-at-home friends before whom (Daily Press, 5th June.)
they delight to parade their enlighten- ment." The logical basis for their If the report of the Special Commission
A correspondeat writing from Peking says: appointed to investigate the administration
-I understand that an effort is being made by despatch to Japan in the first instance may of the sanitary laws of the Colony had been the Foreign Ministers to enclose a portion of have existed; the Chinese thirsting for buried in an official paper inaccessible to the canal near the Tangpien Mien on the foreign science would not be content to it at second-hand, especially the general public, the strange lack of Eastern side of the Tartar City as a swimming accept interest shown would have been less pool. Also to secure the area known as Budiha's from their formerly desed and still!
were it not that mysterious. The report has had the fullest Land for the erection of a building which will unloved neighbours, possible publicity, however, and it is suggested that if buildings were put up along
It is further Tokyo offers it more cheaply and ex-
reason for the absence, the marked absence, the district might be turned into a useful com-ed for their enterprise and diligence. exceedingly difficult to guess at the real the canal bank for foreign and Chinese topediently. Still, there is little doubt that even the best of them have been ill-reward- of comments by members of the public,'mercial centre.
serve for pionic parties, etc.
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