June 24, 1907.]
the country has been suffering, if they, the cream of the land, have grown fat? SHENG at all events is determined to have the last word; and there are plenty more who will back up his protest against the new scheme
of the nominee of the Board of Communi- cations. YANG, the new Superintendant of the Telegraphs, is to have a salary of a thousand taels per month; doubtless SHENG and such as he, will inveigh against the extravagance of such salaries; why a Viceroy is not allowed such a salary, and YANG, who is only a Taotai, is to be placed under the new régime over the head of a Viceroy; the very idea is iniquitous. Of course Peking can see through this very thin veil of reasoning put Peking has its own reason for joining in the remonstrance. SHENG had his own reasons for approving of the old régime; the Government of the country, it is true, did not as a Government grow fat on the system, and was always out at elbows; hut here again there was a distinction, and a very pointed one. The Government of China as a whole is very different from the Government as a collection of individuals, and SHENG, and those like him, recognised the distinction. A hint that SHENG was getting richer than was fair was now and then found effectual in deflecting presents towards the Capital, and we have had recent evidences that even Princes of the Imperial blood are not casehardened against their acceptance. Now Tuotai YANG, though he might officially send far more money up to Peking, was out of his thousand taels per mensem manifestly incapable of making a present of an odd lakh now and then to a Prince, or it might be a favourite eunuch,
or
even occasionally the President of a Board; and all these in their heart of hearts will most assuredly feel themselves bound to support SBENG KUNG PAO's protest. Reform has, in fact, as we have mentioned repeatedly, to begin at the head. It is useless trying to reform a poor taotai, who however individually honest cannot be expected to stand the racket of opposing the higher powers. The Board of Com munications is doubtless taking a business- like view of the situation. The revenue of the Telegraph Administration is capable of great increase, and the increase is to be gained by a reasonable reduction of the present excessive charges, and the abolition of preferences; but both these things imply interference with practices de ir to the highest in the land. The same may be said of the Railways and the Customs, and the Likin, in fact of every branch of the Administration.
Unfortunately the higher we go the more powerful are the SHENG KONG PAo tribe and the larger are the maws of the would- be recipients. We fear Taotai YANG and the Bourd of Communications will still have an anxious time before them, before the Telegraph System is reformed.
"THE COLOUR OF LONDON."
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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powers of Europe. His ambition is not fulfilled by being an Emperor in his own country. His heart is always aching, his life is always in danger, and his brain is always over-worrying, and now and then he has nightmare called " Yellow Peril." How missr» able he must be, comparing his life to the Whitechapel people. I rather prefer the latter's.'
SPIELMANN, F.8.A., as well as of the author; and though we cannot doubt that there will be exceptions taken by some experts, we are vastly impressed by these remarkable pictures. These watercolours of London scenes by this young Japanese put the watercolour studies of Japan by MORTIMER MENPES quite into the shade-a comparison that is as irresistible as it may be odious. Therein we have a glimpse in thought of As it is the Japanese point of view that has the qualities of the pictures, sentiment chief interest for us out here, we may dis- sympathy, and a sly humour, with some miss the literary work of Mr. LOFTIE, times excellent as it is, with a few lines.
a alight distortion. There is the Less ambitious than Sir WALTER BESANT's work,
greyness of London, which any Philistine can see, and there are its compoñent hues its renders, whether Londoners or not, will that the analytical brush discovers. It is find this account of absorbing interest and not even necessary to have WHISTLER'S undeniable chaim, It is a series of word fanciful imagination to recognise the beauty pictures, retrospective as well as contem
to be found in dear, dirty London, although porary, made by an artist rather than in a view from Hungerford Bridge the by a bistorian, although the historical Japanese artist has relied on the WHISTLER interest has no subordinate place. It shows haziness. Very often, of course, what are us the salient features of the fascinating city cailed "ffects" depend on mere trickery of and tells ns at the same time their several technique, and Mr. YoSHIO MARKINO'S stories. The editor has had the wit to methods probably afford ample scope for further enhance the literary charm of the professional controversy. We are less inter- book by including an 0881y by the ested in that, however, or in hisstrictly urban artist, in his own quaint English, coloured portraiture, than in his marvellous knack of by his own native sentiment. After a resi- catching the life and movement of the dence of over nine years, Mr. YOSHIO MAR- streets. The various ways in which skirts KINO loves London. His pictures would my be lifted out of the mud seem to have prove it, if he had made no such declara- afforded a special and interesting study. tion. He is also a great admirer of the Each specimen is convincing. The faces London ladies, as who that has travelled are English, or rather London faces-no and compared can fail to be. As an artist suggestion of the Oriental about them. he regrets some "miscontrast colours 11
All Londoners will understand and their dresses, but praises their general approve while
it noticing that
is carriage and style. Bus-drivers and police- London by night that appeals to the wen he has an affection for, and a respect artist, and not one exile who gazes at these for the London crowd- except on two well remembered scenes but will sympathise occasions. They were Ladysmith and with the feeling that made the artist draw Mafeking's days" Normally the crowds the “Inaba Maru please him.
as it lay in the Albert They move on slowly and Docks. If we could welcome, as we did a slowly-as slow as the watch handle, and f-w days age, a feeble attempt by a Japanese one after another they finish the sight journalist to show us ourselves as others see seeing." The conversation of the shop-us, we can the more easily and gratefully man from whom he gets "morning papers thank this artist for pointing out beauties and a few pence of cigarettes every day" somehow felt but not recognisel, in the has given him, "more than once, a key by great centre of civilization to which our which I could solve my questions about thoughts are constantly turning. the buman philosophy! Perhaps he him- self does not know the lessons that he gave me were more valuable than rome books or lectures" There are many such unwitting philosophers, but it needs the hear- ing ear to discover them, just as it requires the se ing eye to find Loudon." The Philistine interprets literally the colour of the phrase of "the light that never was on land or sea", but it is really there. Just a few more quotations may be pardoned as they help to familiarise us with the wind of the artist.
(Daily Press, 18th June). It is inevitable that in such a Look as "The Colour of London," published by CHATTO & WINDUS, the work of the author, Mr. W. J. LOFTIE, F.B.A., will be fartly eclipsed by the work of the artist, Mr. YOSHIO MARKING. With recollections of many foreign studies by Japanese artists we opened this book in the full expectation that the publishers would be found to have spoiled an excellent series by yielding to the entente craze of the moment. An agree- able disappointment was the result. This Japanese colourist's work has had the selection and endorsement of Mr. M.
H.
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"I see that almost all children are very
beautiful. I am very fond of the poor class children as well. and perhaps with шоге sympathy. It is very lovely to see them skip. ping on the streets. Their faces stained with Auger-marks and their stockings pulled down to
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"BRITISH SUBJECTS."
(Daily Press, 19th June).
discussions at the Colonial Conference would Although it was not expected that the
there bas leen one subject upon which the lead to any immediate practical results,
meeting of the Premiers in London has had that effect. There can be little question that the Home Government were largely influence in their decision not to advise the Crown to veto the Transvaal Indisa
expressed upon this and similar subjects by Exclusion Act, by the opinions which were
The feeling upon this subject is undoubtedly the representatives of different Colonies. very strong, and it must have been obvious
the ankle are very picturesque.
to the Government that it would be au They don't know what will be their future, but when unwise policy to insist upon the Colonie they are grown, lo! there is a wide ditch between receiving into their midst, immigrants who them and others. They will be like their own are for substantial reasons undesirable, parents, and their own children will repeat the either upon the grounds that the countries same again. So, generation after generation, from which they came had treaty relations these poor victims will have no chance to float with Great Britain and were entitled to be up to the surface of society, unless some better dealt with as on an equality, or upon the arrangement of education takes place. When
think of it, the question of the meaning of narrower, but in some respects more incisive life always comes to my mind. Although I have ground that they were British Subjects and a great sympathy towards those poor children, had, therefore, the right to be so recognised within a yard. they have such a horribla odour; foriner question is a difficult one to deal I always dread them when they come near me by any Colony under the British Flag. The pity that London has not cheap baths as in with, but it has been adjusted in recent Japan, for they ought to go to the bath once a day. If the cbject of our life in this
years by the introduction into treaties of a world is merely to sek happiness, I think clause as to right of residence in the the poor are having a better time than some respective countries of the contracting others who have too much ambition especially parties Excluding the applicability of the look at the sovereign of one of the great were unwilling to accede to it. In the past those who are in political fever. For instance, privilege as regards such of the Colonies as
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