188
RUS IN URBE.
(Daily Press, March 16th.) WHERE in the world does a short evening stroll afford more chartu, than at Hongkong just now ? People pay pounds and travel miles to visit" beauty spots" that have less to commend them. This is no reference to the peerless views that reward the explorer of the bigher levels or the Peak, nor is it au invitation to go further and view the ramifications of our most beautiful harbour, or the comely valleys that lie bidden beyond the Kowloon range. It is simply a reminder of some things we see so often that we are apt to miss their charm, things that may be enjoyed in a stroll that would not tire a yearling child.
Say we start from the Hongkong Hotel, walk to the City Hall via the Bank, and back by the southern side of what our American friends would call "the block." One good cigarette, and certainly one cigar, should outlast the trip, and countless future smokes will not outlast the visual memories to be collected in a duly receptive mood.
The mood, it goes without saying, should follow the good dinner, to be eaten, for preference, when it is not a "band night." The Bell of New Yorchestra, as somebody once christened the prandial performers, is too distracting for the purpose in view. It makes you eat too fast, for one thing, and the chance is you'll walk too fast, and make
mere "constitutional," an
effort at 'ekker," of what should be a dreamy saunter through a dream world. A modest bottle, and a liqueur with the coffee, is to be recommended.
The wonderful green of the foliage of the tree at the foot of Ice House Road and Battery Path is an artificial effect due to the electric light, but in conjunction with the arborescent silhouettes beyond, the glimpse of hilltop and houses on the skyline high up, it compels thought of the Ttapallan of Columbus, the Land of Colours, or of the Delectable Land as visualized by Bunyan. Within the last few days there's been a mao sitting in a ricsha, smoking cigars, and pretending to paint the Flower Market. As if any artist with an eye for colour would waste time over the massed crudities of Wynd- ham Street! A Whistlerian nocturne in greens and yellows of the embankment below Battery Path would do more to popularise" Hongkong than a Carnegie Library or Public Baths. But it would not do us justice, even though u greater than Whistler were to do it.
(
The enlacement of banyan roots over that feray embankment is a very wonderful thing. It never loses its spell as a miracle for contemplation. There is an outcropping rock, a sort of natural pulpit, that looks as if it might roll down but for the banyan's embrace. The clasp is as firm, and yet as affectionately graceful, as that of a mother holding her child for its first dip in the sea. The dry fronds of the palm sentinels by the Bank supply the necessary murmur of the wavelets plashing on the beach. Shake off the ash of your cigarette, and continue round the corner, where the eastward bound trams groan and scream as they circumvent the Cricket Club's pavilion, habited now only by some Chinese servant, whose incense sticks under the window make you look for glow
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
C
[March 21, 1908B.
There
eclipses and occultations too, but look-it | career which would place them in a higher is not only their relative positions to their psition and in which they would doubtless sun that affects their colours. One huge he able to render greater service to their moth of sulphur hue, with a body quite country. Moreover, the sons of Chinese a couple of inches long, and wings out-gentleinen who with that newly awnkened spreading four or five, is hampered in his zeal for Western learning look to Europe worship of the flame by a dark body of with longing, are often precluded by con- similar size that threatens in every or it to siderations of money and difficulties of from taking up a collide with him. By Jove, it is a bat, and living and travel his movements appear not dangerously care- course of study which would materially
We are
benefit themselves and contribute to the lees but deliberately sinister. watching one of the countless tragedies advancement of their native land. The always, day after day, and night after night, need for a university has been felt for taking place in this optimistic world. a long time. The educational authorities have advocated the establishment of To the moth it is a blinding ecstasy
а dreadful but (we a university, the commercial community alternating with hope) only vaguely appreciated peril. have supported the proposal, and the Government have given the scheme their "Confound you, sir," we imagine him say.
warm approval. But up till now the scheme ing, "can't you see I'm very busy with my
has not materialised. Nobody knew where devotions? You nearly bumped into me that time." To the bat, alas-a coarse-
the necessary money was to come from, and there was no Andrew Carnegie to solve the minded materialist-it is a matter of a square meal. The beautiful worshipper is problem for Hongkong. Though the Scoto- only a course in necessary repast, a American millionaire does not take Hong- succulent morsel with which to grat fy a kong under bis patronage, the Colony is not
Con- without public spirited citizens. fleshly lust to fill an aching void. found the brute," he says, "nearly had have been many who have given lavishly to him that time, but every time he gets into benefit our city. Munificent giftɛ have been that whiteness up there, my eyesight seems placed before an appreciative populace, Wonder what it is. Must especially during the last few decades, and to fail me.
now the more than princely generosity of have 'em seen to." Out flies the moth
Mr. MoDy and the public spirited co-opera- again, the touch of the glass of the arc failing to alleviate his passion for the inner tion of Mr. A. H. RENNIE are to be grate radiance. He is like a lover, who, after fully noticed in connection with the offer to kissing his lady's band, bungers and thirsts provide the fund for a Hongkong University. for her lips. Swoop! Comes the sombre The Government has accepted the offer of and demoniac bat, and this time strikes, these gentlemen and will give the land flutters, necessary for the site. The thanks of a The golden angel droops and straight as gravitation brings him earth grateful community and Government are wards, and the shadowy death, floating due to all responsible for such generosity after on almost invisible pinions, retrieves and public spirit, and those who know Mr. RENNIE will readily admit that him just as we step forward to render aid,
the completion of the project is practi and both are gone.
cally certain, as anything Mr. KENNI takes in hand is carried to ful issue. The building and site being thus assured the arrangements have yet to be concluded-it only remains for an endowment fund to be raised. And this should not present any great difficulty. Doubtless other local gentle uen will be inspired by such noble examples to give o their sufficiency and emulate not only the gentlemen named but the numerous other benefactors who have helped to contribute to the social needs of the Colony. that so, the University would era long be a fact accomplished and Hongkong would be proud of a centre of learning which would not only be welcomed by its own citizens but afford educational facilities to young men in the neighbouring land not hitherto available. Hongkong would benefit, China would benefit and the influence of the new educational institution would be an im- portant factor in the progress of the Empire We are so closely with whose interests
We understand that buildings associated. an i plans have been prepared and in a day or two the public may expect to be in possession of the details.
High on the Peak little panels of yellow indicate where presumably happy people are enjoying post prandial peace or gaiety. The arch above scintillates with its awful air of having done so for ever and for ever, and its ghastly determination to continue doing it when we have followed the moth. A tram, nearly empty, for it is getting late, passes-the conductor counting coppers and making them up into rouleaux--all in a blaze of yellow. An expectant ricsha coolio charges us very much as the bat charged his prey, and his raucous interjections put us to flight,
HONGKONG UNIVERSITY.
(Daily Press, March 17th.) Since Hongkong became a Crown Colony of the British Empire more than sixty years ago, its record has been one of steady pro- gress. Its material prosperity has increased, the conditions of life have been improved for the bulk of its inhabitants, aud British occupation has become synonymous with a safety of life and security for property unknown in the great Empire of which it once formed a part. Many of the institutions which play such a helpful and educative part in Western lands have been introduced to Hongkong with a generally successful result that justified an advance on the same lines. While much has been done educa- enlightened policy in this direction has had tio ally and it has to be admitted that an
The ball of bright light at the top of the most desirable ends-it has long been re- high standard is the centre of a little whirl-coguised that more remained to be achieved. ing universe all its own. Big moths and little moths gyrate up there, some like sober planets, constant to their orbits, others erratic like drunken comets, giddy with joy, but constant in their worship as a pious Up there in miniature are
Worms.
Zoroastrian.
The elementary schools and Queen's College do not carry the ambitious youth very far. To qualify for any of the professions it is necessary
for the student to go to Europe, and as this involves a considerable expense, many are deterred from entering upon a
Я success-
POLITICAL TENSION IN
EUROPE,
(Daily Press, March 18th.)
Were
An instructive instance of the hollowness continent of Europe is exhibited in the un- of the armed truce at present existing on the seemly snarling that has taken place over a very simple proposition of Austro-Hungary to build a line of railway across the very difficult piece of country lying between Serajevo, the capital of Bosnia, and Mitro- witzi in nothern Albania. Already Serajevo is connected by rail with Vienna, and Mitrowitza with Salonika, the most import-
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