THE CALAMITY IN ITALY.
MEMORIAL SERVICE AT ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
The service held at St. Joseph's R. C. Church in connection with the great calamity in Italy was celebrated by the Right Reverend Bishop Pozzoni, assisted by Fathers Spada, Noval, and others, besides the Seminarists.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
thanked the Bishop for the Service and the foreigners who had kindly been present at the ceremony.
VARIOUS ESTIMATES OF YUAN SHIH-KAI.
The Chinese pross of Shanghai naturally has made many comments upon the retirement of Yuuu Shih-kai from his high offices. The com- ments of the Yu Lun Pao, which is an official paper, are naturally sympathetic. The retired statesman is spoken of as the leading man in the conduct of the foreign affairs of China, but it is pointed out that the appointment of H. E. Liang Tun-yen as his successor will ensure a continuance of the policy of Yuan Shih-kai in this Board. The comments point out that Liang owes his advancement in a large degree to the good offices of Yuan, and that he is sure to conduct foreign affairs on the sane lines as Yuan.
(January 18, 1909.
FOUNDERING OF A JAPANESE
STEAMER.-
LOSS OF 40 LIVES.
The Japanese steamer the Daini Denshin- maru, which left Sakai, Hoki province, on the 25th ult. for Shimonoseki, via Hamada and Hagi, on the 28th at 4 a.m., grounded on a rock off the Tsunoshima Light, but soon got off and had proceeded on her course for not more than a furlong when she began to make Of the orew, water rapidly and foundered. thirty in number, the chief engineer, chief officer, and seven sailors and stokers were rescued; all the rest are missing. There were twenty passengers on board, and only one &
Amongst those présent were: Right Reverend Bishop J.lemente of Amoy, with his secretary. Rev. Father Fourquet, representing Mons. Mérel of Canton, Rev. Father Robert, Rev. Father Brun, Watson, Brother Christian of St. Joseph's College and the Rev. Sisters of the Italian Conveut. The Italian Consul | General Comm. Z. Volpicelli, Marquis Cusani Visconti, Commander of HIM.S. Puglia, Captain Taylor, representing H.E. the Go- vernor, who regretted he was unable to be present, Commander Grenfell representing the Commodore, with several Naval Officers, Members article in the Sin Wan Pao is more critical, but only her mostheads showing at low water.
of the Consular Body, the Italian colony, several ladies, amongst whom were Mesdamos Volpicelli, Bribosia, Marty, Berindoague and Blanch, and the Officers and sailors of the Puglia and the | sailors on the Capri who are being sent home.
The ceremony commenced with Chopin's Funeral March played by the organist of the Cathedral, Mr. O. Baptista, who, though in- formed a very short notice, kindly hurried to play in t. Joseph's Church. The whole con- gregation remained standing, until Bishop Pozzoni asked them to be seated, when he deli- vered a short sermon, of which we gave a brief translation "It was my intention as well as that of my Clergy, to celebrate a solemn Re. quiem Mass for those who perished in our terrible national calamity, but by the Rites of Church, this could not be done before the 19th of this month, and only yesterday I learned that the greater part of you here present would be leaving to-morrow, so, after a cousultation with the Italian Consul-General, Comm. Z. Vol- picelli, and Marquis Cusani- Visconti, command. ing the Italian man-of-war, I decided to have a Memorial Service in St. Joseph's Church, as the Cathedral is not free at present."
|
The
bluejacket was saved. The bodies of five carried timber, charcoal, raw silk and rice and women passengers were recovered. The steamer other cereals. The vessel is entirely submerged,
exhaustion.
According to the Chief Engineer, the steam pipe broke at the joint when the steamer stranded.-Japan Chronicle.
still is very appreciative of Yuan. It points Moji. Describing the disaster, he said that he The bluejacket who escaped proceeded to out that the manner of his retirement has been heard a curious sound below, and he ran up to mostunusual. Throughout the present Dynasty, the captain's cabin on deck to inquire what if a high official found himself in disfavour, it
was the matter. The Captain said everything has been the custom for him to ask leave, of absence, which has usually been granted him and lay down. In a few minutes the strange was all right. The bluejacket then went below and the leave has been lengthened for two sounds were repeated, and he concluded there was or three months until he finally requested something seriously wrong. He awakened all to be allowed to return to his native the passengers, who were then sleeping and told place and to retire from service. In the
them that the steamer was sinking, whereupon case of Yuan, no such leave was asked, and without any request on his part he was ordered together and hastily lowered a boat, and putting a panic ensued. However, he 'collected them to return to his home to recuperate his health. five lady passengers in it, he got in himself and It is pointed out that Ynan Shih-kai is still a
rowed off, but the boat was swadowed in the young man, and that his illness is not at all serious, so that the manner of his retirement and orerturned. He came to the surface of the vortex caused by the foundering of the steamer leaves no doubt as to his being in disfavour with water and clung to a piece of wood, whence he the Prince Regent. The Shih Pao comments made signals to a passing steamer, but in vain. most severely upon the career of Yuan Shih-Then he thought himself lost, but swimming kai. It attributes the present serious difficulties towards the naval look-out, tower, boats from of China to his bad advice which has been Tsunojima arrived and picked him and seven followed for many years. The foundation of others up. The latter were in the last stage of the present troubles was in the policy of Yuan Shih-kai while he was Resident in Korea. He over-estimated the importance of the Korean insurgents in 1894, and misinterpreted the desires of the Korean Emperor. Being respon- sible for the despatch of Chinese troops to Korea to quell the insurgents and assist the Korean Emperor, he brought about the Chino- Japan War. This resulted in the payment of a large indemnity to Japan, thus weakening China and strengthening Japan. It also made possible the fulfilment of Russian designs in Manchuria and the building of the Manchurian Railway by Russia to offset Japan's lately-acquired in- fluence in Korea. The comments go on to state that he took the part of the Empress Dowager against the young Emperor, and thus checked the progress of reform. It was owing to his action in the coup d'etat 1898 that the restless elements in the north received en- couragement to start the Boxer movement, and although Yuan was Governor of Shan "A word now for the survivors. Who can destung at the time he did nothing to check the cribe the desolation and anguish they have suffer-
movement, except to drive the Boxers out of ed? We know that after the great shock, another Shantung into southern Chilli. The article came that must have struck terror in their souls. also complains of his administration of the We hear that epidemics have broken out. Let us finances of Chihli and is most bitter in its tone. utter a prayer for them, to ask the Almighty to The comments of the Shih Pao are significant, grant them strength and Christian resignation,
as this paper is largely under the influence of Cantonese, and it shows that, whereas Yo Shih-kai had control over a certain portion of the Canton party, yet there is another section
of Cantonese bitterly opposed to him. Several other of the local Chinese papers pass over the important event without It is noticeable that none of the
"What is the meaning of this Service? From the crêpe hanging in the Church you know we are mourning with the deepest grief for the terrible calamity which has befallen our dear countrymen, that our thoughts are oppressed with the sufferings and anguish born by our people. Our souls are overwhelmed by these thoughts and we feel deeply sad and sorrowful. But in our sorrow we must remember, as Catholics that those who perished did not perish completely; their souls which are immortal, are still alive, and in our uncertainty of their state, let us pray that we may help and relieve them: This is the second meaning of the Service. Let us pray God, through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, to have mercy upon them, to forgive their faults and grant them everlasting happiness.
to provide them with prompt relief and comfort. A word to you, my beloved officers and sailors who are going home heart-broken in the terrible uncertainty of the doom that has befallen your dear ones. In the name of all, I hope that after a happy voyage, you may still find your relatives and friends alive, but, if Providence has disposed otherwise......I exhort you to lift up your eyes to Heaven and comfort in God. wish and pray God that you may be strengthened with that special force which is given by Christian resign- ation and gratitude. Now I bless all you present, and, interpreting the feelings of all Italians, I also bless all those noble-hearted men of every nation who have so largely contributed to relieve the distress caused by the earthquake in our country. So may it be, in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Ghost.'
Bishop Pozzoni, who was very pale, showed signs of being deeply moved while he spoke this voice often faltered, and on one or two occa- tsions he paused as if overcome with emotion.
At the end of the ceremony, the Italian Consul General and Marquis Cusani Visconti,
•
any comment.
papers commenting on the matter anticipate any trouble for the Government on account of Yuan's retirement. The fears entertained by the London papers, according to our Reuter's despatch to-day, are not shared by the local Chinese newspapers. We give currency to the above estimates in order to show how freely public opinion is now being expressed in China
Shanghai Times.
Captain Wagermann of the P. & A. steamer Nicomedia, has been drowned in the Straits of Shimonoseki. He fell overboard and was not seen again. A high sea was running at the
time.
an
THE POPPY IN CHINA.-
fields are
described
of Hongkong, has laid all students of the opium Mr. C. Clementi, Assistant Colonial Secretary question in China under a further debt of gratitude to him by the publication yesterday of "Article on the Poppy from the com-
Literature pendium of
and Illustrations ancient and modern.". The original text of this Chinese classic has been translated by Mr. Clementi, who has supplemented it with copious notes and an introduction. The remarka able compendium of 10,000 books from which published in 1726. We gather from it that the article on the Poppy is translated was the poppy is first mentioned prior to 819 A.D. and the poppy Under the Sung dynasty the poppy is mentioned as a feature of the landscape in Szechuan. as a vegetable, and the seeds and vegetables are diarrhoea. mentioned as having medicinal value, and curing An author of the Chin dynasty (1115-1234 A.D.) speaks of the poppy capsules writers of the Yuan dynasty (1206-1368 A.D.) as a cure for cough and asthma; while - prescribe the capsules for rheumatism, cough, consumption and diarrhoea. the etymology of the word "opium" was already under discussion, and opium is spoken of as an writer in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.), article of trade. Summarising an article by a
who
Before 1578 A.D"
died in 1482 A.D., Mr.lementi there says the names "foreign medicine," and "foreign is no hint in the article of
earth," which were subsequently invented to describe the drug. "On the
contrary, it Chinese their knowledge of opium and the way seems clear that the Arabs first taught the
to extract it, yet for several centuries previously papaver somneferum had been well known in China. In fact, all that the Chinese learnt from the Arabs was a means of extracting fur- ther profit from their already existing poppy
fields."
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