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February 6, 1909.1
Hermit Kingdom were becoming so Westernised in their ideas that they did not worry about their poor husbands? And I would also like to have been informed if this royal recognition of an old-fashioned virtue awakened the women of that country to a sense of their responsibilities to their spouses? I have not had the questions answered, but it occurred to me we might improve on the methods of the Korean Emperor. For instance the Governor might inaugurate a scheme of recognition of wifely merits. Those who flirted with other men and neglected their husbands might be merely admitted to receptions at Government House; those who, while flirting, attended to the care of the household, might receive a shake of the gubernatorial hand, and those dear domestic creatures who were unmodern as to retain their affection for their husbands and who loved their own homes might be rewarded with invitations to Government House Ball What's that? It would cause an upheaval of the social fabric in Hongkong? Well, perhaps!
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some
Just by way of illustrating women's conception of their duties to their husbands, I will quote from the Korean newspaper's account of the reception:-"One of these women, the story goes, prolonged her dying husband's life some days by giving him a cupful of her own blood obtained by cutting her fingers. Another, we are told, cured her husband of leprosy by giving him a bit of flesh taken from her own thigh." There are not many ladies prepared to sacrifice themselves in this way, but should I go far wrong in conceding that there are one or two Hongkong wives who do not mind giving their husbands a bit of their tongue ?
Yes, it must have been a surprise! This reflec. tion follows reading of this story of a mission- ary in China who was sufficiently vigorous to out- last three wives. He married & fourth who was about forty years his junior. Unfortunately both husband and wife were carried off together by cholera. A certain missionary journal, forget- ful of the three first wives and of a certain question raised in Holy Writ, concluded its obituary notice thus:- What a happy surprise to each it must have been, on entering their
heavenly abode, to meet the other there.
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How lightly the Chinese regard the loathsome disease of small pox is known probably to most readers. They smile at our alarm. I was talking a day or two ago to the Editor of a Chinese newspaper about the report that the infant Emperor of China was suffering from confluent small poz.
"That is nothing," said he; "it is the natural inheritance of a Manchu. A Chinese is no more alarmed about that than a foreigner would be if his child had an attack of the mesales.”
What capacities for leisure or holiday have our Hongkongites! China New Year, with its en- forced holiday for most of us, is scarcely over,
when we see a boatload of fellow colonials leav ing our shores for Manila, which is holding high revelry next week! Makes one wonder
when the work is done.
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"THE QUEEN OF THE CARNIVAL.”
HONGKONG:
O, where is the Queen of Manila ? And how fares her Kingdom and State ? And does her most august person Intend to appear at the fête? But perhaps there isn't a monarch Reigning o'er those isles, oross the sea Or may be she's vanquished and vanished. And deposed—as despots should be!
MANILA:
Her rule has been short and too costly. Lord! how she piled up the debt! And not being up in the business We guessed it was time she should get. So one night when all was peaceful And the city was locked in rest We hustled her to the "Luneta And soon finished our thrittess guest!
HONGKONG:
Well! why did you dabble in Kingdoms ? Just keep to a Council on Board And leave such extravagant playthings — Don't touch what yoti cannot afford!
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
MANILA:
O city o'erflowing with wisdom We'll follow your treasured advice But we kinder hankered for titles- And the sound of Queen seemed so nice!
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG.
and Dr. G. H. L. Fitzwilliams as members of The appointment of Mr. A. Shelton Hooper the Sanitary Board is gazetted.
At the Magistracy on Feb. 2 Mr. J. R. Wood for hire without licences. In each case a fine of convicted about thirty chair coolies for plying $1 was imposed
His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to recognise Mr. G. E. Liebert, Consul for France, as being in charge of the Spanish Consul- ate in Hongkong until further notice.
There is a blank on the plague return for the week ending January 30th. Other cases of communicable disease reported are one of enteric fever and one of smallpox.
fax, the Police Magistrate at Taipo, has nearty We are pleased to learn that Mr. E. R. Halli- recovered from the effects of his recent shooting accident, and he was able to resume duty
on Feb. 1st.
The Earl and Countess of Meath were booked to leave Genoa for Japan by the Prinzess Alice, which is due here next week. Lady V. Brabazo", a daughter of the Earl and ountess, had booked by the same steamer from Southampton.
passenger launch Lum On was coming to In Telegraph Bay on Fec. 1st, as the steam Hongkong from Aberdeen, a Chinese passenger fell over the side and was drowned. The launch put back immediately, but the body was not recovered.
Owing to & change in the plans of Mr. J. H. Scott, President of the China Association, it has been found that time does not admit of arrangements being made for holding a members dinner at Shanghai in his honour. The Committee invited Mr. Scott to dine with it last Saturday.
His many friends in Hongkong and Canton will regret to learn of the death of Mr. T. S, Reilly, chief engineer of the Yeut Han Rail- way, Canton. Deceased, who was only 30 years of age, passed away at the Government Civil Hospital on Saturday, and was buried at Happy Valley on the 31st ult.
Constable W. Tyrrell of the Naval Yard feared that he has fallen into the harbour and Police has been posted as missing, and it is
been drowned. He was last seen on duty at and, although inquiries and a search have since about a quarter to twelve on January 31st,
missing man been made, they have revealed no trace of the
sentenced
A native who was banished on January 13th appeared before Mr. J. H. Kemp at the Magis- tracy yesterday on a charge of stealing & quantity of clothing from No. 23, Macdonnell Road, Kowloon. He was found guilty and
to six months' imprisonment, further period of twelve months being added on the charge of returning from banishment.
Arthur Dyer Ball of Oxford (son of Mr. J. Dyer Ball, who has just retired from the Civil Service of Hongkong) has been selected to represent West against South England in one of the international Hockey matches. It is not likely that he will get his place this year, but if he continues to play as well as he has done for Oxford and gets his Blue he will probably get international honours yet.
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While a family of well-to-do Chinese whor reside in Elgin Street, were at the cirous on Wednesday night a friend is alleged to have called at their house, broken open a safe, and departed with jewellery and money to the value of $11,000. The police are investig ting.
A solemn Requiem service was held on the 30th ult, at the St. Joseph's Church, Hongkong, for the repose of the souls of all the Bishops and missionaries of South China. The off ciating clergy was the Very Rev. Fr. De
Pozzoni were present in their pontifical robes Maria, Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Hongkong. Their Lordships Bishops Mazot, Clemente, Merel and and the ev. Fr. Herault, representing His Lordship Bishop Lavesque, of Kwangsi, as well The service was as all the clergy of the various denominations. conducted throughout in Gregorian style. The last absolution for the dead were imparted by all the Bishops and the service was a very impressive one.
A very enjoyable social was held at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms on he 31st ult, the Hon. Mr. F. H. May presiding over attendance. Songs sung by Miss Stewart, a large Mrs. Badeley. Mr. Beavis and the Rev. J. Beattie, R.N., were well received, while Mr.ochrane's humourous recitations stamped mean order. that gentleman 88 an entertainer of "no Hon. Mr. F. H. May are always an attractive The droll Irish yarns told by the item, and the hon. gentleman kept his hearers in roars of laughter as he recounted cellent programme was arranged by Mrs. May, various examples of the Irish "bull". The ex- and that lady also acted as accompanist. The concert ended with a vote of thanks to all who had assisted in making the evening such a pleasant one.
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AN ARMED ROBBERY CHARGE.
Kemp at the Magistracy on Feb. 4th with com- Five natives were charged before Mr. J. H. mitting armed robbery at Cheungshawan on the 25th ultimo.
Mr. King, Deputy Superintendent of Police, conducted the prosecution. He told the Court that at one a.m. on the morning of the 25th January a large body of robbers, amongst whom the five defendants were alleged to have been, armed with revolvers, knives and choppers and Cheungshawan. One robber struck one of the carrying torches, broke into three houses at complainants over the head with a revolver, while the others intimidated the inmates by various threats, after which they proceeded to ransack the houses. While so engaged, one of the inmates escaped unobserved, hastened to the Police Station and reported the matter. When the police arrived the robbers had disappeared, police arrested a man who went to pawn a gold leaving no trace behind. Two days later the ring in a pawnbroker's at Yaumati. On the Inspector Dymond arrested the defendants just evening of the same day a party of police under
as they were entering a house at Kowloon-tsui, In this house the wife of the first defendant. of stolen property, was found. The police also who was to be charged with being in possession found three revolvers, nine knives as well as a quantity of jewellery and clothing which had since been identified by the complainants. The man who took the ring to the pawnshop was one of the robbers. He had been charged," and had elected to turn King's evidence.
Witnesses were called, and the hearing ad- journed.
There was a large audience at the Theatre 4 Herr Leopold Premyslay, who with the kind on Tuesday night to hear the famous violinist assistance of Mrs. J. Cochrane at the piano gave a concert which will long endure as a pleasant memory in the minds of all who were present.
Mr. N. G. Nolan took over his duties as chief' Among the victims of the recent political interpreter of the Supreme Court on Feb. 1st, earthquake in Peking the China Times says, 18 his place at the Magistracy being filled by Mr+Major Menzies. This officer used to be well Wong Kwong Tin who has recently been known in Tientsin. He followed H. E. Yuan engaged at the Supreme Court, and was for. Shih Kai to Peking. Now the late President merly employed at the Registrar-General's of the Waiwupu has left the capital Major office. Mr. Li Hong Mi, who recently retired from the Government Service, has joined the firm of Messrs. Goldring, Barlow and Morrell as interpréter.
$7.
Menzies finds his occupation similar to that of Othello. It is now reported that he is going back once more to England this time for good Evidently he thinks the Manchu party are to be in power for some considerable time,
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