The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-14 00:00:00

SCHOOL LIFE IN CHINA;

Very much is thought of education in China, and if
a poor boy take literary honours he can fill as high a
position as though he were a boy of rank, All boys,
especially in the south of China, are expected to go to
school, but besides the mission schools there are nt
very many for girls. A tutor has not only to teaeh
boys how to read and write, but politeness forms the
basis of Chinese education, and the many ceremonies
belonging both to public and private life have to be
learnt at school. Very much trouh'e is else, taken
with the writing-lessons, " an elegmat gencil " being
thought of great consequence, and all the tnis.akes
made in the writing•lesson the master corrects with red
ink, Like boys of Japan, the Chinese learn their
lessons out loud, and sometimes make a great clatter
In the schoolroom while doing so. But boys may
not talk together in school, and to prevent their
doing this the desks are arranged some distance
from one another. When a lesson is known the oy
takes his book to the master, bows„turns his hack,
and repeats it. This is called peycliou, or " backing
the book," and Is to prevent the boy from reading the
lesson, which the large characters would make it very
easy for him to do. The way the Chinese are taught
Is on a very different system from ours. They learn
by heart first, and then have explained to them what
they have learnt. Their first lesson is on filial piety,
and throughout life the Chinese boy, and pr.], and
man, and woman are noted for their love towards
parents. They then learn the Sacred Trimetric3l
book, which treats of the nature of man, modes of
education, social duties, and many other things.
Next come the four classical books, and then the fire
sacred, so when Chinese boys go to school they are wt 11
set to work. Unlike the Japanese, however, thy do
not think that they have anything left to learn from
other nations,—Little Folks Maga:ins.

SUNSHINE AT NAPLES.—The Naples Correspondent
of the Daily News writes:—" While Switzerland and
some parts of Germany seemingly have been for a long
time lying under a wet blanket, we in Naples, more
fortunate, have had two months of perfectly beautiful
weather. Hot sun, yes, but cool and delicious air;
and every day the freshest breezes hive turned the ea
Into a plain of dark intense blue, looking more solid
than the mountainous coasts and islands, which rise
out of it in some ethereal substance, as if woven of
mist and rose leaves. Never was the foliage so
luxurisnt, and never the hills so green, the result of
the past long wet winter, which is now quite forgotten.
The presence of the King and Queen and the Rove
party from Portugal has made the city very gay. For
sixteen hours out of twenty.four the streets are
crowded and at night the square in front bf the Royal
Palace -is .illominated with electric lampi. By day
the magnificent sunshine (there is no word to express
the quality ot Naples sunshine) heightens every colour
and makes the shops and house' fairly glitters",

iMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the HoUsE o LORDS, July 9, a lengthened discussion
took place on a motion by the Earl of Wemyss declaring it
to be ssential, in view of our preEnt defective military
organisation, that the militia should be forthwith reauited
up to their established strength, and that the mil,tia reserve
should be borne in excess of the militia establishment.
The Earl of Morley, in replying on beha• f of the Govern-
ment, aenied that the military resources of the country at
the present time were less than in 1870, and stated that the
effective strength of the militia force was now upwards
of 105,000, as against 65,000 in that year.
The Duke of Cambridge thought the difficulties of recruit-
ing for the army would be to a considerable extent met be
allowing men to enlist for long or short periods as they
might prefer.
Viscount Cranbrook declined to support the motion
because he did not believe it to be founded on a correct
basis, and if it were adopted it coula not be carried into
effect.

On a division the motion was carried by 29 against 25.
Their Lordships rose at twenty•five minutes to nine
o'clock

In the HorsE cr COMMONS, on the motion of Mr. Shell, a
new writ was ordered for the election of a member for
Wexford in the room of Mr. Healy.
Lord E. FItZIIIMITiCe informed Sir H. Wolff that a lengthy
memorandum had been received from Sir E. JMalet and
Consul Cookson detailing the measures taken to prevent the
spread of cholera in Egypt. The Egyptian Government had
been informed of the desire of Her Majesty's Government to
afford them every assistance in the difficult task they had to
perform.
In reply to a further question by the same hon. member,
the noble lord said Her Majesty's Government had no reason
to suppose that there was any truth in the report that the
New Hebrides had been taken possession of by the French
Government.
THE ASHBURNHAM MANUSCRIPTS.
Mr. Errington asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
whether he had as yet been able to come to some arrange-
ment for the purchase of the Stowe Manuscripts in the
Ashburnham Library; and, if so, whether he was in a posi-
tion to give the House any information as to the disposition
of the manuscripts so purchased, especially those relating to
Ireland.
The Chancellor of the Exehequer said—ln reply to my hon.
friend I have to say that Her Majesty's Government have
arranged to purchase the portion of the Ashburnham Manu-
scripts which is known as the Stowe Collection, for £45,000,
subject to the House of Commons passing the necessary vote
In Supply. An estimate for this purchase is in course of pre-
paration. The greater pari, of the manuscripts will go to the
British Museum, but certain Irish papers will be dep3sited
In Dublin. The estimate will state which manuscripts it is
proposed to send to Dublin, and to what institution there.