The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-22 00:00:00

h SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY , DECEMBER 22, 1870.

THE CONTROL SYSTEM.

EDUCATION IN AMERICA.

In educational matters the Commissioner of the Ed4loa
tion Bureau of the United States reports that the ave-
rage attendance in the schools of the whole country is
3,377,069, while the average number of absentees of school
age is 4,843,568. 'rile average yearly school expenditure
per head of the school population varies from
$l9 17c. in Nevada to 48e., in North Caro-
lina. In North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky,
and Florida less than one dollar a year is
devoted to the education of each child. Massachusetts
spends $l6 45c., and New York $5 83c. per head. There
are 369 colleges in the country. The Commissioner of
Education thinks that, " comparing the effort made, the
money expended, and the amount accomplished with
similar particulars in the Prussian system, theirs
will undoubtedly be found to excel the American
in economy, in the universality of intern-
; Bence, in the training of teachers, and in the
ratio of highly-trained scientific and literary
minds to the whole population." The Commissioner is
also constrained to endorse a recent declaration of Pro-
fessor Folwell, of the University of Minnesota, that with
a world-wide fame for our free schools, with civil institu-
tions not merely tolerating, but pre-supposing and de-
manding the co-ordination of educational agencies, we
Americans, accustomed as we are to organize and co-ope-
rate, are far behind many European nations in the matter
of the general organization of education.

- - -
The Duke of Manchester writes to the Times to thank
that paper for condemning the "control system" recently
introduced into the army in opposition to the report of
a committee appointed to report on the subject.
Any person who ' frequently meets officers of the
must, his grace says, have heard numberless
stories of the absurdities constantly occurring
under the system. One story current in military circles a
short time ago was that an officer was so unwary as to
apply for a new nozzle to, the bellows belonging to
his barrack-room. He spent more in paper used in
correspondence about It than would have paid for
the nozzle. Again, a " truck" was required for a
flagstaff in the West of England. The flagstaff had
to be taken down and sent to Woolwich to have a new
truck fitted. The other day the military force of the
country abandoned Canada, so the sentry-boxes were
brought down from the most distant stations to be shipped
to England. Before they got to the lakes their carriage
had cost more than their value. The officers of the Con-
trol Department, the duke says, should .only control
accounts, not issues of stores.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS ON THE
WAR.

Mgr. Darboy, the Archbishop of Paris, has just issued
an address to the clergy and people of his diocese. After
reminding them that Advent is a time of penitence and
expiation, he says : We must correct ourselves and grow
better. The work of renovation is necessary for all, for
those who write and speak ; as for those who read and listen.
Our contemporaries do not sufficiently remember that
God is their Master and their legislator, and will be their
judge, and that religion is a law of our nature and an
essential of our happiness. Impious doctrines and im-
moral productions spread far and wide obscured men's
minds, confused their notions of right and justice degraded,
their affections', enervated and broke the force of the
country. Life was absorbed in luxury and sensual indul-
gence, and had scarcely anything to,call forth courage, or
familiarise with sacrifice. In all ranks the spirit
of discipline, the respect for right, the senti-
ment of duty were weakened. and in all these
points reform is necessary. Then we can put
more confidence in our prayers, and reckon more surely
on Divine succour for the salvation of France, for our
duty to God does not make us forget our duty to France.
Religion honours those valiant Maccabees who preferred
dying arms in hand to seeing their country perish
or their names tarnished. The love of Paris and of France
ought to inspire us at this moment with
courage and patience, concord and charity. All are not
called to defend the city with their arms, but all should
assist according to their strength and their opportunities.
Many persons in the midst of the public anxiety, begin the
discussion of irritating questions whose solution can well
be deferred. It would be better to avoid all such, and
to strive rather to assist each other in bearing
the common burden." The Archbishop then refers to the
special duties of the clergy in celebrating religious services
and succouring the poor and distressed, and regrets that
any limit should be put to their efforts by the necessities
of the time. He calls upon all, priests and people, alike to
remain faithful to their posts and do their duty as soldiers
in the sight of God, their supreme Chief, ready if need be
to receive death with faith and confidence.

THE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN CHINA.
A correspondent, writing from Tien Tsin, on October
25th, says :—" At length, four months after the
occurrence of the massacre, the authorities are making a
_ _ .

show of punishing its perpetrators. An Imperial edict
has been issued, ordering the execution of a certain num-

ber of rioters and the banishment to Tartary of others
and of the two magistrates who instigated the riot, a cer-
tain compensation has been offered, and the Chinese
refuse, I believe, to do more. They will not execute the
two Mandarins, and the name of Chenkwo-jin, to whom
all circumstantial evidence points as a chief actor
in the general conspiracy, is not even mentioned.
So inadequate a sentence could not be accepted
as final even if it were loyally executed, and I believe the
foreign Ministers addressed a joint Note to the Tsungli-
yamen signifying their dissatisfaction. But what little
effect the punishments might have had has been neutra-
lised by the mode of execution, and the whole affair made
a means to increase rather than allay the anti-foreign ex-
citement. The 17th of September was fixed for the
execution of fifteen of the rioters. From various sources
I have been able to gather a fairly true account of the pro-
ceedings. The executionlwas ordered for 5.30 a.m.—nearly
an hour before sunrise—in order to anticipate, if possible,
the assembly of a crowd. But the intention leaked out,
and a large number of the friends and relatives of the
prisoners gathered together at the Yamen and escorted
them to the ground, loudly bewailing them as martyrs and
patriots, while the prisoners declaimed against the officials
for having sold them to foreigners after having encouraged
the outbreak. The decapitation was performed amid the
wailings of their fellows, who lamented them as sacrifices
to the foreigner; and after death—here comes the extra-
ordinary part of the tale—their heads were again sown on
their bodies, and these were taken away by their relatives
and laid out in state in gorgeous array in their
respective homes. The erection of a temple to their
memory is now generally spoken of, and their burial is
likely to be the occasion of a public demonstration. The
officials, it is said, have cast the whole odium of the affair
on foreigners, to appease whom the sacrifice of some lives
was necessary, and gave 500 taels to each prisoner for the
benefit of his family. According to Chinese law the heads
should have been exposed as those of malefactors, and the
bodies buried in a criminal's grave. The restoration of
these to their families is another sop to popular feeling.
Large bodies of troops—chiefly inhabitants of other pro-
vinces—guarded the execution ground, and Honan soldiers
officiated as beadsmen, instead of the usual Tien-tsin execu-
tioners. From all this it may be inferred that the excite-
ment here at the present moment is nearly as great as at
the time of the massacre, though the strong naval force
now in port should obviate danger of renewed outbreak.
We may be excused for doubting whether the sentence of
banishment which has been passed against the Mandarins
will be executed at all. They will probably go no further
north than the capital, where they will lie perdus for a
time, to be promoted hereafter. Yet they are really more
guilty than the rioters themselves. They got up the false
tales, instigated the riot, and countenanced its execution.
It is not surprising that the lowest classes,of an ignorant
populace should have become angry when their rulers
excited and directed their passions, nor is it surprising

LORD BURY ON MECHANICS' INSTITUTES.
Lord Bury, M.P., presided at the annual soirée of the
Huddersfield Mechanics' Institution, held on Tuesday
evening in the Theatre Royal. There was a large attend-
ance, and amongst those present were Mr. J. H. Tillett-
M.P., Norwich; Mr. W. St. J. Wheelhouse, M.P., and
Dr. Pankhurst, Manchester.
Lord Bury, after regretting the absence of Mr. Roe-
buck, than whom, as regarded education, he did not
believe there was ono among the many pioneers of the
education movement in the country who had worked with
more effect and done more permant good, said he had no
claim, and laid no pretension, to any degree of knowledge
of the subject of mechanics' institutes. He had been
examining the reports for the laet few years of the associ-
ations of Associated Mechanics' Institutes of Yorkshire,
and he had been struck by the great changes that had
taken ,place in the original designs which these institu-
tions set before them, and the position they now occu-
pied in the educational world. He did not say that it
was a wrong change, but he pointed it out as a change.
Originally they saw in the reports that the institutions
were designed for the purpose of giving technical educa-
tion to adult citizens, those whose education in youth had
been neglected, and of improving them in after years at
a small expense, particularly in the technical part of the
trades in which they were engaged. But as years had
gone on, and as they turned leaf after leaf over of the
report, they found it stated more and more strongly that
art classes had as regarded the adult citizens,
almost to be abandoned; that they were not well
attended, and gradually they found them in each
succeeding year assuming the, position of places of pri-
mary education. He was sure that this had been the
result of practical experience, and. although it might be a
matter for comment, it was not one for blame. It struck
him that now that the. heart of the nation had awak-
ened to the absolute necessity of primary education
being brought home to every child, a great part of
what they now did so well would be taken from
them ; and in future, as it seemed to him, they
would have to devote themselves less to primary
education, and more to the special education of the period
after childhood. He asked more for information than
asserted a fact when he made this statement. It
appeared to him in the present state of the
educational movement, that the children they now
educated would be hereafter educated elsewhere, or else
the educational establishments over which they now
presided would enter the lists ostensibly as well as really
of primary education ; and, judging from the report and
from the statement they made year by year, it
did not seem as if they exactly wished to occupy that
position. He was exceedingly glad to see such favourable
reports of their evening classes. The advantage to a man
engaged in professinal pursuits throughout the day pro-
curing some knowledge beyond the mere routine of his
daily life required no comment. It was perfectly
obvious. It was a necessity in these days, when the
world around was becoming more and more highly
educated, and when it had been proved, too, that England
was really behind in the race. It was time, therefore, that
every means should be used to endeavour to supply the
educational deficiencies of the country. All honour to
mechanics' institutions ; they had led the way in this
direction--; they had been the pioneers in the movement
which had now so thoroughly taken hold of the public
mind. After referring to the library, the number and
description of the books most in favour, Lord Bury said
he heard that a considerable quantity of novels were
taken out. The novels of a country, he thought,
generally reflected its morals, and in England novels
were exceptionally good as regarded purity in that respect.
If the villain of the novel was triumphant, the novelist
generally took very good care to inform them that he or
she—probably she—did not sympathise with the villain
who thus rode roughshod over indignant virtue.
He supposed the fashion had gone out to con-
sider novel reading as very bad. Then, again,
with regard to newspapers, he was told, that,
in the early days of mechanics' institutions, they
were almost banished from the reading room on the
ground that, because political and religious discussions
were prohibited, it was impossible to introduce the topics
of the day as delineated in the press without giving rise
to heartburnings, which had better be absent. But
was it not Carlyle who styled them the best possible
instructors of the people ! Whilst he should not
altogether say that, he must say that although
politics might be excluded, yet politics being under-
stood in their present sense, not the small region of
party politics, whether this 'or that man should be at the
head of government, but the science of statesmanship
ought to be acquired by every citizen of a free country.
He meant to read the newspapers daily, to study the
results of history in the making, and to argue from what
went around in nations less happily situated, the value
of freedom in the constitution under which they lived.
He was sure that the lessons which the newspapers of the
day were now bringing before them deserved the most
attentive consideration.

that they should now feel enraged at being punished for a
crime to which they were hounded on. The measures
which are to be taken for the protection of Tien-tsin dur-
ing the winter are a sufficient commentary on the present
state of affairs. Four French, two English, one Ameri-
can, and two Russian gun vessels are to remain in the
Peiho during the winter, and the Grasshopper has gone
north to be frozen in at Newchang. This force
will, perhaps, suffice to prevent further disturb-
ance during the three or four months that the
Peiho is frozen; but what is to happen in the spring? Is
the deadlock to continue indefinitely, or will measures be
taken to reaffirm our relations on a broader and surer
basis ? The Tien-tsin massacre is not the only pending
difficulty. The Treaty of 1858 has yet to be revised, and
the audience question must come up for discussion in a
very few months, when the Emperor assumes personally
the reins of power. We have been content hitherto to
accept a position which every Chinaman regards as that
of an inferior. While the Chinese Embassy was being
welcomed at every Western Court, and its members re-
ceived with courtesy and welcomed by rulers in every
respect superior to the Emperor of China, our Ambassa-
dors have been excluded at Pekin from the Imperial pre-
sence nnless they would enter it as tibute-bearers,
on a level with the delegates from the Loo-choo
islands or Corea. It is needless to say that
political relations based on such a false position
could not be solid and satisfactory. We have
been assured that on the assumption of personal
authority by the young Emperor this question shall be
brought up, and we may be sure that it presents elements
of difficulty as great as does the Tien-tsin massacre. Great
firmness will be required to overcome the opposition that
will inevitably be raised to the reception of foreign Am-
bassadors on equal terms. But the point must be gained,
and I refer to it now to shew that the whole subject of
our relations with China needs attention and vigorous re-
adjustment. "

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN THE WEST.—
There are indications that this malady is gradually dying,
out within the Dorchester division of the county constabu-
lary of Dorset. Tuesday's weekly returns by Mr.
Superintendent Hare shewed that the number of diseased
animals had diminished from 678 to 478 ; the latter con-
sisting of 191 cattle, 277 sheep, and 10 swine. During
the past week two cows and two swine died from the
disease, which now prevails on 29 farms within the
division.

—..--..
THE DERWENT NAVIGATION.—Some weeks ago
a:committee of landowners, traders, and others of the
North and East Ridings, interested in the free navigation
of the Derwent from the Ouse to Malton, was formed to
oppose the project of the North Eastern Railway Com- '
pany to absorb the navigation. The committee have s ant
a deputation down the river to rouse the people to the
danger which threatens them, and to excite opposition.
The deputation will visit PocklingtGn to secure the sup-
port of the canal navigation of that town.
DEATH OF MR. KIRK, M.P.—lt is stated that a
telegram has been received in Dublin announcing the
death of William Kirk, Esq., M.P. for Newry, at his
residence, Annavale, Keady, county Armagh. Mr. Kirk,
who was in the 76th year of his age, was a Justice of the
Peace and Deputy Lieutenant of the county -of Armagh,
and represented Newry in the Parliaments of 1852 to
1859. At the general election in 1868 Mr. Kirk was re-
turned by a majority of eight over his Conservative
opponent, Viscount Newry, the numbers respectively
being 387 and 379.
GENERAL BUTLER.—The Philadelphia corres-
pondent of the Tinzes writes to say : " There are reports
of a movement to start General Butler as a candidate for
the Presidency on the basis of his recent belligerent
Alabama Claims speech, the proceeding to be initiated by
a mass meeting at New York. The managers of the
affair, however, are unable to get prominent public men
as speakers at their meeting, the politicians being afraid
to commit themselves to such a candidate on such a plat-
form. There is also some doubt whether any large
number of voters would be willing to array themselves
under General Butler's standard, and, consequently, for
the present the movement lacks energetic support.
Butler is too wild and sensational a man to make a good
Presidential candidate ; voters usually prefer something
more steady and reliable."
EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AS SCHOOL INSPEC-
TORS. —A very influentially signed memorial from " Heads
of Houses, Professors, Tutors, Lecturers, and Fellows of
Colleges in the University of Cambridge," has just been
sent to the Lord President of the Committee of Privy
Council on Education. The memorial prays that women
may be appointed to the office of inspector of schools, and
. points out some of their qualifications for that responsible
office. The memorial is signed by 72 resident graduates,
all of whom are fellows of colleges or hold college or uni-
versity offices in Cambridge. Among those who sign are
the Vice-Chancellor and five other heads of houses, in-
cluding the Masters of Trinity and St. John's ; nine uni-
versity professors, the senior tutors of every college with
three exceptions, all the tutors, assistant tutors, and
lecturers of Trinity College with two exceptions, and of
the remainder all except eight are engaged officially in
teaching in the colleges or University.

The death is announced of Anna Maria, Lady
SeLey. Her ladyship was the daughter of Frederick,
second Lord Boston, and was born in 1792.
DURHAM UNIVERSIT r.—M a meeting of Convo-
cation of this university on Tuesday, the following regu-
lation was unanimously approved :—" Persons shall be
admissible as members of the University without being
members of any college, hall, or house, provided they
reside in some house or lodging approved by the Warden
and Proctors."

BREAKFAST.—Eprs's • COCOA.- -GRATEFUL AND COM-
FORTING.—The very agreeable character. of this preparation has
rendered it a general favourite. The Civil Service Gazette re
marks :—" By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which
govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, 'and by a
careful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa.
Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately
flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors'
bills." Each packet is labelled—JAMES Errs t Co., Homoeo-
pathic Chemists, London. Also, makers of Epps's Cacaoine, a
very thin evening beverage. —Advt.