Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-04-14
WORC ESTER DAILY

IKE ENGLISH AT CANToN.-The great want
of the English and French at Canton is said
by the Times correspondent to be competent
Chinese Interpreters. The Chinese scholars
who have acted as interpreters in times past,
1t is thought. have made most of the trouble
which has occurred, by seeking to conciliste
and tatter the pride OF the Chinese manda-
rims. The course now advised is to tell them
the plain truth-'say to them that the nations
OF the civilized world regard them as 0arbar
Gus, or. at best, as a semi civilized people.
The Chinese, who have all the instincts of
trade, are moving to satisfy the want on their
side The chief thoroughfares IN this city
abound in bookstalls, and the last new work,
(which is in everybodys hands, and without
which no library is complete, is a small tract
teaching the English numerals and few
phrases-the sounds being initiated in Chi
nese characters. People are reading this in
all directions. l saw lame beggar lying un-
der the caves OF a house, and assiduously
learning to beg in English.
These Chinese beggars are the most mpor
tunate creatures OF their kind. They are not
quite SO numerous as those of Naples, but
they are even more pertinacious. and their
sores and leprosies are more disgusting. 1t is
a scandal to a city with score of miles OF
rich shops, that so much misery should exist
unchecked. In all other Chinese cities 1
have found some benevolent institution which
distributes rice and medicine. We have not
been able to discover any such establishment
in action in Canton.
A Chinese priest presented himself at the
English head quarters in ahiect garb and
squalid plight, telling to the English General
piteous tale that all his little property and
only change of rNiment lay in monastery
occupied by the troops. He obtained an order
to take this property, and prudently watching
his opportunity when the high officers were
all absent, presented his order, and was led
about by the officers of the day to recognize
his property. He opened the pedestal OF an
untouched idol. and 10! a bal of solid gold
and several bars of silver were exposed to the
view of the astonished soldiery. Proceeding
to another image, he distracted some stones
of great magnitude and price. Then he
borrowed a ladder and mounting to the roof,
removed sheathing, and behold magazine
of richly embroidered silks and costly furs,
all which were duly piled upon ihe shoulders
of the poor brethren. The guard were almost
frantic, but the order was imperative. The
poor priest was a true Chinaman.
Peh Xvi, the former Lieut.. Governor un-
der Y Ell, whom the English have male nomi.
nal Governor of Canton, when asked to take
some measures for alternating the misery of
the destitute classes, could suggest nothing
but the head cutting knife and the bamboo
Peh hwei is too great man TO do any.
thing. He sits all day in an uncomfortable
straight back chair, and receives few reports
and writes occasionally-or rather dictates,
for his handwriting is unpresentable-to the
Emperor. Seeing him the other day in this
position of dignihed discomfort, one of the in
terpreters asked him whether he passed much
of his time in reading. HIS answer was, "Ne.
l never read my heart is heavy l cannot
laugh over romRnces, and if l read good
books go to sleep"
Eeh, on board the 1nhexble, exhibits much
the same spectacle; and it naturally occurred
tn the Anglo mind that he also must want
books, The offer was rejected but Yeh is a
religious man. and said nothing about roman
ces. His answer was ''What should l do
with books J All the books that are proper
to be read know by heart" He passes his
time by praying to Buddha and telling his
fortune. ] he Chinese are very indignant
with him for not killing himself. Although
the revelations Of his State papers and our OBJ
servation of his personal habits demonstrate
that he is without conduct or Judgment. or
even the strong common sense of an ordinary
Chlnaman, his official rank is so great that
we are told his presence in the Canton river
exercises an untavorable influence upon our
dealings with the Chinese people Canton.
Correspondence.