The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-09
A CHINESE UNIVERS SiTY.


A CHINESE UNIVERSITY.
A Curious Chapter of Celestial History. |
The influence Of European Intercourse upon
China Is slowly but surely extending and VIII |
doubtless end in greatly modifying the customs
and institutions OF that very curious people,
One of the latest results of this influence Is the
establishment of a University after the manner
of such institutions in Europe, and under the
direct sanction and protection OF the Imperial
Government. The history of this project IS we'll
told in a recent number of the Pal Ma Gazette,
from which the following interesting particulars
with reference TO the enterprise are condensed:
''The matter seems to have been initiated by
Prince Kung, who, together with the other
member of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, ad-
dressed petition to the Emperor, embodying
series of proposals relating chiefly TO the toun-
datIon of mathematical and astronomical col.
leges This was received very taYoraOly aud
within comparatively brief period the proper
DEGREES for the establishment OF these and other
colleges were promulgated. Iu consequence OF
these DEGREES the erection of suitable bulldogs,
including an astronomical ob'ervao org on large
scale and on an entirely European model, has
already begun. Nor is this all A number OF
European professors of more or less emuence,
have received invitations to assume some OF the
new chairs, and several members OF the learned
professions have already arrived at their new
place of destination. Two years Will be allowed
them for learning Chinese.
"The first of the official documents Is dated
February 26, 1857, and contains Prince Kungs
memorials and proposals; therein reference Is
made to a general petition OF two months before,
outlines by the Emperor. One OF the points
upon which the memorialists particularly insist
is the employment of foreigners as teachers in
the new schools, not they sa7 that we admire
the cleverness of foreigners in mechanical sci
ences, from q tendency to the miraculous and
supernatural but because we know that the
ways in which the inhabitants OF the West manu-
facture their machines aud instruments are
| those merely of mathematical compilations
The six paragraphs into which the petit
| TONERS have cond ensed their proposals are IN
| each case accompanied by a full expose, which
for lucidity and sound common sense need not
| shrink from comparison with many similar
| European production.
81. Only such graduates sn employees are to
| be admitted to academcal classes who, by
| previous examination, have shown themselves
sufficiently advanced to profit by the Instruction.
20. The candidates shall live in the university
| ITSELF so that they shall not ouly have the ad-
| vantage of being constantly within easy reach
of their masters during their private studies, but
also in order that they themselves may yield less
| 10 the temptation of negectIng their work. For
this purpose also their absences shall be strictly
| noted down.
''3. Every month there shall be an examina.
| tion on some one special subject, by way OF
| testing the prohCiencies of the >Iugle students,
| to that proper distinctions and announcements
| may be conferred. These examinations shall
take place in the presence OF the Prince HIM
self.
"a. Every three years there shall be great
| general examination. The successful candidates
| shall be recommended to the Throne, and shall
at once be suitably employed in the lover
| grades of the State service. Tue unsuccessful
| ones shall continue their studies until the next
| examination.
"5. The students shall be properly remune-
rated in order that they may apply themselves
| to their work with undivided attention. Apart
from the tree living 1t is proposed to give them
| ten taels monthly, in o1der that they may not
| have to indulge in melancholy retectons.'
Generosity is above all things the fttest stimulus
| for those who apply themselves to science and
| learning.
| "6. The progress made by the students is to
be properly and liOerally acknowledged and re.
warded not merely in token OF satisfaction with
| their labors, but also as an encouragement tor
those within and without who might not other
wise use all their energies for the purposes of
study since it is in the interest of the State and
| the common veal 10 fire the ambition OF study
! in every possible way.
"a further official document published in the
Pekn Gazette on the oath of April 1867, con-
| tans reply to a counter petition addressed by
Wojen, the principal member of the Imperial
Council, wherein he had set forth the dndesira
billty OF complying with the wishes OF The
reformers. 1t was a mistake,' he mad said to
suppose that in this big China there were not
| able mtn enough. There existed people III
large numbers proficient IN mathematics, as
tronomy, and all the other sciences. You need
| only look Tor tbem.' Whereupon the Imperial
| decree Instantly charged Councillor Wo to look
for them. He was, IN fact, 10 torn rival insti-
tuition, in which his candidates were to vie with
those to be educated on the new principles.
And, ',the document Significantly ADDS, 'this
undertaking shall not be considered a mere
formality.'
'Two days later the Gazette contains a further
official communication to this effect:-That
| whereas Wo-jen has been charged with poldting
out men OF proficiency, of whom he said there
existed ample numbers in the empire, the same
had sent in an immediate report, stating that
he had not had any special men in his eye. and
that he would never dare to propose this one or
that one at haphazard-the said Wo shall not
for all that be freed from the Obligation he has
thus undertaken. He shall 90 on seeking for
| such individuals, and shall bring them under
official notice in order that they may receive
their further education III the institution he
VIII found III friendly rivalry to that of Prince
| Kung.'
''And the next and last chapter in this curious
Chinese court play is the already mentioned
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