The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-22

deal of bumor, his early experiences with the
language. when went to shanghae," said he
~ mad an Introduction to prominent merchant,
who received me very kindly, and urged me to
call often at his Office. A day or two later
called, and inquired for bin. Won't be back
for week or two said the cleTki he has
gone into the country, about two hun
dred miles after a little pigeon | asked no
questions, but as bowed yself out, Thought,
He must be fool, indeed, and was all wrong
when supposed him sensible man g. two
hundred miles into the country after pigeon,
and a little one at thatl He has lost mis- senses,
II he ever possessed any,
OF course it will be necessary, in China, to
use, In part at least, the language OF the country
IN transmitting kilograms. As the Chinese
written language contains thousands OF charac-
ers-lihguists do not agree "a TO the exact
number-it will not be impossible to make
separate telegraphc signal for each character.
who have lived long 10 China
have eudeavored 10 reduce those
characters to symbols: French SdUdm claims
to have arranged two hundred sym ools, that
comprise the written language of China, while
DR.. MaceOwan-formeIly in the service Of the
East India telegraph Company-is the author
OF system using less tnan twenty. Both of
these gentlemen are confident OF their ability
to apply their inventions to The practical work
ing OF the telegraph; at any rate, they will soon
have the opportunity OF making the experiment.
Most OF the business along the coast-line and
between the treaty ports will be transacted in
English, by means of the ordinary apparatus,
which Will also be available for the symbolic
methods.
Probably 1t will be more satisfactory to the
Chinese to receive despatches not only in the
exact language, but in the HANDWRITING of the
sender. This can be done by the Leno1r method
"a French invention-and also by that of an
Italian, whose name now escapes me. The
French method is less cumbersome and works
with greater rapdty than the Italian one Haud
will probably be adopted for autographic tele-
graphing in China. The principle is the same as
that which Mr. Balm attempted TO introduce in
America some years ago, but did not find
practicable; Its want of success in Mr.. Baius
hands was due 10 the light demand for auto
graphic depatches rather than TO any defects of
the system.
Could native of China, or of any other coun-
try in the world, fail to ackno wedge che power
ard imrortauce of the telegraph, when he re-
ceives in few moments a letter in his o. wn
language, and in the familiar chlrography of
friend a hundred or a thousand miles away?
His wonder and respect would be greatly in
creased If the intelligence was borne to him
beneath the waters and by 20 visible path way.
Apart from its value as financial speculation,
the enterprise OF supplying telegraph system
10 China has great national Importance. The
gift of the youngest nation to the Oldest ls,
commercially and socially, important, as well
as politically and eyangelically. In commerce
1t will serve 10 make more intimate the rela-
tions of the two countries, and will ftly succeed
the establishment of a steam line from California
TO the Chinese coast, and the completion of
our great national undertaking, the Pacific
Railway. Socially, it will awaken sympathies
between two people, whose language, customs,
and modes of daily life are strange and almost
incomprehensible to each other. Politically, 1t
will serve as bond OF peace and
good will, and as time goes by and the
nations become more intimate, will render OF
little moment the diplomat and the warriors
who too often accompany him. Eyangelicaily,
it will make more welcome the missionaries
from land that 6rst brought the telegraph into
practical use, and will facilitate their labors in
the proportion that it creates kindly regard
for America.