Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-11-19
Tb. old East i'm the New West.

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is also in field in which are at presentin
operation influences which are preparing
the way Tor introducing into the oldest
kingdom Oh the giube whatever the new
world has to offer that is valuable in the
arts, in commerce, in the customs oi
! daily life and social intercourse, as well
as that which regards the grand truths
! of science and religion.
Already we perceive the change begun.
! The ancient Mougolian garb yields to
slight variations in style; Chinese hats,
shoes and trowsers disappear, and those
! of American material and fashion take
their place. The people learn new trades,
and pursue old trades with improved i'm
! plements; they learn to run our engines,
to repair and to construct machinery
Labor-saving machines, and many arti-
cles for use and for luxury are sent home
! to the family and to friends; and when
these peoplereturn to their homes, as all
are hoping to do, and as thousands have
already done, having been accustomed
to rush over our country in co@ches and
railroad cars. and to transact business by
mail and telegraph, they will not be con-
tent with the slow methods of .locomo-
ton. of trade and intercourse, which
We're practiced in Asia three thousand
years ago. .-.-. ,.: -.s- tts:z-..
According to an old proverb, Z" "One ex.
treIne fu- lows another and it is not al
all Improbable that this will be verified
in the case of the country and the people
of WHOM we nave been speaking. From
being the most exclusive they are fast
brcomiiI.s the most cosmopolitan of races.
| Having. taIee heen stirred up iH their an
eient and aIittred abroad in search
OF wealth, there il aitei|var1 nothing
4 that analls To check 1r extinguish their
propensity lar travel, ami for. trying
their fortunes in regions heretofore un-
teNpinred; consequently m;rnygo back To
China, hut being ,iiSsgusted with its slow
ways, they again return. They sail the
ocean over from Australia to British
| Columtia; they are found in South
America. The West Indies, in Northern
/ Africa. in the Isle Of France. Chinamen
! are the enterprising merchants in sever
al OF the maratime cities of Asia; they
are merchants and planters in all the is
1 lands to the east and south of China
] The indolent Sandwich Islander sees
the enterprising and thrifty Chinaman
fast changing the face of his islands by
1 converting pasture grounds into well cul-
| tivated fields. Chuamen range over all
the moui- tains and through all he val
] eys of the Pacific coast, and all the in
habitants welcome them; for after one
or two lessons, they are efficient help in
the kitchen or dairy, and sturdy laborers
on the farm. .7... ....t -.,i. ,.st.-.lt-.--.
Whatever business offers, the China
man Is ready to attempt; nor does he
wait till he is sure that it will succeed,
but he is eager for the venture. Being,
as ii people, nOtoriously believers in luck,
there is always tor them excitement in
f.lN
! hazard, may promise a possible large re-
I turn, and in this feature of their faith,
! their trust in the god of wealth and their
! protecting star, We may detect one rea-
son for their FesOrting so generally and
so persisteDtly To the gaming table.
The seeds of revOlution--h5ve been
sOwn, and the process is still going on;
I the elements of reform are at work. The
! Emperor sends ambassadors to foreign
cour s, and in his own capital organizes
and endowsa "a college for teaching all the
modern sciences. He sends competent
meH abroad to study mechanics, and
erects machine shops in his own cities.
I There ara in China many schools for
| te ching native youth III the EnglisI
language, and many here are learning
ts read our books and newspapers. The
| Chinese labOrers on our State and ma
! tiOnal railroads are every day taking
( fresh lessons in all that pertains to ''gra-
ding" and constructing" as well as in
tthat which pertains to the. management
l.of engines and trains; and by and by
there own sovereign may have need for
! them in laying the iron track through
out all the provinces ofhis empire.i
/ Forty years ago Nor ison was the only
Protestant missionary in China. and Oft
en- his life was in danger; only as an
interpreter forthe merchants was he al
lowed to reside in Canton. The first two
converts tn Christianity fed the country
to save their lives. Less than thirty
Yeas ago was there any tOleration grant
ed to the teachers of Christianity, and
then only at the five perts opened to for
eign. trade. Later treaties have opened
new, ports TO foreign ships; merchants
and tourists may. now travel throughout
the country without being liable to be
arreStesiian carried back to the nearest
COnsIl. Nnw the missionaries Gland
pie.,ch III any pirt OF the empire; col
porIeurs sell aud gratuitou ly distribute
Bibles an.l Christian tracts III all the
provinces; churches have been erected,
congregations are gathered, u press for
printing Bibies, Is at wOrk-all in the
Imperial city, and where the Emperor
and his minister. may at any time in
spect them.
Surely the old things are passingl
away, and passing faster than most peo-
pie are aware. Nothing can resist the
tide OF reform. Better that we adjust
ourselves to the circumstances of the
times. He who is alert to improve the
turning tide, and to catch the first favor
ing breeze, is wise: while he who would
attempt to beat back the current and to |
still the winds, because he best likes the |
quiet waters and the calm, is insane.
THE silver coinage of Europe, it is |