The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-17
LITERATURE.
REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.


Sstration, TO the present day. Mr. Gohright
has not attempted to write history Of Wash.
jugton or the Government, but merely TO
string together the facts and incidents that
have come Immediately under his own obser-
walton. The book is a collection of gossipy
anecdotes, some of them rather trivial in
character, but the majority interesting
and amusing. lively review is given Of
men, manners, and morals in Washington
from Andrew Jackson to Andrew Johnson,
and the principal public events which have
engaged the attention OF the country are mar
rated in a brief but understandable manner;
and the work is an entertaining, il not very
profound or important, contribution to the
political literature of the day.
CHINA AND THE CHINESE. BY Rev. John /.
Nevins. Published by Harper Il Brothers.
Philadelphia Agents: Claxton, Remsen "
Hafelfneer.
The author OF this work resided for ten
years in China as missionary, aud during
that time he had ample opportunities to study
the country, and the language, manners,
customs, and religion of the people. While
SHb"6OU
learned to respect the Chinese for their intelii-
genoe learning, End mscy as social and politicSl
virtues. In view of the fact that they have
now become our next-door neighbors on the
west, and that the facilities for interoommu-
nioation are rapidly increasing, he is impressed
with the idea that the people of China and
the United States ought to become better
acquainted; and the work under consideration
ia an attempt to give clear, impartial, and
intelligent account of the great nation who
have hitherto been considered by Europeans
and Arna..1oans as barbarians, who would not
appreciate or understand any law but the law
Of force.
Mr.. Nevins gives general view OF the Chi
nese Empire, with the topography OF the
country, the manner of building cities, the
cultivation of the country, the manner OF
living, and the personal habits of the people,
sketch of Confucius and Confucianism, the
educational institutions of China, the oonsti-
tuition of the Chinese Government, the various
forms OF religious relief, supsrstitions, Ian
guages Of China, benevolent institutions, mis-
sionary life and work, and the present pros
poets and condition of the Chinese Empire.
Mr.. Reyins seems disposed to consider his
subject in an impartial and disiRterested
spirit, giving the Chinese credit for their vir-
tues without extenuating their vlces and his
work probably presents as fair and just an
estimate OF the people of any country as has
yet been made. great majority of the
foreigners who visit China are the officers and
crews of vessels, who plunge into all manner of
excesses as soon as they land, and who con-
Eequently are not capable of making any just
or generous estimates of the people. On
these points Mr.. Nevins makes the following
observations
The CbInese as race are, as compared with
European nations. of p phlegmatic aad impss-
slVe lem nperament, and physically less aollVe
and energetic Children are not fond of ath-
lstic ana vigorous sports, but prefer marbles,
kitetlying, and some quiet games OF ball,
spinning tops, etc. Men take an Easy slrsu for
recreation, but mover rapid walk for exercise,
are also charact erlsiically timid and docils.
The oft-made assertion Is probably true that an
army of ten or twenty thousand f. lropeans
could march without serious opposition from
one END oftne empire to the other. Tais res
markable disparity Is, however, due principally
TO our knowledge of modern military science,
and our possession of better warlike maple.
ments, Chinese well drilled with conf ience
in their leaders and In eacn other, and equi pped
with modern firearms, would form an army
which Ia would not be prudent to oppose wiJn
force very much inferior in numbers; though
have no doubt that, with the same training
and advantages, they would still be found ln-
terior 10 Europeans as soldiers.
'BuJ while the Chinese are deficient In active
'coHIsge an1 caring, they are not in passive
teslsbance lney are com parAttvely apaLhetic
as regards pam and DEATH aud have great
powers OF physical endurance, as weh as great
peIslstency and oosiinacy. On an average q
Chinese tailor will work on mis- beneh ar a
literary man over books or with MIS- pen more
hours day than persons of our race can
Physical development and streOpLh and lon
gevlty vary IA alneront parts OF theempire. In
and about Canton, from Whicn We nave derived
most OF our Impressions OF China as well as in
most parts of the South, the people are sInaji In
stature; but IN the province of Shantung in The
North, men varying in height from fiVa feet
eight inches to six feet are very common while
some of them are considerably taller indped
almost giants in stature. In this part of On ms
have known labOreFB over seventy Veara n
age worbing daily al their trades, aud IL ia no
unusual TO near OF persons who nave reached
the age Of ninety on more Other local p5euliari
ties, physical and mental, need not nespeciall,
dwei upon.
ssfhoinie liectualIty Of the Chinese is mad
evident by so many obvious ana Weighty facts
that IL seems strange That persona OF ordinar
intelligence and infoI nation should ever nav
questioned IT, On This point IL is better Co stat
facts than individual opinions We have befor
us a system OF government and code of law
which will bear favorable comparison wit
those OF European nations, and nave ellclted
generous Tribute OF admiration and praise froT
our most competent and reliable writer's, In
praoilcal wlsdom and foresight of those wh
constructed this system are eVincad by the fac
that II has stood the test OF time. endurin
longer than any other which 1an has devise
during the worlds history; that IL has boun
together under one common rule pOpulatiO
10 which the world affords no parallel, an
given degree of prosperity and OF wealth wnic
may we'll challenge our wonder. Notwtthsta nc
the reDel lions and DOittCal a2iIa'1O ions WllC