New-York tribune., 1870-10-15
CHINESE IN CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

CHEYALIER ROEHRG's CHINESE CLASs-sOME-
THING NEW IN COLLEGE STUDIES.
ITHACA, n. Y, Oct. 1O-The tide of Chinese
Immigration which is setting toward our shores seems
destined TO a revolution, not only in commercial
and social circles, in universities, too. They must
learn our language, If not theirs and Cornell, taking
the lead in furnishing the facility for this she has in
many other enterprises OF late organizes course of Chi
instruction. Chevaer Roehrig is the Chinese Pro
ssOr and is already preparing his class for the myse-
Of the Oriental language He begins not by teach
ing the alphabet the sounds Of the letters and then
how TO speak the language, but first he exhibits series
Of gr0esque and apparently senseess characters and
defines them be requires MS class 10 write these out
and TO x them In their memory, which is not dimcut
though al Of the characters were once the pictures OF
the words they represent and have been perverted IN
teu and bear now no resemblance 10 Their Originals
The Professor first met his class Of nearly 40 members
on Friday last and found them all alive with curiosity
He began by slludng 10 the Inducements toT st9H!ns
the Chinese language He considered u uSei 70 ihs e
Ographer. the antiquarian and historian; 1t had been
useful naturalist, TO the phloOgist and To the AZ
tr0nOmer, while 70 the general scholar u was aloa IN
dispensSble American trade with the chinese Is IN
cresng, and 10 the m8n OF business knO"ledHe Oh the
language VIII ctruIliy, pe q. sica, s. o. aii.h da
there many opportunities Tor foreigners III such de
partmens oiy engineering, chemistry, agriculture,
teegaphy clerklng &C Ine Ne" oiganitaton on pi Inc the
custOmhOuse service of China employs Tor itS hlgher
The Professor then spoke the Chinese character and
language The latter he said at hrst wholly pico-
various ways changed until the slightest resemblance TO
the objects could not he traced In tue Chinese language
there is such thing HoTid style, OF beautiiul
style style IL not taken into consideration IL Is IN
writing the language that skill displayed, ana the man
that executes with dexterity aud ingenuity the charae
ters H. the that understands the language Their
pokeu language IA the poorest IN the world, while the
written is the richest The Chinese is read Dy negh0Or
ING nations often IN their own language, making
b changes the order and succession Of the words
. ver necessary This f. shown IN the numerals which
All nations call by different names, but understand allke
Tie Chinese easy language 10 learn The question:
How long will II take 10 learn 1t was wei met ny tht
Professor who quoted from COnfucius, FIRST In chinese
and then lu English thus There persons who are
unable 10 accomplish anything. IL because they lack
earestess energy and patience. But they should per
severe Such people require 100 days 10 DO the WOrk hhi
thefe do ia one And for what il done IN 10 days they
,,ld need at least 1000 But II II truly difficult Ian
gtaRe having multitude Of characters, gnlte cOlnpi
Gated The grammatical relations OF the words omitted
the reader being Obliged 20 supply II, ana 10 use hs
freely Altogether IL seems To he an algc
braical language arOrdng excellent mental gyMharcs
The Professor has studied the Chinese language ana
literature both ancient and modern, very Thoroughly,
teach the class the language OF The present dAy ana
the modern literature, and then tO those VINO "iS nv
will give instruction In the ancient literature ana trace
up OF the language. The teXtlOOks VIII roon
be published by the Professor Besides tls ne Pr'ph
ing work the Indian language, containing skeuhes
Of various hitherto nearly unknown anguages le FRO
lessor prepared 10 teach this well as Chinese AS SOON
few preparations have been completed, instruction
can be gwen here IN japanese Hotentot abd various
bsTbarie dialects.