New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-20
CHINESE IN CORNELL UNIVERSITY.
ChevaIier RoehriS's Chinese Class-Sone-
thing New in College Studies.
IFrOm the New York Tribune

ITHACA, N. Y, October l0.-The tide Of
Chinese immigration which is setting toward
our shores seems destined to cause a revOlu.
ton, not only in commercial and social cir
cles, but in universities, too. They must
learn our language, if not We theirs; and
Cornell, taking the lead in furnishing the
facility for this, as she has in many other en-
terpriscs Of late, organizes a course OF Chi
nese instruction. Chevalier Roehrig is the
Chinese professor, and is already preparing
his class for the mysteries Of the Oriental
language. He begins, not by teaching the
alphabet, or the sounds of the letters and
then how to speak the language, but first he
exhibits !; series of grotesque and apparent
ly senseless characters, and defines them;
he requires his class to write these out and
to fix them in their memory, which is not
difficult, though all of the characters were
once the pictures of the words they repre-
sent, and have been perverted in their use
and bear now no resemblance to their orr
ginals.
The professor first me. his class Of nearly
forty members on Friday last, and found
therl all alive with curiosity. lie began by
ailuding to the inducements for studying
the Chinese language. He considered it
useful to the geographer, the antiquarian
and historian; it had been useful to the
naturalist, to the plilologist, and to the
astronomer, while to the general scholar it
was almost indispensable. American trade
with the Chinese is increasing, and to the
man of business a knowledge OF the
language will certainly be of great value.
In China there are many opportunities tor
foreigners in such departments as civil
engineering, Chemistry. agricu.ture, tele-
graphy. clcrking, etc. The new organize
ton of the Customhouse service of China
employs for its higher officers all foreigners,
to whom large salaries are paid.
The professor then spoke Of the Chinese
character and language The latter he said
was at first wholly pictorial, but gradually
the images became words and in various
ways changed until the slightest resem-
blance to the objects could not be traced.
In the Chinese language there is no such
thing as a torid style, or q beautiful style.
Style is not taken into consideration. 1t is
i'll writing the language that skill is dis
played. and the man that executes with
deXterity and ingenuity the characters. is
the one that undertands the language.
Their spoken language is the poorest in the
world. while the written is the richest. The
Chinese is read by neighboring nations
often in their own language, making such
changes in the order and succession of the
words us were necessary. This is shown III
the numerals, which all nations call by diff
terent names, but understand alike.
The Chinese is no easy language TO learn.
The question, How long will IL take to
learn it p was well met by the professor,
who quoted from Confucius, first in Chi
nese and then in English. thus: There are
persons who are unable to accomplish any
thing. 1t is because they lack earnestness,
energy, and patience. But they should
perseyere. Such people require 100 days to
do the work that Others do III one! And
for what is done in ten days, they would
need at least 1000" But it is truly d difficult
language, having a multitude OF characters,
quite complicated. The grammatical rcla-
tons of the words is omitted the reader
being obliged to supply it. and to use his
imagination freely. Altogether it seems
to be an algcbraical language, atforlling
excellent mental gymnastics.
The professor has studied the Chinese
language and literature, both ancient and
modern, very thoroughly, and is well pre-
pared to instruct students in it. He will
first teach the class the language of the
present day and the modern literature, and
then to those who wish, he will give instruc-
ton in the ancient literature and trace up
the origin OF the language. The text books
will soon be published by the professor. Be
sides this. he is preparing work on the
Indian language, containing sketches OF va
rious hitherto nearly unknown languages
The professor is prepared to teach this as
well as Chinese. As soon rs a few prepara
tions have been completed, instruction can
be given here in japanese, Hottentot. and
various barbaric dialects.