Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-02
PIa.TAIL JOHN.
A sketch of His Intelligence, and
so forth - How the LDstonfnns
Look ut Him. f

| bringing tne Shiiiatu"n heio' ~ "%s ~
interesting to our readers to know some
thing about his enlightenment and skill
and to hear how he has been received in
the Hub of the Universe" We accord
ingly condense the statements of a cor
respondent who has been among the pig
tails and watched their maneuvers.
JOINS INTELLIGENCE.
OF the half dozen of Cinnamon with
whom conversed, failed to meet one
VINO could not give connected state
ment of the internal connections and
workings Of the Chinese empire, from
its earliest historyup to the present day;
giving the history of all their emperors,
warriors and gods; telling why the men
wore their hair long and shaven in front,
concluding with a graphic description OF
their trade with the Dutch, the unpleas-
antness of their relations with the British
and the final treaty of 1872. While ac-
knowledging the cuteness OF these
Cinnamon, would not for moment
wish to be considered as arguing in
favor of the pretended enlightenment
of the Chinese as race. Having for
wears been identified with the Chinese
in California, and having spent hive
years in Hong Kong, where | was en-
ployed in mercantile pursuits, consider
myself competent to speak intelligently
ON this point, and consider il a great
mistake for the geographers to call China
an enlightened nation. 1t has a degree
of civilization, such as it is; but more
narrow-minded, bigoted people, ignorant
of everything but their own history,
superstitious, what to steal and how to
steal il, it would be difficult to find. 1t
has been said that they are fine astrono-
mers, but so far as my observations ex-
tended, the majority are Ignorant of the
planets. only as they portend good or
evil: that is, as they are used supersti-
tiously bv the fortune-tellers. ] do not
deny but that education, and that, too,
Of very high order, exists in China, but
learning is confined to the few, and is
not general. These few give themselves
up entirely to study, making it a profess
sion What they really know beyond
the sayings ofthe deceased Confucius, it (
is impossible to tell. They are held in Z
very high respect, however. Some of
them study until very aged-seventy or
seyenty-fve years old. Their colleges"
are always full, and are the resorts of
The sages and philosophers of the day.
Jc.s's xIFE.
If this is true Of the mass Of the male 4
what shall be said Of the fe-
males. The education of this sex Is en-
iirely neglected. In fact, ike all mar
row-minded, ignorant people, Of what
ever nation, the Chinese, carrying their
Eiews into even greater superstitious ex-
remes, they suppose their women to be
more attractive and entertaining the
rore ignorant they are. The latter must
not even understand the principles Of
but leave everything to the
Coolies, except bit of eaudy embroid-
Try. So if you ask question in regard
% political matters teve-ything is po-
itical matter to them outside Of en-
,roidery or sickness of children, your
answer viii be an alarming elevation Of
pair Of arched eyebrows. or perhaps q
lalfsmile. Ia fact, this sex is not taught
wen to read or write, so little importance
5 attached to them
JoHS's RELIGIOs.
Mr. Sampson. who Is one Of the pillars
If the Baptist Church, Is making strenu-
JUS efforts to Christianize these disciples
# Confucius, but we regret to say his
.fforts thus far have been crowned With
title or no success. True, be has suc-
.eeded in inducing two Of them 70 se-
company him regularly to church, where
hey sit all through the sermon, yainly /
10 comprehend 10 them
he strange jargon Of the parsOB. They
ire said, however, to express much de-
ight at the music Of the choir; and up0a
he occasion Of their first attendance At
hurch, became 70 EXCITED over the mus
al efforts Of the brethren Who nszniDu-
.ted the violin and base vol tina; they
ct1ally danced about the pes and
tapped their hands With great gIee, much
D the astonishnent Of the stsid old
'uritans who composed the congsgs-
ion. These two bopefuls also made their
ppearanee last Sunday in the Sunday
chool Of the Baptist Church % which
lr sampson belongs, and were assigned
D the class Of veteran teacher.
JoHx's grx.
The remainder Of these CeIestials.
oweyer, find more pleasure IN laying
e" on Sunday than in listening 70 the
,ng-winded sermons Of Rev. jeremiah
'umpus, the Baptist clergyman Des-
pite the pious precspts u the holy
anpson, these men manage % amuse
lemselyes during their leisure bOuFs On
undays, despite their unfortunate sur
and what with Ply Loo"
ominoes, Ia popular game among this
ace), and opium-sinOking, manage 70
lille away the time unite uleaeentlv