The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-05-31
THE PAGANS In THIS COUNTRY.

The Springfield Mass Union gives
the following gratifying account Of the
remarkable progress made by the
Chinese students quartered there, and
of the general success of the educa
tional experiment:
: The announcement that another
party of Chinese students would arrive
in this city in July, and be placed
under the charge of Commissioner
Laisun, shows that the i'm perial gov
ernment is we'll satisfied with it's ex-
pertinent, and is bound to continue it.
The boys. as was the case with
the other party last year, will
be scattered, two and two, III private
families,u up and down the valley in
Massachusetts and Connecticut. Six will
probably be placed i'll this city, some
at Greenfield, Northampton and Will
braham, and perhaps Westfeld, while
the Nutmeg State will doubtless re-
ceive its share 1t is more difficult
matter than would first be imagined to
secure the right kind of homes for the
boys. The family in which they are
to be placed must be people of cul-
ture, must live in good style, and be
wiling to care for the boys as for their
own children The commissioner is
Justly even more strenuous about
manners, morals and personal
appearance than about the tech
nicalities of the text books. The boys,
as a rule, will not be placed in public
schools, academies or anything of the
sort till after they have been in the
country eighteen months, and during
this time they are to receive instruc.
ton from some member of the family
where they are located. OF the thirty
boys who came over last fall two, who
are members of DR.. Cooks family at
Wllbraham, are attending the academy
of which he is principal, and the two
/ sons of Commissioner Laisun are pu-
pills at the Elm Street Grammar School
in this city. All the rest of the party
are still in retirement, and the four
mentioned above are at school only be
cause of their superior knowledge of
English.
The first studies taken up by the
boys are reading and spelling, with
lessons, every day., in writing and draw
ing. As soon as the pupils can make
out the words they are put into arith-
metlc, and III about four months from
the time when they commenced Eng
lish they take up geography Gram
mar is not usually begun till three
months later. Object lessons, in which
Commissioner Laisun has great faith,
form prominent feature III the course
of study. Other branches are studied
in the American order, and in n
year and hall it is calculated
that the pupils will be ready for
admission to the highest room in any
of our grammer schools. The progress
made by the boys, during the seven
months they have been studying, has
more than equaled the expectations of
their friends, as nearly every one has
advanced SO far as to be able to begin
the elementary lessons IN grammar.
The progress made by the pupils in
drawing is perfectly wonderful, the
initiative faculty of the Chinese max
ing them most skillful artists. Some
of the drawings executed by the pupils
who, only seven month ago, knew abso-
lutely nothing of the art, would do
credit to any drawing teacher. In per-
spective drawing, on the other hand,
the Chinese are quite faulty.
60 Mr.. Laisun visits all his boys once
in two months, and puts them through
a thorough examination. If he is not
satisfied with their progress or treat
ment, he is in duty bound to remove
them to other families, and eight have
been thus transferred Generally,
however, the families ~ which they
are placed have taken great pride in
doing the best possible by their pu-
pills La addition to their English
studies, the boys are required to spend
one hour each day in Chinese writing
and composition and, once in three
months, several of them are brought
together at central point, and
spend two weeks solely in study
ing Chinese under an imperial
teacher. The boys range in age from
ten to sixteen, and the full course OF
study will embrace fifteen years, but
many will doubtless complete it in less
than that time, 1t is the intention OF
the Imperial government to have its
pupils learn ali that can be learned in
American schools and colleges, and ac-
cordingly after graduating from col.
lege the young men will study for vari,
Gus professions of law, medicine, the
bar, engineering, &c. An effort will be
made to get some of the students Into
the military and naval academies at
West Point and Annapolis, and if the
enterprise is looked upon by our gov
eminent in the true hight, as doubt.
less it will be, the request viii
| be granted. The position which the
| Chinese students hold towards their
government is similar to the relation
of West Pointer to the United States
| The imperial government edllcates the
boys, bearing all their expenses, and
when their studies are completed will
give them important positions. As
these are the only students now educat
ing abroad by the Chinese government.
| it is not unreasonable to hope that the
! future of the empire will be largely di
rected, If not controlled, by these quiet
youths, now scattered along our beau.
tltul valley, as inmates of our New
| England homes.
Although the change IF climate has
| been very trying to the young Celes
tails, they have generally enjoyed good
health since they came here last Sep
TENDER, few cases of scarlet and
other fevers being the only sickness
among them worthy of note None OF
the boys have died.
A Real Bluebeard.
AT Grenada, in SPAN, says CORE
spondent, In an old house which had
tumbled into ruins and has been foy
some months past undergoing recon