Litchfield enquirer., 1873-06-12
The Chinese Students In Amsr,ca.

The Springfield (Mass.) Union gives the following gratifying account of the re markable progress made by the Chinese students quartered there and of the gen. eral success of the educational experi- ment:
 .'The announcement that another par ty of Chinese students would arrive in this city in July, and be placed under the charge of Commissioner Laisun, shows that the imperial government is well sat lstied with its experiment, and is bound to continue 1t. The boys, as was the case with the party last year, will be scattered, two and two, in private families, up and down the valley in Massaceusetts and Con- necticut. Six will probably be placed in this city, some at Greenfield, Northamp- ton and Wilbraham, and perhaps Vest field, while the Nutmeg Stale will doubt less receive its share. It IS more diff cult matter than would at first be imagin- ed to secure the right kind of homes for the boys The family in which they are to be placed must be people of culture, must live in good style, and be willing to care for the boys as for their own child ren. The commissioner Is justly even more strenuous about manners, morals and personal appearance than about the technlcalities of the textbooks. The boys, as a rule, will not be placed in pub llc schools, academies or any thing of the sort, till after they have been in the coun- try eighteen months, and during this time they are to receive instructions from some member of the family where they are To- cated. Of the thirty boys who came over last fall two, who are members of Dr. Cooks family at Wilbraham, gre attend ing the academy of which he is principal, and the two sons of Commissioner Laisun are pupils at the Elm street grammar school in this city. All the rest of the party are still in retirement, and the four 9sRtoafd aaRReHnp fRtn fRtnB@@dga r53F hhff= hhff g1ish.
 s'rhe first studies taken up by the boys are reading and spelling, with lessons, every day, in writing and drawing. As soon as the pupils can make out the words they are put into arithmetic, and in about four months from the time when they commenced English they take up geogra- phy. Grammar is not usually begun till three months later. Object lessons, in which Commissioner Laisun has great faith, form a prominent feature in the course of study. Other branches are studied in the American order, and in a year and half it is caiulated that the pu- pills will be ready for admission to the highest room in any of our grammar schools. The progress made by the boys, during the seven months they have been studying, has more than equalled the ex- pectation of their friends, as nearly every one has advanced so as to begin elemen- tary lessons in grammar. The progress made by the pupils in drawing IS perfect ly wonderful, the initiative faculty of the Chinese making them most skilful artists. Some of the the drawings executed by pupils who, only seven months ago, knew absolutely nothing of the art, would do credit to any drawing teacher. In per spective drawing, on the other hand, the Chinese are quite faulty.
 s'Mr. Laisun visits all his boys once in two months and puts them through thor ough examination. If he is not satisfied with their progress or treatment, he is in duty bound to remove them to other .anailies, and eight have been thus trans ferred. Generally, however, the families which they are placed have taken great pride in doing the best for their pupils In 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 a 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 than time. 1t is the intention of the imperial government to have it's pupils learn all that can be learned in American schools and colleges, and accordingly after graduating from college the young men will study for various professions of law, medi- cine, the bar, engineering, &c. An effort will be made to get some of the students into the military and naval acad- emies at West Point and Annapolis, and if the enterprise is looked upon by our government in the true light, as doubt less it will be, the request will bs 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 educates the boys, bearing all their ex- penses, and when their studies are con- pleted will give them important positions. As these are the only students now edu- eating abroad by the Chinese govern ment, it is not unreasonable to hope that the future of the empire will be largely directed, if not controlled, by these quiet youths, now scattered along our beauti- full valley, as inmates of our New Eng land homes,
 sAlthough the change of climate has been very trying to the young Celestials. they have generally enjoyed good health since they came here last September, a few cases of scarlet and other levers be- ing the only sickness among them worthy of note. None of the boys have died. "
 WRITING FOR THE NEwspAPER. New York correspondent says:-'.The crowd of good writers seeking employment of our great journals is painfully surprising. Where one retires in disappointment two others appear. All possible outside in- huence IS solicited to assist in getting a position, however humble it may be, and somesmen are living on promises of ''the first vacancy" All our newspaper writers are young men, simply because after a few years of service they are all worn out and give way to the younger and more hungry crowd. As a matter of surprise I may mention that once saw gray-head- ed man serving as reporter in one of our courts, but never met but one case of the kind. The delus1on to which multi tudes are subject in considering them selves called to write for the press is only broken by hard experience. A country clergyman told me lately that he had made application among some leading editors for employment, which he supposed could be readily obtained, and was surprised at the general refusal of his services. At last he condescended to call on Bonner, for, though he preferred more solid sheet than the Ledger, the latter was bet ter than nothing. MT. Bonner received him politely, and told him ''he had mat ter engaged to keep the paper full for three years" Bonner accepts no volun- teer contributions, and instructs his clerks to allow none to be left for examination. The disappointment of this clergyman was painful: but such things are So com mon as to become proverbial. Literary young ladies are also under perpetual dis appointment. commend literature to this class as an accomplishment, but not as 9 profession A few ladies here are making good living with their pens, but