The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-11-24

From the Chicago Tribune.l
A philanthropist of San Francisco has been
making some curious experiments on the
moral nature Of the Chinese. He believes,
or did believe before his phianthropic
efforts, that the cunning, the theft, the
mendaciiy, and the other unpleasant traits Of
the Heather Cbinee are due to lack of edu-
cation. Remove this, he urged, and the ob.
iectionable traits would disappear. Unlike
most philantbroplsts, he reduced bis theory
to practice. He hired four boys and one
girl-all belonging to the despised race.
Day after day he lectured the docie quin-
tette, through an interpreter, on the simple
principles Of morality. The laws he laid
down were few. "Thou shalt not
steal " and =" Thou shalt not lie" were the
Alpha and Omega Of his teachings. When
he thought that The young hearts of his pu-
pills were thoroughly imbued with these
ideas he had to practically experiment. The
oldest boy had come to him with charac-
ter-a written one. Events showed that that
was all the character he had. After he had
been carefully trained in the paths of moral.
ity and peace he was sent out with basket
on his arm and gold eagle an "eagie," we
must explain to people whose dim remem-
braucc of American gold coins dates back to
1860, is a ten.dollar piece-in his pocket to
do some marketing. He may have done it.
His employer has never found out whether or
not he did SO, for boy, basket, and coin never
came back. This was rather discouraging, but
the philanthropist perseyered. Within two
months eight boys and the one girl had dis
appeared. They bad carried of, as memen-
toes, gold watch, seal.ring, eight tea
spoons feather.bed, aud the best pair of
pantaloons bought for the phianthrOpic legs.
His tenth pupil got away with the feather
bed. All of them fed large circles Of rela-
tives on his sugar, coffee, and tea during
their stay 10 bis household. A soothing San
Francisco paper says that his losses Also In
clude q front gate, back doors, forty.seven
feet OF gas.nipe and two meters, a marble
mantel, ard complete set Of window-shut-
tiers. 1t became evident that course OF
moral lectures could NOT be relied upon to
remove the innate aepravity of the Mongo.
Ian. The lectures have therefore ceased.
The eSpegimenter, rejecting on the differ.
ences OF American and ASiatic natures, came
to the conclusion that their removal would
remove the defects ia Chinese character.
Now, one of the most striking of these dit.
ferences is the entire absence OF sense of
the ludicrous in the almond-eyed heather.
They smile ss cat purrs-from self.satisfac-
ton, but they are incapable OF understand.
aug Joke. A new class Of new servants
was formed, MunchauseD's Adventure" "
was selected as q Textbook, and instruction
began. The Eaost ludicrous anecdotes were
retailed in vain. Not Mongoiian muscle
moved. The story of the BaFonS tying his
horse to steeple, which he thought was a
post projecting from tie snow, and thenMud-
ing the animal, after thaw, dangling two
hundred feet In the air. produced the solemn
remaFk, Heap snow," bat not smRe.
Practicalj,kes were equally feaitless. When
two queues were tied together so that
their ownets were violently jer&ea back
wards as they tried to 60 in opposite GiEec-
lions the yictims showed no sense Of aumor.
They fed upon each other tooth and mail,
smashed most offtbe uastolen articles of'fur-
nttnre, aud came. out Of the conflict them.
selves In something Of the same state as the
Kilkenny cats. INSTRUCTION in hnnor has
since been abandoned. This was fastened
oy what seems TO have been . stroke of hu.
NOR on the part Of the most promising pu-
pil. Wien the falaily of the piiiIanthropist
were ali absent for the night, and the phiIau-
thfePist hiksself was asleep, the pupil stole
every stitch OF his clothiDg, and 80 obliged
hin TO pass the first hour of Sabbath daylight
IN bowling for tailor from his bedroom
window. lie has since abjured stl belief In
the capacity OF the Chinese for improve.
ment, and considers the doctrine OF the an
nihsation Of the wicked as the sole aope for
Ipe hongoiians 10 the life hereafter.