The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-08
A CHINAMAN'S VIEWS.

WHAT HE THINKS OF AMERICAN CUSTOMS AND
HABITS AS CoNTRAsTED WITH THOSE OF HIS
NATIVE LAND.
Wong Ching Foo, tho enthusiastic young Chinaman
who educated at Harvard College some years ago.
and who has now undertaken to enlightcn the Amer
lean people In regard to the doctrines OF Buddhism
made his bow from the lecture platform at Stcinway
Hall last night to about two hundred persona
lie spoke in q clear, loud voice, aud with
q fauitIess accent although his sentences were
at tmos suled or inverted Apoogizing for
having Introduce himself no remarked that ho was
initiating our missionaries, who had gone into China
without any introduction. Besides, he said, It would
be difficult for any to INTRODUCES him OF
his namo being hard to pronounce. The name IL
nounccd only tho conclusion OF his name, which,
In FULL Tcn-Ming- TREE W shm-S TIE
Way shng Shon- Tau-Tz w Keo- Tan Ye-Chc Pom
Kow- wons- ChiugFoo. 1t was no said. mistake Of
tho newspapers to speak OF him as missionary; for
he was lie held that it not necessary for
any nation to send missionaries to any other II was
hts desire, no said. simply TO explain the doc
trlnes OF his fatb which had been misundcr-
stood by the American people. Many things
concerning his country were misrcprcscnted
by Christian missionaries 10 order to obtain contrbu-
proper knowledge OF the real state OF things
China would have the effect OF diminishing tho
ccpts of the Board OF Foreign Missions. Wong
entertained by Americans Hc spoke with great
carncsthcss. and at times mad 10 pause from sheer
brcutnIessness. He had occasionally to stop mo-
recall word, bu: ruc his speech "a
remarkably nucnL The only gestures he made were
with his left arm. ana they were simple and graceful
II never kncw," he SAID, ''thut puppies were good
to eat until | was told by American people
(Laugher) If mistakes were entertained here about
such simple matters AS the Diet OF the Chinese, he
argued that much greater OF belief would pre-
vail respect to their religion ana other abstrusc
matters Intelligent mon, be SAID, must necessarily
lal,n In TIM nj proaf hiatt Iarc
icgent IN China he pointed 10 her 400 0tU 600 OF
people living under good government, ruled more
easily aud committing lever crimes Than one-iourlh
the number hviug under the American tiag. God, he
claimed. had givon 10 every race VI men system OF
revocation accorGg 10 their peculiar wants their
peculiar nature, aud the practice oil sending out
sionaries 10 other nations only tcnded 10 coniound
matters IN religion
cnina ana America, he remarked, were the most
opposed Of nations. In America gentleman took oil
his hat IN society; the man who should do that in
China would be counted a barbarian. Hero shook
our iricnds by the hand ana made them suffer for
maxi ing our acquaintance, whereas Cinnamon shook
each hrs hand and tortured himself Tor his friend
winch Is tho more civinzcd wuy2" asked tho
speaker, aud The audience laughed Al meals IN
America soup was eaten irst; in China i was tho
drank cold; there u was made slcamiug hot
Hero when men called upon friend
he Immediately inquired Tor the health OF his wife;
there u wife Is considered too Insignificant creature
TO mention Here men MARRIED cckiessy; there they
had be careful because they could get divorces
easily. Procccdtns with his discourse, the gentle
man argued tnat n certain denomination Ia recently
passing resolutions TO the effect that all hcathens
would be damned, impuancd the goodness
~ tod, who would DO inadc appear
having forgotten 10 reveal HIMSELF to 500. 000, 0Uo
OF souls. Hc contendcd that BUDDHISM did not
teach that Tue soul IS annihliatcd. aud quoted from
the Blblc In support OF his declaration that Christ
wanted mon not 10 bulievc IA his name merely but to
do good deeds Conluciansm and Buddhism taught
the same doctrine; SO that man lived up The
doctrines oil either OF these would lead just such Ito
would d good Christian. III you do not believe
thcrc good and intelligent Buddhsts IN ASIA"
said Wong Ego over ana sce." The audience smiled,
and voice, said "Thank you'll"