New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-11

that age, that ii was not best for him to be mis-
| sionary. He had suspicion then, though ndls.
tinct that he was wanted for something else. IL
was costly conclusion. and he was quite aware OF
ii. 1t against the views and hopes OF the most
of those who were around him and by 1t, being
without peeuniary means, he cut hiilseI
off from the resource of those charitable foun-
dations that would have aided him as a student
for the ministry. And so he was poor IN college ne
smiles now to remember how poor Yet ne feceNeu
help from persons interested in him ut New-faVeh
and elsewhere, mainly through the medium OF Pro-
tessor IhatcneT whose GaG i1 20 this daV And he
got through He TO college In his cue ana Chl-
nese tunic but put oft both III the course OF his st
His nationality made him a good deal of a stran;;
ger, and this together with his extreme natnrai
reserve and his poverty kept nm fr9m nm ing
MANY intimates yet, he so carried himself from
first to last as to merit and win the entire
walks and talks he had with his classmate.
Carroll Cutler, now president OF western reserve
College, that he opened and discussed the RrGlect
then forming i'll his mind of this Chinese Educa-
tOnal Mission. The idea was born. the dream was
taking shape but the way was long to its realization
His graduation in 1854 was the event OF inc COM
mencement of that wear. There many, mt least,
who so regarded il, and some of them came 10 the
Commencement principally for the sake OF seeing the
Chinese graduate Among the latter was Dr. Bush
nell of Hartford. He had heard OF him, aud beng
strongly interested according to the size OF ms
great mind and heart i'll the Chinese racehe desired
to meet Nung Wing. An incident OF their meetIng
on that occasion, which the writer has heard Or'
Bushnell tell, will bear repeating. When they
were introduced, the Doctor gave 1t as one
that he desired TO ascertain who had written certain
newspaper articles on the Chinese question, as IL
then stood which had attracted his attention as
evncing marks of craftsmanship. He thought Wing
might know. WheTeup0n, as the Doctor SAID, wing
hung his head, and, blushing like girl, with much
confusion of manner, confessed that nc was their au-
thor 1t is only fair to add that Mr. Wing says that
he does not remember this incident But II is
equally fair to add again that in case of this kind
DIR. Busnell's memory orany body else, were more
worthy to be trusted than Yung Wings.
At the time of his graduation, Wing was rs much
tempted as u was poSIioig a S bna IN s country
long enough to become thoroughly naturallzed here
He was, in fact citizen. All his tastes ana feel
ings and atinticS, intellectual ana moral, maze
him at home here. Moreover, through the notice
into which his graduation brought him, 1t came
about that a very inviting opportunity was opened
to him to remain and have his career here, II he
chose to. On the other hand, China was like a
strange land to him. He had even almost entirely
forgotten his native tongue. And there was moth
ing in China for hlm to go TO. Except among MS
humble kindred he had no friends there-nOthlng
to give him any standing or consideration,
no place, so 10 speak, to set his foot on;
Not only So but considering where lie had
been and what I've had become, and the purposes he
had in view he could not fail TO encounter. among
bis own people, prejudice, suspicion, hostility.
cheerless fOrbdding prospect lay before HIM III that
| direction. The thought OF going back was the
thought of exile. He wanted immensely 10 stay;
But there was one text of Holy Scripture tbat, all
this while be SAYS. haunted him and followed nm
| like the voice of God. 1t was this: "lf any pro-
vide not for his own and specially for those Of his
own house. he hath denied the faith, and is worse
| than an intdel,' and by the words " his own ana
| " his own house" it meant to him the nation oil
! which he was born. The text carried the day.
| The benefits winch ne had been, as it WERE
| singled out from whole people to receive
his sense OF justice and gratitude alike would not
! let HIM appropriate TO hls own advantage. ana So
though he knew not what should belall hun, he set
his face to return; and be went to do what he has
Tie sailed soon after his graduation for Shanghai
which after a voyage of l51 days, he reached IN
! the month of April, 1885. When the Chinese pilot
| came on board he found that he could with some
difficulty, understand what he sand, Though ne could
| not make the pilot understand him; which shows
the condition of his knowledge OF Chinese on MS ar
rival in the country. IL took him all the time he
was not otherwise employed for two years to acquire
! facility i'll the use OF It,
TAKING FIRST STEPS IN LIFE.
As for his grand scheme, he had settled il in his own
mind that the first step TO be taken toward carry
ing it out was to cOntrve way of getting it before
some influential public man or men-a thing itself
of infinite difficulty. With this end in view,
though of course TO make his living also, he sought
and obtained the position of private secretary TO the
Hon. Peter Parker, then Commissioner of the United
States to China hoping that it would be the means
of afiording him the access he desired. Becoming
satisfied upon sufficient trial that it was not likely
to answer his expectations in this regard, he re-
signed the place after a few months. lie now at
TEMPTED another way of comprising the matter
| There was at Hong Kong an English bar consisting
of dozen OF so lawyers doing business for the for
eign commercial houses of that city. Wing bethought
| him that the standing and acquaintance resulting
| from his becoming member of that bar, might not
| imprObably bring him the opportunity he sought
! Accordingly he entered of the offices as
! student. But presently 1t got out among the law
yeTs who this young man was-what MS education
had been-and theysaYa at once that his competition
with them for the legal practice OF CHINESE CITY
was thing not TO be allowed II 1t could be pre-
vented. And so his principal, pleading the COM
| mands of his legal brethren, informed him. WIN
many courteous expressions of regret that lie must
| find another place to study law IN. And as there
| was no other place he had TO give 1t up;
After this followed interval OF nearly two years.
! during which he occupied himself with CHINESE ana
other studies, earning his bread by such commercial
TRANSMITTING he could lind to do and waited for the
| right thing TO turn up. He then, III the same hope
that led him to his previous eAperGlhentI' iook
neither did this, on trial, promise, IN his Judgment
pOu stO for his operations, and he soon ADAM
II was now 1860. Five years and nothing
| ACCOMPLISHED TO one looking only on the out
side Yung Wing would appear to have thus
| far pursued an uncertain and rather Thrift
| less course; but not If he penetrated his
real policy and the purpose that lay ever nearest ms
| heart; most asSnredly not II knew-What was Ine
fact-that all this time that he was gong from one
| thing 10 another, and keeping himself poor,
| he was refusing offers of employment at
| rates of remuneration that TO him. so long
| familiar with q straltened lot seemed little short
of princely. In 1860 however, Overtures were maze
him by one of the leading silk and tea houses OF
Shanghai to enterIits service as travelling lnland
agent which, for the reason III part that 1t would
send him touring through wide extent of country,
and possess him by observation Of knowledge that
| he deemed would be useful TO him, he determined TO
| accept This business he followed for year, and
then seeing good chance Tor it, set up IN busi-
ness for himself, which proved so profitable ven
ture that had he continued in it, he would to all
appearances have speedily become rich. AS 1t was
| he made very considerable sum OF money.
| But in 1862 the door of the opportunity which
| he had been constantly feeling after from tho day
| he landed IN China, unexpectedly opened 10 him.
Il was this wise While In the City OF
| Shanghai he made the acquaintance of Chinese
ASTRONOMICAL man Of rank and of eminence IN