Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-10
A UNIQUE VOLUME.
A Chinaman's Work ON tho English Ian

A ChinaMan's Work ON tho EnElish Ian.
The Providence Journal in q recent issue
says We have before us q remarkable
book, 10 less than a dictionary Of English
phrases, with illustrative sentences, by
Kwong Ri Chin, = Chinese scholar, who
for the last five years has been a member
Of the Chinese educational mission in the
United States, residing ut Hartford.
The work under notice consists, first, of
dioms, colloquialisms and current English
phrases, with their definitions; second,
slang and can't phrases, idiomatic phrases,
terms and phrases Of the stock exchange ;
all these are accompanied with examples
Of their use third, English proverbs, Chi
nese proverbs and maxims, Latin and
French phrases. These ars followed by a
historical sketch of the Chinese Dynas-
tics. in which the dates arc harmOnizcd
with Christian chronology. Following is
a sketch OF Confucius, the Chinese sage,
and Of Jesus Christ. The book closes
with full index, making altogether .
stout volume Of 9l4 octave pages.
To compile q dictionary properly rc-
quires many years Of close study. some
times, indeed, q lifetime, evcn for scholars
with minds trained in languages having
an affinity with their mother tongue but
for an Oriental scholar. and he native of
the Celestial Empire, to compile a work
such as that before us, and so we'll done,
is remarkable. We possess dictionaries Of
idiOms, colloquial phrases and slang terms,
but in none OF them is the subject treated
in the manner Of our Chinese scholar. Our
photographers condcnse their definitions
as much as possible, but Mr.. Kwong's def
initiOns are generally fuller, often double.
and in every case accompanied by illustra-
tions of the use of the idiOms. We give Il
few examples :
Stuff as a poker. Excessively stiff.
Our now laundress made my collar as
stiff as a poker. Our new laundrcss ,nado
my collars excessively stiff.
To stuff the ballot-bor (U. 81 Toput in
many fraudulent votes.
1t is criminal Otfense to stuff tile ballot.
boz in the election OF officers.
Straight ticket. A ticket cOntainin. the
regular nominations of a party without
change.
The mere politician always votes tho
straight ticket. The one who is merely
devoted to the advancement of Il political
party always votes the regular ticket with.
out change.
We select few Of the Chinese maXims
"Curtailing expenses cures poverty"
Education cures rudeness of speech and
conduct the practice of music cures
heedlcssness.'
" First be correct yourself, then corrcc'
Others.''
'FOregO expenses for useless objects ant
devote the money to better purposes
"If another person has flilings do not
reveal them.'
"Dligence can compensate for dullness
economy in public affairs would rcmov,
all occasion for their being corrupted b,
bribes.''
A well known Christian maxim We find
here from COnfucius, who lived in the
sixth century before the Christian era
though differently expressed
"Do hot to others what you do not wisl
them to do to yOu.''
Preceding the title of the book is 8
finely engraved portrait of Mr.. Kwong
from which it il evident that he is 4 MAJ
of marked intelligence.
Upon the whole the book will be inter
csting as well as instructive to Englisl
readers, and foreigners not familiar will
our colloquial language. 1t is highly com
mended by the presidents of Yale ant
Harvard colleges, as we'll as by gentlemen
who have made the English language
their particular study.