Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-25
MONGOLsANS Ar HOME.
a Returned Missionary's Idea of On,
Chinese NeighbOrs.

Mr. charles IL. Mlls, who has been som
twenty-five years a missionary in China
connection with the American prcshytcria
church, has recently arrived at New York
: visit to his native land TO newspaper r.
porter who questioned him ~ to the senti
mcnt OF the Chinese in reference to our recen
legisla ton looking to prohibition of Moprol
ian Immigration, he replied that to the bull
OF the Chinese even the existence of OH
country was wholly unknown, and tina, sucl
a thing as any general desire to seek home,
here has no existence. Their vast domain
larger than all Europe, affords great varic,,
OF climate, soil and products. Its dens,
population, numbering ut the loves, com
putaiion 4OO,OOO,00O firmly believes tina,
China is the favored country of the supreme
powers Their most special religious duty
worship oil their ancestors and the fond
hope to lay their own bones beside them
tends strongly to preclude any idea of emf.
grafton. Those whom we see in American
cities are men from seaport towns driven
abroad by dire necessity to seek livelihood.
10 the great mass of Cinnamon exclusion
| rom America would never give Il thought
of deprivation. Even those who seek our
shores come with the intention TO return
(after lettering their condition by industry
ana close economy to the blessed home of
| their forefathers.
But does not the imperial government
resent our exclusion of its subjects ~
PROBABLY in no quarter of the globe is
diplomacy kcener than at the Chinese capi-
tai. The controlling spirits are men of the
highest culture in that line, the cream of the
result OF nationa! educ alton, which alone
supplies the door OF official preferment.
lhey see at once oil the advantage which the
action OF Congress gives them in the way of
grievance by placing slight upon their
race, and they will, no doubt, make il mani.
lest AS motive to hesitate before accedinr
TO any further rcquts's from our representa-
lives for future enlargement of privileges to
American commerce"
Are Cinnamon content with their own
imperial government
They fully believe it the best in the
world Though there is no ballot the gov.
ernlng class is constantly recruited
from the ranks of the people through
thtlr system OF competitive literary
examinations to which all, even the
poorest, may aspire. The Emperor reigns
under the rule of Confucius, not for his
own benefit but for the interests of the peo-
pie; and the writings of this venerated
teacher sanction the last resort to revolt
should the Brother of the Sun fail in his
duty to govern the people justly"
Have the mass of the Chinese people any
inclination, like the Japan, Sc to adopt the
progressive methods of Western nations In
industrial arts."
NO. They worship the dead, reverence
antiquity and abhor change which they are
apt TO characterize as sacrilegc. They are
the veriest Bourbons in the world. Their
houses and hotels of but one story, with A
lloor of earth, need no such elevators as are
found in New York hotels Their plough,
drawn by cow. pleases them better than
would one propelled by steam. Their mar
row streets, through which no horse ever
draws vehicle, suits them better than
would Broadway, and they prefer donkey
to u locomotive"
What is the controlling power which
binds that mighty race, holding them back
from the course Of advance on which all the
rest OF the world is 50 rapidly moving?"
Mainly superstition, with its roots in their
religious system. 1t is now six or eight
years since first visited the little town of
Jlo kia Tswang, in Sh4n,unr, China. i
stopped al the best inn Of the place There
was nothing unusual in the accommodations
The brick bcdstcud, with its covering of
Chinese mating and II short plank pillow.
was neither better nor worse than in other
inns. The maccaroni was perhaps rather
better than you get in mos, inns and the
mustard sauce and vclmicclli were not I'M
paaable. In one Of Tie side rooms was
piled away large quantity of mushrooms
prepared for market Mr. Jao, the propric-
rul tl.+lt 70. a "A ii 4
rather proud of his old and respectable es
tablishmcnt He was man OF letters as
vel, and taught an advanced school in one
oil the numerous apartments of the inn. lie
was quite gracious to his foreign guests and
made 1t special point to come around and
have friendly chat with us. He was pretty
well read in Christian books and owned
that Christianity had veiy much to commend
1t. But none of these things made Mr.. Jao
or his inn at all remarkable. 1t was the
wonderful luck hillock which did so.
The floor in the inn. like all others in
Northern China, was of simple earth, mixed
with little lime and pounded hard The
luck hillock was a considerable elevation
say six feet in circumference and may be
three feet high. 1t had grown from small
beginnings and large untidiness to the Size
indicated. Somebody's shoes had been dirty
and the filth had been scrapcd off at this
place on the floor Then multitude of
other dirty shoes had passed that way, and
30, little by little, there came 10 he a distinct
hilock. No profane broom ever disturbed
these precious accumulations. 1t came to be
understood that Mr.. Jao was IL lucky man.
and when saw him there was nothing of
which the old man was so proud or his
neighbors 80 envious AS this little hllock Of
dirt in his Kitchen 1t was thought that the
streams OF lucky influence were pouring in
10 MIR. Jao's inn and that this extraordinary
phenomenon was the outward evidence Of
1t. Everyone expected the Jaos would have
numerous offspring, long life, wealth and
literary distinction. | have given this in-
stance to illustrate the belief of the Chinese
in lucky influences But they believe
equally and indeed of necessity in unlucky
influenced
l have often visited the region where
there is a valuable gold quartz mine. No
one dare open it. II must be mined by
deep shaft hence the objection. Within the
last fifteen years parties have been in exile
for attempting to open this mine. Railroads
are especially Objectionable from the extern
sive excavations necessary, especially in
hilly country. 1t is well known that grant
was obtained by an enterpiising American
for railroad from Shanghai to Woosung, u
distance or some seven miles The track
was laid and the road worked for II few
months, when the government bought it of
the company, tore up the rails and trans
ported the rolling stock 10 the island of
Formosa.
Three causes may promote the overthrow
OF this foolish and injurious fancy. The
introduction OF Christianity, which teaches |
the doctrine OF an Omnipotcnt Creator and |
disposer of all things Christians very soon |
abandon Fung Sway. 9. Science over
throws this within. Men, AS they come 10
know the laws of Naure-Chinese AS well |
AS others-despse such nonsense. They
learn the true science and discard the false.
3. Demonstrate to the Chinese that there is
money to be made by neglecting Fung Sway
unl innu will ~ Ii from, flu,,,