The bee., 1883-02-10
STUDENT AND EXECUTIONER.

Two Chinese Institutions vfvidIy Described
ton Execution Ground.
Rev. Selah Brown, in his travels
through China, thus describes in a
letter to the Troy Times, two places of
interest in Canton. On the eastern
side of Canton is Examination Hall, |"
a place of extraordinary interest and
excitement. Here an enclosure of
about twelve acres, entirely surrounded
by high wall, is set apart for trien-
NAL competitive examination in the
Chinese classics. Every third year
about 10000 students, young and old,
who have already passed first exami-
nation, assemble here to pass the rigid
ordeal of second trial. So great is
The excitement that sometimes students
are crazed, some even commit suicide,
and others die from sheer nervous ex-
haustion. When one dies in his ell
hole is cut through the wall and the
corpse put outside, as it is considered
unlucky and unlawful to carry the
corpse through the door On these
grounds are large buildings for the ex-
aminers, and nearly 10000 little brick
cells only three feet wide and five feet
long, for the students. No furniture is
allowed in the cells except a rough
board seat, and rough board shelf on
which TO write. Each student has one
of the cells, in which he is guarded as
though a prisoner. lie is searched as
he enters, lest he have some papers to
help him in his assigned task, then he
is closely watched, day and night, by
policemen, and the policemen are
watched 10y other guards.
During the two or three days and
nights in which the student is confined
he must write an essay on which de-
pends his promotion. The subject is
given after the competitor has entered
the cell. Each student is provided
with pen, ink and paper, and a little
food and bedding, Dut is not permitted
to have any books or helps of any kinds.
His memory must be his only depend
ence. No friends or servants are al
lowed to accompany him, and he must
not even speak to his fellew-studentS.
The student who passes a successful
examination meets with great congrat-
ulation, and splendid ovations, for he
is on the highway to fortune and honor,
both for himself and his friends. ONLY
about 100 in 10000 succeed in getting
the degree" the other $500 must wait
three years, then try again. Even the
successful ones must pass third ex-
animation at Pekin, the capital. In
this competition there are three exami-
nations, and three degrees given. The
first examination is in the district
college. The second in the provincial
college. The third is in the imperial
university at Pekin. The first degree
is B. A.. which does not mean, as in
America, bachelor of arts, but beauti-
full ability. The second degree is A.
NJ, not master OF arts, but advanced
men. The third degree, LII. D., can
only be had at the capital of the empire.
The few who pass a successful three
fold examination, and gain the three
fold degrees, stand very high in the
estimation of the emperor and the gov
ernment, and from their number all
appointments fer public Office are
made. So great is the honor of success
that men will try from youth to old
age, failing and trying again score of
times. Sometimes a father, son and
grandson are found at the same exami-
nation. This system has been observed
for many centuries in China, and has
very important place in the social
and political economy Of the empire.
From Examination Hall we went to
that terrible aceldamd, the execution
ground" in the southeast corner of the
city. One can hardly look without a
shudder on the spot where SO many
thousands have been beheaded. In a
little open space not more than twenty
feet wide and 100 feet long more hu-
man blood has flowed than On any
other place of the same size round the
world. From ten to fifty are generally
executed at a time. Sometimes the
executions amount TO several hundred
annually. During war times 100000
have been beheaded on this Golgotha
in single year. One missionary said
he had seen 200 headleSs bodies lying
here at once. The victims are ordered
to kneel down, the heads are stretched
forward, then one blow of the short,
heavy, sharp sword of the executioner
cleaves the neck, and the guilty
wretches lay weltering in their blood
The bodies are given to friends, the
government keeping the heads, which
are sometimes exposed in public places,
but generally they are put in stone jars,