The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-07-14
Chinese Literature Examination.

The examinations of students are pc
culiar to China. They are four in num-
Der and in degrees. The first examina-
ton takes place in the town or village,
and all persons are eligible as candi-
dates. Those who pass this trial are
said to have name in the village. The
second examination is held in the dis
trict town, before what we would call a
literary Judge. All in the district who
were successful at the first examination
are eligible for the second, and some
times as many as $4,000 students are
collected on these occasions at Canton.
The examinations last three days, and
each day theme is given on which the
candidates receive the first literary de-
gree. The third examination is held
in provincial town every third year,
and is open to all the students in the
province who have received the first de-
gree. Two examiners are sent from
Pekin, who, with the literary judges,
form board of twelve examiners. In
the place of the examination are sew
eral thousand small cells. The COM
petitors give their names, ages, lineage,
etc, and are carefully searched to see
that they have not secreted any copy of
the classics about them. They are then
furnished with writing materials, and
shut up separately in small cells for
two days, during which time they are
required to compose essays and poems
on given subjects. The same subjects
are given to all the candidates, and each
is expected to use at least 200 charac-
tiers in his composition. At Canton
there will be sometimes 1000 candi-
dates at one examination, of which only
seventy two can be successful, the di-
plomas being limited to that number.
To read and determine the merits of
1000 essays on the same subject
is tedious and laborious work. The
names of the candidates to whom the
degree is awarded are announced at
midnight from one of the watch-towers,
and placarded next morning over the
city. The candidates are honored with
banquet in the Governors Palace,
and afterward receive the congratula-
tons of their friends. Unsuccessful
candidates are allowed to try again at
subsequent examinations as long as
they please. There have been instances
of father, son and grandfather appear,
ing as competitors at the same time.
The fourth examination takes place AT
Pekin, and all who have passed the
previous examinations are allowed to
compete. The manner of proceeding
for examination is the same as for the
second degree; those who are success
full receive the third degree and arc
eligible for important offices. The
fourth degree is an Office itself; those
who obtain it reside at the court, and by
this policy the men of the greatest tai
ents are collected at the capital. Ever
the Emperor's son has to pass these
examinations.
The benefit of this system of exam
nation is that it eXcites the mass o
people to apply themselves to learning
and keeps up high educational stand
ard. The books they are required t.
1 study are the best in the language, ant
to have any chance of success they ar
compelled to become so thoroughly &C
quainted with their contents that the,
can never forget them. Among tn
: evils of the system may be mentione,
the carrying of each and every studen
through the same routine of ancien
lore, and burdening his memory wit
: it, the effect being to destroy the powe
J of originality and invention by film
u the mind with the admiration of al
$ tiquity. Apparently the people {
v China neither hope nor desire to b
0 any wiser than their fathers were.-
L. Il. Butler, in Chicago Journal.