Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1884-07-20
CAN TONS UNlveRS. rS.

yhere che Literati or China De Csu.
sregate. .. Can didates On Examine.
tisn Day.
tCor. London telegraph
It is curious fact that Of all the
Chinese cities Canton, though it IL
within eight hours of Hong Kong, and
has, of all the places in the empire, the
longest known Europeans, has under
gone less change than any other great
center of population in China. II re-
mains precisely as it was hundreds of
years ago, and when once the wall is
passed the traveller might. for oil he can
see, he at least 1000 miles from any
western influence. The mandarin's pro-
cession, proceeded with tremendous
gongs beating, passes through the streets
just as it did centuries past, the criminals
are led down to the place of execution
or are beaten with bamboos and
cangued, just as they always have been.
There are similar shops, psgodas, peo.
pie, to those that have always been seen
there.
Canton and its inhabitants undergo
no change. And there is this to be re-
marked in passing, that though since
the eighth century they have been ac-
quainted with foreigners, they like
them no better than they did then, and
are as ready to be hostile and aggres-
siye toward them as they ever were.
The reasons for this may be various,
but one OF them undoubtedly is that
Canton is a great seat of learning, and
the literati of China have always been
the most determined opponents of for
eigners. II is at Canton, indeed, where
the greatest examining university of
China is to be found. A Chinese lad
in the south of the empire, determining
to he distinguished, has only to go to
Canton to gain reward, il he deserves
it. Entering great hall called the
Hoktoi, where tables are provided for
more than 5000 candidates, he can sit
down and take his chance for the first
degree, and, supposing that he passes,
is then qualified for greater examina-
ton. This takes place in huge build
ing, or rather series of buildings, capa-
ble of accommodating upward Of 10000
students.
On the day appointed the youths
who desire to pass enter a great gate
and find themselves in vast yard
wherein are $4,000 small cells. These
run in rows and are numbered; they
are each about nine feet high, five and
half feet long. and three feet eight
inches wide. Each candidate takes o
cell, and at daylight receives q paper
with which he must deal without leav-
ing the place. Three thousand police.
men and servants are near at hand to
see that he does not play any tricks,
and his head would probably be the
penalty if he attempted to do 20. Next
morning he hands in his paper and de-
parts for days rest, returning twenty.
four hours afterward for more work,
and 80 ON for three successive trials.
At the close Of the examination the
papers, which are all numbered,
are carefully gone through. and the
best 100 are selected, the writer's being
at once nominated for distinguished
civil service. They must, however, 20
up to Pekin later on for further exam.
nation, with view 10 very high pro.
motion.
Now, il il Q fact, that with this plan
ofsepsrste cells no favoritism is possible.
The poorest may win and I know of
o case in which the son Of . Chinese
clerk in Europeans Office ct Canton
came out second in the trial, and was
at once forwarded to the capital, there
to become o mandarin Of distinction.
II should be fair, for the candidates
enter at "The Gate Of Perfect Equity
hand in their essays at THE Hall of
Perfect Rectitude," see them sealed up
in The Hall Of Restraint" and know
that they are examined in THE Hall Of
Auspicious Stars" II that arrange.
ment does not give confidence I don't
know what will.