Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-04-23
CHINESE SCHOOLS.
A Pleasant Sketch Written by a
Genuine Americanized Chinaman.
Hours OF Study, and MethOds Oh
Maintaining Discipline --- why
Chinese Girls are not Allowed
to Attend School.
New York World

New York World.l
A young Chinaman, clad in American gar
mentS, his hair cut in American style ana ms
American boots neatly polished, called at me
World office this week and submitted the tol-
lowing manuscript which he had himself pre-
pared for the press:
"All the children in China must goto school
when they are between eight and nme years
of age. We have no public schools. Mhen
we first start to school it is private SCHOOL,
and not more than thirty or thirty
five scholars are allowed III on .s
school, because each scholar mas oli-
ferent lesson and if there were 700
many scholars the work "ouio w
too hard for the teachers. Inc hrsG enihs
we study is to read Confucius, our renglon'
The children who first start 10 schoot ~ ,s'Ae
but very few lessons from Confucius. Ihey
are instructed by their teachers now " 20
have and what they ought to do for their
Parents and how to pay good respect to
strangers. They must bow and cali the
stran@er teacher, for the name of teacher
is held with great respect. The schooi
teacher has full charge of the children, ana
the parents have very little to do with them
after they commence to attend school. ne
school teacher sees the children more ana SO
understands them better, and sees them IN
the wrong, so they can correct them oerter
than their parents.
After the first six months they oegln 10
study Confucius, and they study untll Iney
get through the Four Kings. Perhaps tne cnli-
dren can get through Confucius and the four
Kings in three or four Years. linen tney 20
to college if they can afford 1t. Inc four
Kings was written by the disciples OF ION,
fucius: he had seventy-two where CnrlSI hS'u
twelve. You never get through college I'M
til YOU become an officer. II you 90 ho1
want to become an officer you nave 10 iea'e
college Oh, it is much harder Tor us 10 %
to school when we are little. we nave " NC
in school in the morning as soon as we Gall
see to read, and when the teacher COMES We
have to recite our lesson, and II we 90 noV
know it we cannot go home for breaAIasV' vi
if we are allowed to go a mark Is placed Oh
the face: those who can reclte II can have
their breakfast.
After breakfast we practice Wr1tlng TWO
hours: then the writing books are taken up
to the teacher and he will write all tne Nc"
letters on the top of the writing pook from
the lesson which you have reclted, ana Ill Lie
wants to find out if you know 1t. linen we
are given new lesson to reclte the heAV
morning. We are not allowed TO Play VI
talk TO any one III llS SSuOOA' ~
out loud at the same time and on dlnerent
lessons The teachers are very strict and
when it gets late and the scholars cannot see
70 read then the school is out. We are not
allowed to make any noise or to run or stop
on the way home. and if we do not do as the
teachers say then we get good thrashng
with a number of small switches tleo To-
gether.
You will notice the Chinese when they
pass along the street; they go quietly ana
mind their own business. 1t is because they
were brought up in that way. we nave no
wav to become an officer except through
school. We have no voting business at all.
The vav we elect an officer is this: Ihe
government gives out question or verse
from Confucius, and you have to write OUT
your argument. 1t is like your debating or
discussion of any question. Then the smart
est man is employed to examine the argu-
ments, and if the paper is not neat and clean
it is thrown in the waste-paper basket; II 1t
isneat and clean he will read it, and the first
mistake he comes to he will read no further,
but throw it away, and also not allow
but one sheet of paper to each person 10
90 in the hall The doorkeeper will search
YOU before you go in, and then the one VINO
has the best argument becomes an officer.
"The girls are not allowed to 60 to school
since our Emperor Lee-Simans reign, about
twelve or thirteen hundred years ago, because
they associate with men and write to eacn
other in the secret way for their secret wants,
as they would not have drunkard Tor nus
band, but they would drink glass OF WINE
with a fast young man. They would not use
profane language, yet they love the society
of men whom they know are profane out OF
their pre- nee. They would not wish to be
considered dishonest, but they use deceitful
words and countenance the society OF men
known as deceivers. They would not be ire
ligious. but they smile upon the most ire
licious and even immoral men and show that
thew love to be wooed by them. This is the
virtue of two many women, a virtue scarce
worth the Numerically no virtue at all;
hypocritical, hollow pretension to virtue, as
unwomanly as it is disgracefuL This Is not
the virtue of true womanhood.
$50 now only the daughters Of the officers
receive private instruction IN their own
homes. and we would not have the old Gus
tom any more for young ladies and young
gentlemen to associate together before mar
rage as in this country. The wives and hus-
bands are selected by their parents. We do
not marry TO any one that belongs to the
same descendants or the same town, except
in large cities 1t may seem strange to you
that we have no choice in the selection OF our
wives, vet we have confidence in our parents
that they will choose those who are pure
and good for US. The Chinese are happy In
their married life and divorces are not known.
Ihave now taken as much of your time as
seems proper and will not tell you about my
language, writing and literature until next
time So will not continue any longer to
occupy your valuable time and will close by
l, Ill