The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-09-19
Changes Going On in China.

he Chlnaman is clannlSh and COnSer-
vative. But he is remarkably free from
prejudice, religious or patriotic, especially
in matters of tangible interest. lie has a
natural objection to alter his clothes, UNI
like the japanese, for they suit him bet
ter than any other. But he has no OBJ
lection to purchasing the article which he
Judges to be the cheapest and the best,
wherever 1t may come from. He is very
sensible in his economy, and if he prefers
the home made article, 1t is because he
finds it cheaper and more enduring. Ma
tive patterns of cloth, both wooden and
cotton, if scrupulously initiated, will find
buyers if laid down cheaper than the ma
tive article. Though the Chinese are
conservative, foreign articles are creeping
into use. Clocks, watches, matches,
lamps, red blankets, are now seen not
only everywhere in the seaport towns and
near the coast, but far inland.
The Chinese, contrary to general
opinion, have been found to appreciate
in a wonderful degree the value of the
rapid transmission by wire. The tele-
graph is being carried from north to
south, and from east to west, along the
1angize and Canton rivers. A line is
working in Formosa. Begun with such
vigor, there is reason to believe that the
network will rapidly spread over the
land. The telephone and electric light
have made their way into China. AL
though the first railroad constructed in
China, from Shanghai to Woosung,
opened and closed in 1876, was not APP
proved by the government-thc line
being bought and removed to the shores
of Formosa, where it now lies-the steam
engine is at work. This is on line to
the Kaiping coal mines, distance Of six
miles and a half, constructed by Ii
Hung-Chang. Machinery has been in.
troduced not only at the Kaiping mines,
but elsewhere. The superstitions re-
garding shafts dug through the earth,
the " dragons VEINS are giving way.
Mines are being promoted by the Chinese
in various parts, but with great rashness,
the fact that mines are utterly useless
without communication not having been
grasped. Gas has long been in use
at Shanghai The fotilla of thirty
steamers, with tonnage of some
10000 tons, started by the China
Merchants company, has not been a
PCCuhldly SuCCtSS Us YET, manly owing,
however, to maladministration during
the late speculative crisis. Insurance
companies are at work at Hong Kong
and Shanghai, doing an important and
increasing business. In military matters
while the late Franco Chinese difficulty
has clearly shown the imperfect condi-
ton of the Chinese forces, important
changes have been effected. The most
important have been the arming bodies
of men with the breech loader, the drill.
ing of Lis force, the establishment of
dockyards, the introduction of torpedocs,
Krupp guns, transports, and gun-boats
on the European models. The fact that
the military organization is still wretched
and the administration corrupt does not
vitiate the fact of progress having been
made. The native press has made con-
siderable strides. Commenced in 1868
with the Shun-Pa0, there are now some
half-dozen papers in China. Their inhu-
ence is considerable and is extending
rapidly. AS proof of their enterprise
it may be mentioned that the iSAun. Pao
sent especial correspondent" to Ton
quin to follow the operations, though he
very wisely thought discretion the better
part of valor and declined to land on his
arrival at Haiphong, -LOndOn Times.