The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-01-02
Changes Going On i'm China.

The Chrnaman is clannish and cont
sentative. But he is. remarkably free
from pre- utiice relig Gus or patriotic. es-
pecially in matters Of tangible interest,
lie has natural objection to alter his
clothes. unlike the japanese. for they
suit bin better than any other. But
he has no oh ection to purchasing the
article which he Judges to be the cheap
est and best, wherever it may come
from. He is very sensible in h 5 econo-
my. and if he prefers the home made
article, it is because he finds it cheaper
and more enduring. Native patterns of
cloth, both woollen and cotton, if
scrupulously initiated, will find buyers
if laid down cheaper than the native
article though the Chinese are con
sentative, foreign articles are creeping
into use. Clocks, wat hes. 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 l.
egraph is Icing carried from north to
angtze and Canton Rivers. \ line is
wor sing in Formosa. Begun with such
yigor, there is reason to believe that the
network will rapidly spread over the
land. The telephone and elec RE light
have made their way into China. Al
though the first railway constructed in
China from Shanghai TO Woosung,
opened and closed in 1876. was not a.
proved by the Government-the 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, n dix
lance of SIX miles and half, con struct-
ed by Li-Hung hang. Machinery mas
been introduced not only at the kai-
ping mines but elsewhere. The super
slit ons regarding shafts dug throu h
the earth, the dragons veins" are
giving way. Mines are being promoted
by the hinese in various parts. but
with great rashness, the fact that mines
are utterly useless thout communica-
ton not having been g,a d. Las has
long been in use at Shanghai. The
fo,illa of thirty steamers, with q toa-
mage of some $500 tons, started by the
China Merchants COMPANY, has no,
been pe.uniary success as vet. mainly
owing, however, to ma ladministra ion
curing the late speculative crisis. In
surance companies are at work at Hong
Kong and Shanghai, doing an import
ant and increasing business. In mill
tarv matters, while the late Franco
{ hinese difficulty has clearly shown the
condition of the Chinese
forces. important changes have been
effected. The most important have
been the arming bodies OF men with the
breech loader, the drilling of Lis force.
the establishment Of dock yards. the
introduction of torpj dos. krupp guns.
transports. and gun-boats on the
European models. The fact that the
organization is still wretched
and the administration corrupt does
not vitiate the fact o. progress having
been made. The native press has |
made considerable strides. Com
in 1868 with the Sha,a- 4 40,
there are some half-do zen papers in |
China. Their influence is considerable
and is extend ng rapidly. As proof
of their enterprise it may be mentioned |
that the Shrn-Pdo sent Especial cor
to Tonquin to follow the |
operations. though he very wisely |
thought d secretion the better part OF |
valor and declined to land on his ar
rival at Haiphong. tor. London
Times.