The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-03-24
A RENARKaBLE SYSTEM
The Chinese Owl Sercice That has
OuI-Lived tne Changes OF Two
Thousand Years

sacrifices, consults the sooth-sayers,
the geomancers and the fates. The
birth Of sen is hailed In China
with loud rejoicings; for the son,
under the civIi service system, may
become one OF the ruling aristOcrAcy
and bring to his family distinction
and wealth.
The education of the young Chi
nese IS therefore carefully provided
for. URtil seven oreight years old be
plays n the streets unchecked. bis
iataer, "the venerable severe one,
watches over MIN tenderly. He IS
sent TO school, learns his letters, and
then begine to commit by ear the
moral lessons Of Mencius and Con-
fucius. He learns from the -Four
Books that man is born good, but
that the world is evil. He begins to
write carefully with MS eamelis hair
brush and Ink. From nine in the
morning until SIX o'clock IN the
evening the school-bOys hum their
lessons, and the din of 4 Chinese
school-rOOm Is said 70 be intolerable.
The student next practices cOmpo-
sition, and prepares himself for that
rapid writing SO priced by the East
ern races
he now presents himself for the
first OF the three state examinations.
His name, description and appear
ance are entered IN a register The
examinations are held twice In every
year before an officer Of high rank
in the perfectoral cities. The candi-
dates fiji the city they assemble at
dawn N the public nall. Each stu
dent Is searched lest ne NAV have
some concealed volume about him.
Themes are given out for two prize
essays and a poem The papers are
handed 10, the candidates dlsperse-
The list of the successful Is publish
ed few days after. With unbound
ed Joy the Chinese youth heds him
self endowed with MS first literary
degree. de Is now Z government
official, wears an official dress, and
a gilt button. he may obtain q
clerkship by influence or purchase,
or he may prepare himself for the
second examination, the opening TO
still higher promotion IN the state
For this ne prepares himself by
intense labor. He studies chiefly
the Five CannOns books of the
earlier centuries. But he reads ali
the history and lIteroture OF the past.
China a5OunGs IN these earnest stu
dents, who IN poverty and ceaseless
LABOR pass their lives, cheered only
oy the hope OF grasping the glitter
ing prises held out by the civil ser
vice system. They are the Office
seeker Of China but they make
their way by delving amidst the
richest stores OF the national Htera-
ture, AID filing their minds with Its
history, philosophy and poetry.
At length the examination day
draws near. It comes every three
years. An official. the Grand Ex-
lminer. IS sent from PekIn to hold
il in the provincial capital The
examiner Is sealed up IN his house,
est the friends of the students may
influence hin improperly: the ex-
animation must be perfectly impair
.ial. A crowd of students appear
n the examination halls, and are
shut up separately in It's cells; food
md writing materials are given
hem the Grand Examiner closes
he gates and is imprisoned with
hem. Themes are given out IN
prose and verse, and for three days
he weary brain tolls ineessantly.
Twelve thousand students, 1t Is said,
we're recently gathered at one of
.hese intellectual contests. Some 60
mad. some die. Even the Grand
Examiner has been known to be
some a raging maniac Three times
he struggle Is renewed, OF three days
zach. The papers are then banded
Z, the candidates 90 to their homes
md await in deep suspense the last
decision. A list Of the successful
ines is posted up, an immense
,rowd gathers, and JOY fills the
homes of those who have triumphed
n the literary tournament.
The last examination Is held at
oekin once every three years. The
graduates Of the second now hasten
o the third. They come to the capi-
al from every part of the immense
,mpire; their heavy expenses are
,aid by borrowing, by the aid OF
rieuds, and often by the sale OF their
,wn iewelry and dress. Eight or
.ine thousand of the best intellects
II China appear at these examina-
ions. It il held in three sittings Of
Tree days each. 1t Is apparently
impartial. Three candidates take
be highest rank among the success
ui. Their names are famous over
he empire their fortunes are secur-
d. The highest Offices are reserved
or them. Inc other successful stu
Ients receive appointments IN the
liiferent departments. They are
he future mandarius To whom falls
be administration of the affairs Of
be empire.
The Chinese civil service system
as out-lived the political changes
f more than two thousand years
he examinations have gone on reg
Iarlv the changes Of dynasties and
ulers have never checked the course
{ study. The literary class has al
-avs ruled The whole people are
-elded together by this unceasing
ystem of study. The defects and
be advantages OF the Chinese civil
srvice are easily discovered. But
: novelty and its antiquity cannot
e questioned. Europe and Ameri-
q in their competitive examinations
t at the feet of China
Salaries OF the British Cabinet
No member of the Cabinet gets
'ss than s25Oo0 a year. while the
ord Chancellor, who may serve on
three unouthS repefVea S500fG N