Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-24

$4,000 900 and o market value of nearly
e10, 100000. And remember especially in this
connection that the banks do not advance q
dollar against these shares"
"But people talk Of Q big collapse some day. y
81 do not believe it Nothing 10 % easy and
% cheap as to prophecy disaster. know there
are Jeremiahs, but all We ask Of them IL "a
take their money and themselves away. There
are enough optlmists among us TO accomplish
all we want; the pessimists may sit safe ct 9
distance and look on. Our prosperity 10 based
upon facts that take no denying. Ne have a
free port, the third finest harbor in the world
(Sydney and Rio de Janeiro being the other
two), We stand at the door Of China and japan
and Indo-China and the Philippines, our
steamers run to all parts Of the world, and We
have any amount Of enterprise backed by CAPT
tai By and by, too, every steamer that comes
viii coal in our harbor. In fact, Hong Kong \
in its infancy" Is. (.
CHINESE AND FOREIGN oAPfrAIrsrAu boz
''Is it true that the greater part Of the eapi.
tai in circulation here and the business done il
in the hands Of the Chinese?'.
mo, as general rule foreigners own foreign
property and Chinese own Chinese property.
And most OF the Chinese property is mortgaged
to the Fire and Marine Insurance companies.
OF course the celestial is much too sharp NOT
British flag. In Penang for instance, . million
and half dollars is invested by one wealthy
Chinaman."
How are the Chinese as co-worksrs in bust
Very reliable, very prompt and very bust
the money value Of good credit. Complaints
are being made that the Chinese are very
dilatory in taking up their contracts for piece
goods and such like from home. But they con-
slider that they are acting according to 'olo
CUSTOM and this can be stopped at once by an
a0 ayronn fhaf Dirt
the foreign merchants prefer to compete rather
than to combine, and SO the Chinamsn gets his
own way. In opium 'olo custom is in the
other direction, and the Chinese clear their
opium inside OF four days."
BANKRUPTCIES.
care there many bankruptcies among the
Chinese?"
"Up to the present time there have been very
few. Now they seem to be becoming more fire.
quent. But the foreigner does not often lose
by Chinese failures, as he is guaranteed by his
'comprador.' This parsonage either furnishes
bonds or deposits money as his own guarantee.
All business with the Chinese il done through
him, and even every Chinaman employed
ABOUT the place, down to the punkah-coolie, il
hired by him. And from every employe and
on every transaction he takes his percentage,
and this is his profit and income. So that
practlcally no CnlneSe mercnAnt mas the entIee
to a foreign merchants office except such al
are guaranteed by the comprador. II Q
Chinaman fails he does not often get back to
his original position as with us, but generally
becomes runner for some other firm"
"What effect would a war in which England
was engaged with power represented in the
Pacific have upon Hong Kong"
Financially, it would be o fearful business
care you bimetallist?"
Certainly am, and thoroughly believe II
IL. believe, moreover, bimetallism will be ar
accomplished fact at no very distant date
Even now you see the European government
are lowering around it."
''And finally if it is not indiscreet, is it true
that after while you are coming home with
a view to such political work as may present
itself?"
Il am going home" was the all reply 1 couli
get. But will venture to add that when MI
Chatter does get home his unrivaled knowledge
Of the practical needs and opportunities of THU
part Of the empire will not be long allowed te
run to waste. HENRY NORMAN.