Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-06-20
CURIOUS CHINESE.
raw They Imbibe Knowledge at the
Congregational Sabbath g. uooi.

One Of the rooms in the new c,ngreza-
.oo.l chapel is to be fitted with BIZ :kboards,
.h.,t.. etc, for the speciz. instruc on Of the
ctine.e. This work was begun in Augusta
.xo year, ago when two Cinnamon employed
IA. city laundry were induced to attend the
sunday school. No attempt vas made al
E,pct religious Instruction, but the
yaching Of the rudimeniry English
b,,nche. occupied an hour week
si,ee th. department Of the school va.
,t,r,ed. more than twenty Chinese have
,v.ilea themselves of its privileges. At
rre.snt there are sII receiving regular in
,.,sction. To each is assigned special
,.,eher. Who by the AID Of reading book
,tth English and Chinese in par aileI columns,
Instruct. he pupil it the mysteries of the
rngli.h tongue. All have beef found tocile
md most Of them learn easily.
They are especially Interested il.
geography and trace with delight
The eour,e over which they Travelled in their
Journey to this country They appear much
plessed si'h the appearance on the map Of
their native land and are especially de-
Hzhtel At the insignAcsnee into which its
vast dimensions throw the rival kingdom of
Japan. Arithmetic, also they learn readily
and easily become proficient in the more
.mple calculations.
The fact that all know how to read and
srite in their native language greatly lessons
he difficulty Of their instruction Several have
been converted 10 the Christian religion and
one has become an active member Of the
church and gone back to convert his coun-
try men All appear anxious to listen 10 re-
lgoas truth but for the most part they still
cling to their losses and other idols Their
imitation powers are extraordinary bat they
lack originality and are by no means of ten
aeiou. memory. One who recen tly came To
tb. city learned in the first hour Of instrue-
ton the tsenty sir letters both large and
small 80 that he could call each by
name The next Sunday. however, all re
membraoce of any Of them gone and the
lesson had all to be learned over again.
The six Chinese who make up the
Augusta delegation, like all other Or-
entails. are exceedingly proud of their
braided queues. On recent Sunday,
one Of them brought TO school with him
A visitor whose hair was cut short
The teacher complmented him on his
conforming to American customs but he
received her cprgratulstion col lily and never
aftrruarl vt.it,i the school. It turned out
that his book. had been shorn il punishment
for crime in far nssy China and though a
felon be- had too much pride not to resent the
Insult upwitti1gly plt upon him by the teach
er The scholars are very ambitious, espe
cinly tor learning Onc writes his former
TEACHER from Massachusetts town that he
hopes soon to be wealthy enough to give up
The idea that Cinnamon live entirely on
rata amt rice is entirely exploded
Duc Of the north end grocers says that they
are among his best customers They are
very fond Of American cooking ana eat all
sorts of foreign sweets with relish
All -how sincere regard for their teach
er' and shower them with presents of silk
hanlkrrch'efs h1wers. china, amber jewelry
and the most fragrant of tea. It is hoped
that HE new arrangements at the chapel will
give Increased facilities for instruction