The record-union., 1892-05-14
SIX YEARS In CHINA.
An American Physician Improved
His SoiOurn There.
He Discusses Some Things That Have
Escaped the Attention of Dfplo-
Punishments and Soldiers.

"Ni givel hsing?" Cs'What is your
honorable name?") Such were the words
in which a GLobe-Denaocrdt reporter was
addressed by small boy at the Laclede
Hotel the other evening. The age of the
small boy was about. His eyes Were
bright; his features showed a degree of
intelligence beyond that of the average
small boy of his years, and he possessed
that pleasing frankness and undisguised
curiosity which make the small boy at
tractive. The small boy is the son of
gentleman who has just returned from
China, after spending six years in that
great empire. His name is Robert Coll
man, a doctor Of medicine, who gradu-
ated in Philadelphia and practiced in that
city for four years, after which he be-
came member of the medical depart
ment of the Methodist Missionary So
ciety. He has studied the Chinese from
every point of view, more especially
their possible future and the opening
which the land OF the Celestial gives for
the investment Of American capital. For
i've years he has gone about among the
people in native costume, with his hair
grown over his shoulders, and as COM
plete pigtail, or to be more classical, cue,
as any Chlnaman might desire. He has
visited the houses Of every class, sat at
table with the poorest as well as with the
noblest, and become acquainted with
Government officials. Therefore his
views have some authority, and as will
be seen, they not only afford a piCtu-
rescue glimpse of people of whom the
world knows SO little, but of much that
has an important bearing on the COM
mercial interests of this country. First,
Tor those which concern the commercial
interests:
There is large field" he said, "for
American capital. In the whole of China,
with It's 400 100000 people and its wide ex-
tent OF territory, there are only forty miles
of railroad, and there are millions of
dollars waiting to be invested for the pur-
pose of constructing more. The Chinese
are progressing in business, and they
would gladly take to railroads, but for
one reason and another they are not be-
ing built. 1t is evident that before very
long the necessity will be such that some
attempt will be made by some country to
erect them in the various parts of the
country, and here is America's chance.
But at present our interests are neglected
in every way, and the Government is re-
sponsible for it. First of all, we have no
efficient civil service. No sooner has
man been qualified by years of office than
he is bounced and some farmer from the
backwoods is sent to take his place.
THE AMERICAN CONSUL AN ENGLISHMAN.
''Our Consul at present at Chiefou is
not an American at all. He is an Eng
lishman, If English and American YES
sells arrive at the one time i'll his port it
is in his power to have those of his own
country unloaded first, so that they can
go round and collect the cargo from other
stations. L do not say that he does so, but
/ do say that 1t is possible, and that an
American is the best man TO represent his
country among any foreign people. We
can not, however, get a good man at the
salary we offer. The Englishman of
whom speak runs a hotel and does some
other business, and has the consulate
ship merely as help on the side. At
Chiefou if charge is made against an
American sailor it has to be brought be-
fore the English Consul. We have no
American Jail, no American constable
and no American Consul worthy of the
name.
endeavoring to build up China with
American capital. Men have been sent
over to make contracts for the construc-
ton Of railroads who do not understand
the people or their language, and if there
is one thing more than another which the
Chinaman fears it is foreigner who does
not in some way bring himself into touch
adapting their customs, dress and lam
guage. You will see, therefore, that the
sooner capitalists of this country look to
the matter the better.
Il have mentioned the civil service
Let me tell you something of the native
branch. There is naturally a great anx-
iety among the population to obtain a DO
sition in the civil and literary depart
ments of the Government. On the DAYS
of the examinations for such positions
the aristocratic portion of tRe empire
whom you know at once by-their long
and superior robes, by their dignity of
step, by their spectacles, by every turn
and move, come from all parts of the
country in thousands, and they are fol-
lowed by the vendors of various wares
and curiosities, for the Chinaman is a
trader, upon whose qualities in this line
l shall say something later on. In addi-
ton to the vendors of these wares, the
friends Of the candidates come along in
the procession. The vast number of those
who present themselves must necessarily
be defeated, but they are bound to attend
nevertheless. And since they do attend
they show themselves to the best adVant-
age. During the examinations the doors
to the main hall are sealed, and so is the
door Of the little rooms in which the ex-
aminations are held. These apartments,
which l have dignified by the name of
>.
some of the poor competitors have died in
them at times of cholera and other cpl
denies. All are under the strictest sur
Velllance during the period, but the ex-
amlnatlons are farce. a man may labor
on for years without being able TO obtain
the necessary influence. There is a pro-
cess of wedding done by the Literary
Chancellor before the final examination. J"
MULE FOR PURSE BEARER.
a;x
on to speak of matters in general. 1.-The
money of the Chinese" he said, sis all
large copper, the ugliest and largest i'm
aglnable. A sum equal to fifty cents
would weigh about three pounds The
result is that when you take q journey
anywhere you have to take mule to
carry the necessary funds. You also
carry silver bullion which you exchange
for the coin. / have never seen any peo-
pie who will wrangie over a bargain like
the Chinese. When you are buying goods
| they will tell you that the color Of your
| silver is wrong, and they will cheat you
in the weight. II you are buying silver
| they will assure you that the silver is of a
color far superior TO anything which has
! been seen before. In giving you the cop
per they will throw in a hundred coins
which are false, and make the count as
short as they can. The copper coins are
always put on string, and the trouble
or counting Is so great that these dealers
can easily carry on their fraud
LAS for Chinese feasts, the most nota-
bic thing about them is that they are
| never given except some object is to be
obtained. But the nobleman's feast is
something magnificent. l have attended
some of them, and the dishes are equal to
anything which the best French chef can
prepare. The poor in certain portions
live almost entirely on millet and kaoli-
eng, which is the berry of broom plant.
Its stalk is something like that of a sugar
cane. In the north millions live exclu-
sively on this diet for the year round.
. IF Is ln.aa.. :r,t.. l.:..l