The morning call., 1892-09-18

can ever hope 20 emerge from the ruek OF
official life, Robert HaTts prospects were
poor indeed.
The circumstances were such which gen.
orally lead to suicide and a surrender OF all
struggle in those climeS. He, however, did
not suicide. He set about arrangements TO
win a position for himself against all odds,
and. as the battle was going to be long
and trying one. be ignored the prize OF
high official position in the British service,
ana maize the government OF the Shlnese
empire his goal.
Il was a big ambition. and daring one.
but be has achieved II, AMI his hold upon
the UnWieidy monster strengthens year by
year
He commenced by study. Gradually and
surely lie acquired a perfect mastery, not
only Of he iutricacieS OF the difficult oflctal
mandarin dialect" but Of the work and
literature Of China.
Pursuing his studies quietly and deter
miuediy, refreshing himself IN his most
despondent hours with the full meaning Of
tie golden truth, knowledge Is power,
Hart worked and waited.
Following upon the war which England
ana France waged upOn China toward the
close Of the ffties. the latter country, as
loser, agreed TO pay an indemnity. 10
make sure of its collection aud payment
England appointed two high officials to
watch the customs dues and collect her
tithes.
Thus the Chinese empire. protected from
being cheated and squeezed" BY Chinese
sub-oficials out of one-half Of ber annual
revenue under this new arrangement OF
honest supervision, paid of her indemnity;
and the Chinese Government, delighted
with this new discovery OF her actual reVe-
nue, requested permission to retain the for
egn officials as custodlans OF her revenue
Oh her own account The request was
promptly granted with view to British in
teTests in the future.
1t was here that Robert Harps studies in
Chinese served him in good stead. As an
expert in the language he was engaged as
ass slant to the British officials concerned
and so moved away from the consular rut
All would lave gone merry as marriage
bell" for every one but Robert Hart had not
the arrogance of the British officials
tumbled their own castle about their ears.
They were not relished by the Chinese
departmental officials generally, whose ma
tiOnal jealousy was only natural and TO be
expected. They were heads Of revenue and
as snch 100 useful to be ignored.
When, however, they commenced TO arro-
gate to themselves DO wer to command over
the Chinese navy they raised their heads
too high and fell backward.
The Chinese feet in the YangtsZe was or
dered by them to Shanghai On customs SER
vice. The Chinese admiral declined to
acknowledge the command. The Commits
sioHers appealed TO the Tsung Ii Yamen,
which upheld the admiral. As menace,
the Commissioners handed in their resigna-
tiOns, which, to their astonishment, were
promptly accepted.
Then came Robert Hart's first fruits of
iOil and industry. The quiet, unassuming
young man who had done all the work was
now offered the honor, and promptly ac-
cepted the position pIoffered him, as chief
OF the Chinese customs. which post he
richly merited. From this moment bis ad-
vance was rapid He set about to organize
the modern bOdyguard known as the "Ini-
peTlal Maritime Customs of China" The
service is divided into two branches-the
indoor staff and the outdoor staff. The lat
ter carry cut all the regular duties Of the
customs" services Of the world, while the
former are made to do a certain amount of
clerical work In connection with revenue
services, but are compelled to study Chinese
and China, on which subjects they must pass
progressive examinations 10 standard of
high competency. The indoor staff are
picked from the flower of the British aris-
tOcracy and county families, while few
selections are made from the other nations
OF the world with which China has treaties.
About five appointments are made every
year, and although farcical form of COM
petitlve examination" is gone through in
London IN the British Office of the Chinese
customs, ii is a well-understOod fact that
two or three appointments have already
been made by Robert Hart and the balance
lelJ 10 LHe QlScIetlOn OIL the London Com
missioner, who invites nominees 70 dinner
and sizes them up" before making choice.
The service is next in emoluments TO the
British Indian civil service, while, on the
otner hand, the opportunities permitted for
speculation in China are sufficient, in the
opinion of many, 10 make ii more desirable
from pecunisry point Of view.
The cadet receives $1,000 to buy himself
an outfit and take him to China. Here he
rises, if he will, from fourth assistant to
a commissioner and to various powerful
posts at theInspectorate-G General at Peking.
Every document Ia the customs service is
written IN English and Chinese, and double
archives kept of all revenue transactions.
The foreign Commissioner ranks with the
Taotai, or Governor OF the city where the
customs are located, and his duties are
almost mainly diplomatic. In all foreign
transactions the TaOtai cOnsults with his
brother official, the Commissioner of Gus
toms.
In this astute manner Robert Hart keeps
foreigner under his own control who
watches the interests Of the Chinese against
the foreigners.
Under the guise of customs officials there
fore he has plaEted actually the thin edge
of the wedge which is gradually lhtrodnc-
ing vast civil service into emma under
foreign control and management.
The RI les of the service are most strict
and rigid, and no transgresslon is tolerated.
Official documents are open TO the lnspec-
tion of the world. but the "conhdentai let,
ters If the Commissioners are the sacred
property Of the Inspector-GeneraL
THE Commissioner may be very fcoi ln
t,asnoes s,.ftara hut so ,0lg as hs % q