New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-19

Cotman IT,. NJ. ID. Illustrated. $40, PIP. IL
Philadelphia f. A. Davis.
These pictures of Northern China are tho result OF
several wears of residence and travel by the author
in the capacity OF medical missionary. strong De
sire TO study China and the Chinese led Dr. Cohman
TO undertake this function, and lie began his work III
the most practical way, by learning the language
though in hiring teacher Chnaman who Knew
No word of English he cannot said 10 have essened
the difficulties of his task. His purpose was 10 90
into the Interior but the greater part OF his hst year
I'm China wisely spent in acquiring enough OF
the Mandarin dialect to make himself understood IN
simple matters. A fellow mlssonary, the Rev. Ny
Bergen accompanied him his first journey up the
country and advised Dr. COltman to adopt the native
dress which he himself had done The author relates
xmusingly with what scOrn he rejected TINS sugses-
ton, and how thoroughly he was made to repent MS
action. The weather bitterly cold The vehicle
in which the two travellers jOurneyed was what Is
called a wheelbarrow not the American machine OF
that name having wheel four feet In diameter
in the middle and on either side Of this wheel sort
Of shelf upon each Of which one person sat or recned
Dr. COnan very found that lie could not Keep
lis legs warm. There was no covering 10 the wheel
barrow and the piercing wind blew up his trousers
whereas the Chinese trousers worn by his companion
being snuCy fastened round the ankles kept the
comfortable.
This was not all The European dress was so rarely
seen in the interior that 1t attracted dsagreeable
amount curiosity and sometimes of illfceng toward
the foreign devil" AT the best the travellers were
exposed TO sort Of mob inquson, and deprived
OF all privacy at their meals. At the worst they
were abused and peted The result Of this expert
ence was that the author adopted the Chinese dress
forthwith and wore II during four years whenever he
went into the rural districts or interior towns. Dr.
COltman first to Chinanfre of which considerable
town he gives a graphic description. one of the
things first noticed the number Of opium shops
in the place. Chinanfre he says is "a rich city, full
of mandarns their reaincrs and consequently the
opium vice is excessively INDUCED in Another
fact which surprised him the imposslbity of OBJ
tanning tea chcaply in the land Of its growth GOOD
drinking tea he says be bought in Chnanfre
for than 81 per pound An important business
here the exchange of cash" for silver. and vice
versa" for in the interior copper cash alone
are current. The money changers, according
to the author, are sad rogues, taking
every opportunity TO cheat their customers Gilman
fee near the Yellow River Hoang no, and the in
undatons of that scource Of China had been so bad
for several successive seasons that VIII dc districts had
been ruined and their inhabitants driven out. so that
much 6ettuOn existed. The Governor of the Province
set UP public kitchens from which 10000 people were
furnished with god meal day during the winter
a fact which shows that there is humanity In China.
Nevertheless beggars svarmed, and annoyed the shop
keepers, above all. very greatly. sometimes bcggar
will walk up the counter and ring cOwbel until he
Is relieved. There are no mendicity societies, no
policemen u arrest disorderIy ramps no workhoueS,
and no public relief works IN time Dr. C0ltmah
familarzcd himself with the language and then 1t was
easy 20 get to know the people, particularly the aelcu
tura class, among whom his professional work prnc-
pay Law lie also made many friends among mandarins
and rich propetOrs, and thus saw several phases OF
Chinese social life. Not the least Interesting of his OBJ
servaOns those upon the civil service. which he
declares be anything but the equal system mas been
represented According to him the alleged competition
l. sham; favoritism controls it, man without In
he from
eighty, and reach the grade which permits MIN
claim office Of any kind. The sons OF mandarihN'
mionaircs, governors, generals ana people Vi
any kind Of importance, have. on the contrary
no difficulty in passing the examinations ana 7ec"r
Ing places. As 10 Chinese education 1t Is no news
that il Is n mere dry and dead husk, much hike Mos
lem and Hindu education. Beyond an acquaintance
with the books OF Confucias and Mencus the Chinese
scholar learns scarcely anything. But the socalled
educated class is exravaganuy conceited and super
cious.
Polygamy or concubinage exists in North China,
but only among the rich and it has the invariable
consequences The methods OF obtaining wives are
those which prevail In most oriental countries IN"
bridegroom does not see his bride until the ceremony
has been performed and DR.. Coltman relates several
stories showing that at times the unfortunate husband
is swindled b. the middleman whom he Is compelled
TO trust The people are very poor Fifteen cents
a day is stated TO be the average earnings OF inc
majority No economies cG.p be effected on this.
The masses cannot even drink tea. Their beverage
IS hot water, and millet thar principal food They
suffer greatly from dyspepsia, Caused by the inhu-
trous diet but they possess extraordinary physical
strength and endurance. As rule they are contenten
and cheerful though suicide is common. Ignorance
and superstition OF course prevalent and there
"a no advance in medical or any other science. DR..
Cotmans chapters the prevailing diseases OF North
China will be found especially Interesting by medical
men, and his remarks on lcprosy deserve attention
His experience tends 10 the conclusion that that
malady IS not contagious save Very slight extent
The case of Father Damien, at MOIokal. seems to
prOve that there Is some cOntagOn) In China, how
ever the natives do not isolate their epers In any
way and are not In the least fearful OF contact with
them. DR.. Cotman is of opinion that Tire disease is
largely hereditary and cites several cases In support
Of this view
lie has some interesting IDEAS too about the treat
ment OF the opium habit and here his wide expert
lends weight TO his views. In common with most
experts, lie is by means confident that the habit
can broken when III has reached certain stage and
he strongly condemns the Of morphine pills in
the treatment Regarding the political present and
future of China he /, not hopeful lie does not be
leve that the mandaIins and great officers of the
empire will permit any real material progress to be
made lest they should lose their present privileges
and be hindered from "squeezing' the people. a
corrupt bureaucracy much like that OF Russia really
rules The country and thinks It's interest parayze
all internal efforts develop its DR.. Colt
man holds that the naval and military changes made
Of late years of comparatively little importance
or extent and in the Of could not save the
he considers must before long prove irresistible
temptation 10 some strong and aggressive Power like
Russia and then il will be 100 late to introduce reform
in the defences OF the empire. Dr.. COltman's fresh
and thoughtful volume Is illustrated from photographs
taken by himself.