The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-24
news OF This VICINITY
ARCHIBALD.

Rev. w. W. Shaw, NJ, A., pastor Of
the Presbyterian church, lectured on
North China, the Scene Of the Present
War" before a large and appreciative
audience in Father Mathew hall on
Thursday evening. Mr. Shaw had been
q missionary and travelled extensively
In Northern China, and Is, therefore,
well qualified to speak of the Chinese
and the comparatively unknown coun-
try in which they dwell. Stillman Law,
of Avoca, was chairman at the lecture,
and on the stage were seated number
of young ladies wearing Chinese cos
tunes Mr.. Shaw gave highly enter
tanning description of the manners and
customs of the people of northern
China, and the interest in his narra-
tive was heightened by many amusing
anecdotes of his life among them. The
inhabitants in the north of China, he
said, differ greatly from those of the
south. The eye of the northern China
man is not so oblique as that of his
southern brother, and there are other
marked differences in the character of
the countenance. There is also a diff
ference in their mode of living, in their
disposition, and in their intercourse
with strangers. In many respects their
customs are the utter reverse of ours.
When Chinaman greets a friend he
Shakes hands with himself" when he
mourns he wears white; when he eats
his food is either unripe or over-ripe.
Even their door-locks turn the reverse
of ours. They seem to do things by
contraries. The Chinaman on his ma
tive heath has many good traits and
not the least are his hospitality and his
respect for age. A gray haired-man Is
almost venerated One of the first
questions asked of stranger concerns
his age, and even he who seeks informa-
tion from lady on that delicate point
Is not considered over-bold. Mr.. Shaw
was not fascinated by their modes of
travelling, judging from his account Of
q journey he undertook in a Chinese
cart; nor was he delighted with the
innate inqufsitiveness which prompted
the Celestials to tear the window-panes
of his house so that they might see
what was going on inside. He told
narrowing stories Of the poverty that
followed the overflow Of the rivers and
the failure of the crops, and described
the means by which relief Is given to
the districts thus stricken. Mr.. Shaw
spent much of his time in the neighbor-
hood of Port Arthur and Monkden,
places frequently referred to in the war
news of today. He enjoyed an ac-
quaintance with some of the leading
Chinese officers now on the battle
ground and also with those connected
with the administration of govern
mental affairs. He thinks China will
be defeated in its present war with
Japan because of the unfitness Of her
undisciplined officers and troops to
cope with the well-trained soldiers of
Japan, and also because of the fla
grant honesty Of the officials, who
convert to their own uses money that
should be spent in the building of de-
fenses for the government. He believes
that the result of the present war, in
any event, will be beneficial to China,
because 1t will undoubtedly lead to the
introduction of European ideas and the
dispersion Of the superstition that
now prevails there. The lecture was
very interesting and the audience was
evidently well satisfied with it. On it's
conclusion the audience inspected the
large and beautiful collection of Chi
nese and japanese articles owned by
Mr.. and Mrs. Shaw.
George Mcdonald, of Scranton, was
among the visitors at st. Thomas fair
on Thursday evening.
School Director Toolan was in the
city yesterday.
There are rumors in circulation that
the old Sebastopol breaker of Jones,
Simpson & Co., will soon be in operation
again.
The fair of st. Thomas congregation
continues to bel well attended each
evening.