New-York tribune., 1894-10-10

E,,,and has done her best to Improve the con-
dition of the island and commercially mas Sue
ceeded fairly we'll New Industries have been
encouraged and the pearl fisheries have been pro-
tected Less has been accomplished with me |
people Education Is offered to them anu d
good share Of the Government offices may DE
filled by them number OF SingnaIese nave
taken advantage Of the opportunity and hoid I'M
rortan, n,aces but the larger body OF the ma
tives even when educated as they grow up re- |
,apse into their old customs and the lazy habits
inherited from unnumbered ancestors 10 ""o'"
nature supplied every want
Mr. Ballou takes special delight in the ropi-
cal forests of Ceyon. which ofer the greatest
onportunity for the study Of animal and plant
life The childish story about the dear little
deer that one could hold in the hand appears
TO be really fact. ut Is only ABOUT t"eiVe
or fourteen inches long" says Mr. Baiiou anu
ten high when at maturity. but 1t Is formed eA-
actly like a full-grown North American deer or
antelope. having gray hide, dappled Win "hi'e
spots like a young fawn. It's eXqusile ue"-
cacy of limbs Is very beautiful" The botanis'
too can find things quit as wonderful one IN
cident related by the author does not concern
Ceylon. but Is suggested by It's flora, and Is al
most uncanny. One wonders If the mimosa mas
,nte,pence The story is Of a Cuban coffee
plantation.
While sitting with the family on the broad
n,azza which formed the front OF the bungalow
q thrifty sensitive plant was recognized ana
made the subject of remark. The doctor caieu
his Young daughter of eleven years from the
house.
LENA" said he "go and kiss the mimosa
The child did So laughing gleefuy. and came
away. The plant gave no token OF shrinking
from contact with the pretty child
Nov" said the host, will you touch the
plant?'
Rising to do So we approached 1t with one
hand extended and before It had come fairly In
contact the nearest spray and leaves wii'ed
visibly.
THE plant knows the child" said the DOCTOR
but YOU are a stranger
Fifteen years residence In China chiefly IN
Swatow and an intimate acquaintance Win 'ne
native women has enabled Miss Cor Mrs. F1eide
to obtain for "A Corner in Cathay"-which Is 10
be understood as the southeastern corner-ah
INSIGHT into the inner secrets Of Chinese life not
often vouchsafed TO the people who attempt 10
ur,ta about It. This little volume does not
nretend to be an exhaustive study Of China, but
,s a series of papers about phases OF the lie oi
tho natives with which the author is thoroughly
familiar.
The Chinese have had to meet the problem OF
Malthus and have found the limit OF popuIa''h
far beyond what Western nations who complain
Of crowd!ng would dare TO think or On an oid
coil nv careful attention TO every plant. skilful
Use Of fertilizers. the general raising OF 'h'ee
crops a year and by the most rigid economy oi
living they have balanced production ana
consumption that at III. same rate. with returns
reduced one-half on account Of climate the
arabic land Of NewYVrk State would support
over 60 900 600 people and that OF the United
States over l. 400 900 000-as many people as theie
are in the whole world One-sixth sf an acre
for each person to be fed is the smallest hoidn8
that will enable the cultivator to live upon ms
own land To do this requires the greatest
fruealitv and the highest tilage. The small
holders are in the great majority. THOSE VINO
ovn one-tenth to one-half acre are most
numerous and therefore there are many VINO III
land for a share Of the produce" A person VINO
owns ten acres is wealthy. and the owner oi one
acre is well-to-do Few own 80 fnuch as %VV
acres" Under these conditions land naturhhy
brings high price. Good farm lands are worth
from 5000 TO $500 acre. Rice fields near 'he
cities easily sell for 5000 Money Is loaned al
from 12 10 20 per cent interest The FARMER >
clothing and implements cost little expressed
in numbers but when II is remembered tha' 'he
average wages OF the laborer are only ~ cents
day. and that farmer may be hired FOR 'lt
year and his food and clothing 1t Is seen that
the struggle for existence is tremendous one.
The farmers simple house can be built Tor ''"'
but It would take him ten years to pay for IT,
even II he had his living otherwise provided ior'
Here Is a typical case Of farm life;
Pong Hia lives in village Of 300 persons. IN
which about thirty men are landowners haNihR
! altogether forty-hve acres OF land fong ma
! owns two acres inherited from MS iather' VINO
! adopted him. His land is worth 1000 HIS ram
uv consists OF ten persons He Is himself forty-six
years old his wife is forty lone. his -FOUR daueh-
/ ters are from ten 10 seventeen. and ms TWO
grandchildren are three and seven years o'u.
lie and HIS son till the land, hiring help AT
harvest-time and weaving straw mats on rainy
DAYS. The women folk make the ciothlh8' rear
pigs and fowls and do all the houseWorR iheI
! dwelling. with its site Is valued at sl2o. their
furniture at sH. their clothing at *4o their farHl-
/ ing appliances at $40 They have water
/ buffalo two hogs, thirty fowls. ten ducks.
/ pair OF geese a dog and cat. Last year fohg
Hia sold s2O worth Of rice from his farm ana
paid SO so in taxes. lie has $500 out at interest
at IS per cent.
Nothing Is wasted by Chinese farmer His
chief expense Is for fertilizers. and that amounts
on an average to s24 a year Every bit or AMI
nal and vegetable refuse IS applied TO the soil.
Clods Of the field put over the fires to be
enriched by the smoke. and adobe houses, when
their walls have for years absorbed the fuines or
cooking are pulverizcd and spread over the land.
! The Chinaman rs saved from extinction by
! making the utmost possible use OF his material;
he is saved from envy by being as well of as his
| neighbors. He suffers because he never invents.
and he is lonely because he always works for
personal and not general good" The hard con-
| ditions OF life have materially modified his char
acter and made his emotions and family rea-
tions almost incomprehensbe to the western
mind. Even the women's hearts are different
THE tendency Of their environment is to make
them to the last degree earthly and sordid and
who searches out the foundation OF their woes
or pleasures usually discovers sooner or later