Evening star., 1897-05-15

esn affairs. Lo Feng Luh was educated
in London i think he studied law there.
He has spent some time in Germany, and
he speaks the English and German Ian
guages almost f1uently the Chinese.
When 1 met him in Tien Tsin year or so
ago he quoted Shakespeare in his conver-
sations with me. and gave me his opinions
Of Huxley and Darwin. He was then sec
retart of the navy of China. and was the
chief assistant of Prince Ii Hung Chang
in foreign matters.
The New Chinese Minister.
1 met the new Chinese minister to this
country last night. and had an hours chat
with him about himself and other things
He also speaks English fiuently. He told
me that he was educated in England, and
that ne a member of the English bar
He studied law at Lincoln's Inn, London
and after that returned to China and prac-
ticed at Hong Kong. 1t was at this time
that Ii Hung Chang. who keeps his eyes
oft for the brightest young men who know
anything about foreign affairs, discovered
aim and later called him to the service
OF the emperor. and il is largely through
Ii Hung Chang that he now comes to rep
resent Chinese interests In the United
States The new minister's name Is WI
Ting Fang. He Is. l judge, a man of forty
nve years of age. He has pronounced Chi
nese features, having high cheek bones.
are even brighter than those of Lii Hung
Tharg. He Is seldom at loss for a word,
and is a man of ideas and actions. The
door of his room at the Arlington Hotel
was opened for me by his little son. a
oright-eyed Chinese boy of about nine
years. who was dressed in long red gown
.each.ng to his feet and little black skull
cap. which fitted well down over his head
crowDing features sober as those of the
sphinx When the minister came in he took
my hand in American fashion, and then
turned and drew on plum-colored sack
over his long silk gown, as he asked me to
De seated.
Few Questions.
His excellency opened the conversation
himself by asking number of personal
questions He picked UP my card and read
the names of the several newspapers print
ed at the corner.
"Ah.' said he Il see that YOU write fo,
many papers Do they all pay you TO,
your letters? You must make great deal
of money
modestiy replied that 1 was able to
live Whereupon he very politely asked
ne a number of other questions about
newspaper work in the United States, and
especially as to the profits which are to
questions / saw that / was the man be-
ing interviewed rather than the inter-
Tiewer, and I adopted the plan that 1 used
n my interviews with Ii Hung Chang of
ny answers. and in this way was able to
urn the conversation to Chinese matters.
AMONG other things / asked the minister
Z he had passed the literary examinations
1t Peking.
No replied his excellency II have not.
nave. or course. spent years in Chinese
fudies. but a large part of my time has
'een devoted to English and to foreign
branches Ii was born in Canton and l
.irst studied English at Hong Kong. Then
went to London and spent some years
II
only way of getting into office in China is
through the literary examinations. This is
H"t altogether true. Most appointments
are made IN that way, but when a high
official. such. for instance as Lii Hung
Chang. sees person whom he thinks will
Oe valuable to the government he calle
ninl into his service. He can give him u
place without such examination. 1t Is the
-iGsire OF the emperor to get the ablest men
ic can TO do his work. and II was in this
way that became official
The Chinese Civil Service.
How about those literary examinati-ns
your excellency? Are they fair, or is theis
not great deal of fraud connected with
:henr'
II suppose there Is fraud In all things,
replied the minister, but 1 think that oul
examinations for Office are Just about as
fair as such examinations anywhere al
over the world 1t is almost impossible
.or a student to cheat his way through.
fnii see a man has TO go through mum
her Of different tests before he can become
high official First there are examina-
lions in the district city near the home OF
the student. Here the boys from all part.
OF the district meet. They answer ques-
lions, write poems and essays. The test
is so rigid that out of perhaps 1000 stu.
dents not more than twenty will pass. This
examination is not for Office Those who
pass II. however. have the right to enter
the examinations for the second degree
These are held at the capital of the prov.
ince or state In which the student lives
They are held once every three years, ant
there are thousands who compete In them
The examiners are noted scholars ant
those who pass have the right to go int
the great examinations at Peking. II they
pass there they have q good chance Of
receiving an Official appointment 1t Is Z
great honor to pass all the examinations
as very few of the thousands who entel
are able to do So"
Will China LastH
As the minister thus referred to this cdu
cational system Of China, which has beer