Kansas City journal., 1897-05-16

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 fuently. He told
me that he was educated in England, ana
that he was a member of the English bar.
He studied law at LlncoInS Inn, Lonoon' @
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
out for the brightest young men who know
anything about foreign affairs, discovered
him and later on called him to the service
of the emperor, and it Is largely through
resent Chinese interests in the United
States. The new minister's name is WI
Ting Fang. He is; l judge, a man n. OF 20
years of age. He has pronounced Chinese
features, having high cheek bones, a light
brown complexion, and eyes which are
even brighter than those of Ii Hung
Chang. He is seldom at loss for 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
bright eyed Chinese boy of about years,
who was dressed in long red gown reach
ing to his feet and a little black skull cap,
which fitted well down over his mead,
crowning features as sober as those of the
sphinx. When the minister came in he
took my hand in American fashion, and
then turned and drew on a plum colored
sack over his long silk gown, as he asked
me to be seated.
A Few Questions n In Ii Hung Chang.
His excellency opened the conversation
himself by asking a number of personal
questions. He picked up my card ana read
the names OF the several newspapers print
ed at the corner.
"Ah," said he, II see that you write for
many papers. Do they all pay you fo-
your letters? You must make great dea1
modestly replied "that I was able to
live" Whereupon he very politely asked
me number OF other questions about
newspaper work in the United States, and
especially as to the profits which are to
be derived therefrom. After a Few sucn
questions ! saw that was M me man oelns
and / adopted the plan that l used in my
interviews with Ii Hung Chang of tacking
a question on the end of each of my an
swers. and in this way was able to turn the
conversation TO Chinese matters. Among
other things I asked the minister If he had
passed the literary examinations at Peking.
NO" replied his eXcellency, Il have not.
] have, of course, spent years in Chinese
Studies but a large part Of my time has
been devoted TO English and to foreign
branches. l was born in Canton, and
first studied English at Hong Kong. Then
] went to London and spent some years
there. | see you have the idea that the
only way of getting into office in China IS IS
not altogether true. Most appointments are
made in that way, but when a high official,
such for instance, as Ii Hung Chang, sees
a person whom he thinks will be valuable
10 the government he calls him into his
service. He can give him "a place place without ~ out
emaeror 10 get the ablest men he can to do
the work, and 1t was in this way that be-
came an official"
The Chinese Civil Service.
How about those literary examinations
your eXcellency2 Are they fair, or is there
not a great deal of fraud connected with
them?''
replied the minister. but 1 think that our
examinations for office are just about as
fair as such examinations anywhere all
over the world. 1t is almost impossible
for a STUDENT to cheat his way through.
Of different tests before he can become a
high official. First there are examinations
in the district near the home OF the stu
dent. Here the boys from all parts of the
district meet. They answer questions
write poems and essays. The test is SO
rigid that out of perhaps 200 students not
ination is not for Office. Those who pass il,
however have the right 10 enter the eX-
aminations for the second degree. These
pre held at the capital OF the province or
state in which the student lives. They are
held once every three years, and there are
thousands who compete in them. The eX-
aminers are noted scholars, and those who
pass have the right 20 go into the great
examinations at Picking. If they pass there
they have 2 good chance OF receiving an
official appointment. lt is great honor 10
pass all the examinations. as very few OF
the thousands who enter are able to do So
VIII China Lasts
As the minister thus referred TO this edu-
cational system of China, which has been
I'm use for hundreds of years, thought of
the enormous number of people which he
represented. comprising about one fourth
OF all the world. l thought of the age
OF the Chinese and their civilization. and
cellency, what one of you educated Chi
neSe think of US and our prospects. Your
nation Is gray haired beside those of the
West. You were people in the days when