New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-07
4 STTPENDOUS TASK.
THE REV JOHN GARDNER Is ENGAGED
IN TRANSMITTING CHINNS M
PERIAL HISTORY.
From The San Francisco cali.

From The San Francisco can
Thirteen years ago the Rev. John Gardner, of
this city conceived the large design OF writing an
English transcription Of the enormous BULK or the
imperial official history Of the Chinese people,
He was not then d clergyman. ana not rnuch more
than a boy Since then. without relaxation OF the
cuiean task. he has assiduousiy labored and-he Is
about half through with his task - aha. u.,,
This Is the first account published OF what VIII
a first glance appear TO be an astonishing enter
pr. pr ai SS G Witch Mr.
Gardner has accomplished by the way; these grow r3W,
wondcrment Is certain. for the official history OF
China dates back 10 period between Sg% ana icv
tinucd onward TO the present time So Mr. Carr
ner has essayed to reproduce chronicles written in
period Of approximately 5000 years in detail.
DOING THE WORK UNAIDED.
The imperial history of China has never been
translated. Historians and political economists oil
ance of China rs an entity century after century
during the time when Rome and Greece ana other
than very small part q me history of that great
portion of the world In their possession ne g Leat
aggregating at least 10000 pages. closely strewn
page. A. the outset, Therefore. Mr. Gardner faced
the certainty that he would have % Ieast lo'1Vo
tiers need. the average, five words to give mem
expression in the English language the number OF
pleted in English Will be nearer 2oNep words th"h
Mr Gardner is doing the work practically IN
or nearly all. he is poor, depending sometimes on a
small salary AN Interpreter and anon on ms sal
airy as a Chinese missionary for his subsistence ana
that of his family Before he can complee the ms b
has been enabled to record up to ths present tm1;
at eas 6S en ysarf m2rf W a aa Of a. eHt @
TO place n the hands OF succeeding historians every
also the gigantic myths With which highly imagi-
native nation peoped their world ana accountcI i0r
the existence Of the earth ana the remainder vi INC
"''''''S' A MODEST MAN
The Rev. Mr. Gardner seemed to think that there
was very little to be surprised at in these amazing
Incidental iahors He spoke very simply and mod
estiv OF the whole work. Enough curiosity must
h% This time to make some description in order. In
the FIRST place may be siid that Mr shn has
been engaged many years in the labor OF CHRISTIAN
The Roy. Mr.. Gardner was born in Canton China
and lived there until he was seventeen years old.
years. Then he came to San Francisco. and he has
resided on the Pacific Coast of the United States
S i 3cisco as an Interpreter Of Chinese in the
custom House and the Federal courts, whore his
spSndy " dstngusRtd him From san Francisco
he went to Victoria. u. c. and became official in
lie remained there until the office was abolished,
finding time while he was nterpretns for ,salary
among thu Chinese. Then he held the place OF
superintendent OF the Chinese Methodist Episcopal
CURIosITIEs OF CHINESE HISTORY
English an exact reflex OF the history OF o.eo.o0
people from the standard history of the great en-
ers Of Chimes laws and customs and nd scheme 81
goyernment may have bo Tor mon m trans
iating the Chinese imperial history, but am finding
amrion history OF the Chinese people extends back
to between 3co and 5000 years before Chrisl PIior
to that is period Of Chinese mythoiosy' me an
tlquty Of the Chinese may be- maSinsd from ot the
fact tina, Confucus so b. c. studied Chihese poets
who were then considered very ancient. .
'This earth so the Chinese my thology held, was
chsecd out by Poon 800 me T S ge d n
moi nronnd 10 account for the presence of mankind
On Jn' nitb the Chinese much before $50 1900
Years y G. The existence Of coins monuments. In
s,rihnd vases and cOntcmporaneous books Is sum
Gent corroborarpH ,ho oelca history china was
a very old nation when othcr great P'op'es were
coming into nationa! exiS'entr. g., ,.. ...,., ,
"Chinese history falls naturally INTO periods ana
~ . tbo Gernnincs OF government / could not say
how many parallels are found N mar carry day oe
he early Jewish people. They are many and strik,
ns the ear agd C Who seemed 10 think ths thrones
were given by the supreme Belng. The people az
II they af,erward learned iloatry it was from the
outsiders. particularly from India. ., ,,,..,,,,r.
and The VISITATION OF Chinese other countries and
the Visits received by them from foregnrrs There
lie FOR 500 years Many centuries ago Chinese as
ronomes gave minute ana sorntlS accoHn St nG
hy he computations OF American and European as
ronomers The Chinese devised the civil service sys-
tom centuries ago.
Think" said Mr. Gardner. what theatre has
n, en- here for the play Of human hopes fears. pas
stems and explorations for thousands OF years all OF
which can be opened for contemplation china has
been as much emhatted country through the cent
urles as European lands once China was DIVIDED
into warning States every one ishiing al! its
nelghhors. There have been roya, plots, royal as-
ga ssinations gigantic wars. everything on Grand
scale So to speak. the history OF European coun,,
try has been made up OF the annals of corner OF
the globe compared with this great lard and hoary
old nation that has outllved - many nations ana
may ou,live many more grea, peoples"
Nh Gardner will not publish any part OF MS history
until he has completed H. which may he possibly
fifteen wears hence. When HIS book ot millions .,
words nnaily ls finished II will he as large as small
modern library. Mr.. Gardner Is under thirty -hve
years OF age.