The age-herald., 1898-08-14

It will probably surprise many people, not conversant with the affairs of this great nation, numerically, to know that China has always had a system of civil service examinations, and no man is compe- tent to hold a government office unless he has passed this examination. The examina- tion, however consists of ancient Chinese history and matters of that character Un- til recently no man could get a degree in a Chinese institution of learning if he had any taint of foreignism in his learning.
 
 Dr. Allen is now giving much attention to preparing works of history, commerce and science-all in Chinese.
 Until he begun his work the Chinese knew nothing of the foreign countries. China was hedged in by wall beyond which her peo- pie had never penetrated. They knew noth- ing of the outer world and they looked upon the foreigners who came there as men who came to spy upon their methods of living and to return to the outer world to report upon them. pr. Allen was the first man to begin teaching them. He stood upon the wall, so to speak, and taught them the relations of other countries. It was
 
 first work upon China, known as China and Her Neighbors." This work has been added to as events developed and is yet the practical gudebook of the Tsungli Ya- men, or foreign office of China.
 Dr. Allen is also the editor of Chi nese magazine, printed in Chinese charac- ters known as "The Review of the Time" ]" dealing with great international questions affecting China, and with questions of trade, commerce, etc, etc. It is the lead- ing publication of the empire and is sub scribed to by Chinamen throughout the world.
 By the way, it would be interesting to the Birmingham printer, who sets type from a case of twenty-six letters and a few punctuation marks to see the poor Chinese printer at work Instead of his case being in front of him, it is all around him. He has to stoop down, to climb up, to turn and twist, and walk to get his type. He has 6O0O different type in his case, and he must know every one of them. All of his type is exactly the same size, and in consequence, he has no spac- ing to do. Every type, however, repre- sents a distinct word, and he must know each and every one of them.- In conse- quence, it takes a maR-of great learning to be a printer in China.
 Dr./Allen has very decided views on the extension of the Christian religion in orien- tai countries He believes that the Chris tian religion can only go with commerce. He believes that commerce, trade and re- ligion go hand in hand.
 I had a long talk with Dr. Allen yes- terday. He first told me that the sub ject of his discourse today would be: In the morning, ''The Changed Attitude of China and Our Relation to It2; in the evening, "China Made Willing" Both of these talks will be intensely interesting, because they will deal with the matter which Is now of the utmost interest to every American citizen-the question of our retention of the Philippines. In dis cussing this and the trouble between the great nations of the earth at present, growing out of the Chinese territorial questions, he said that England was mak- ing very strenuous effort to protect its commerce in China; the action of Russia and France was political, while Germanys S acts were both commercial and political. Every man and woman in China" said such wants as England can meet. Eng