The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-18
Some Chinese Parodoxes.

WEllSES ln6l every man has UNIVERSE
in which he habitually lives; but what a
complicated and obscure realm must that
be in which the Chinaman dweIls, 1t is
only those who have read about him. or
who have seen but little of him. who
think they understand him. Those who
have devoted years 10 the study find him
bewildering and battling. and even mod
crate observation suffices TO disclose some
OF the difficulties OF the subject.
The Chinese can not be regarded as an
educated people in any modern sense OF
the term Their mental powers are not
exerted upon the current problems, wheth-
er practical or philosophical Their sys-
tenn of teaching depends unduly upon
memory and gives abnormal development
to reverence for tradition. II is suggestive
of the system that in Chinese schools the
pupil when reciting stands with his back
to his teacher, the reason being fear lest
he may read from the book in the teach
er's hand. For the first four years OF
school life the boy learns simply by rote.
no attempt being made to explain to him
the enigmatical sayings which he studies
in a loud sing-song and recites mechanic
ally. AS the majority have TO leave school
before the end Of these years. they have
absolutely nothing TO show for their pains.
the more advanced years is scarcely more
enlightening.
The scientific spirit seems utterly absent
from Chinese scholarship. No attempt
worthy OF mention is made TO coordinate
familiar phenomena. How the sun gets
back in the east in the morning is per-
petual puzzle Cobwebs floating in the
air are said TO be feathers OF birds dis
solved by flying too high. The prac-
tice OF medicine is a lamentable system
of childish empiricism. in which the elab-
crate feeling OF the pulse in both wrists
and both ankles is prominent feature.
1t is not customary to give one physl-
clan charge of an entire Illness. and 1t
is not in accordance with professional eti-
Quette for the physician to make second
call without being specially summoned.
Usually the doctor is given one whack
at the disorder; if that fails to finish
it, another is summoned to try his hand.
One might about as safely intrust a Sc
rious illness TO children playing doctor"
as to Chinese physicians
It is not considered good form TO dis
cuss events occurring during the pres
ent dynasty; this principle has been re-
garded as applicable to the history of for
eign nations; not unnaturally since all
kingdoms have been regarded as subor-
dnate to the Middle Kingdom" The re-
suit is that the schools have taught moth
ing of the worlds life later than about
the time of the landing OF our Pilgrims
1t is generally assumed that the Chi
nese as a race are dishonest. 1t is GER
tainly true that the officials are as rule
corrupt, and that their humble coun-
terparts, the house-servants, expect to
a
The head servant will manage your house
keeping with sagacity and economy, but
ne has his percentage regularly from the
tradespeople of whom he buys for you.
In vain you seek TO break this up, and
decide TO do your own marketing; you
find that your bills are larger, and THAI
your boy is collecting his percentage
just the same.
But facts such as these 90 not begin
to tell the whole story of Chinese char
acter in this regard. The truth is that
the Chinese are recognized race of mer-
chants because they comprehend and act
upon the fundamental principles of mer-
camille life. The cabin-boys on the ocean
steamers can be trusted implicitly not TO
touch anything belonging to passenger,
however carelessly left in their reach. 1t
is a revelation to find in the banks in ia
pan that, in spite of the iIl-feeling towards
China, the men who handle the money
are Chinese. The bank managers know
that the Chinese can be trusted as they
cannot trust their own japanese. 1t is
the uniform testimony of the American
merchants met in the East, that Chinese
merchants always live up TO their agree
ments. A japanese will finch from his
contract If he finds he is to lose money
by it, and the Japanese courts incline TO
sustain him in his view that changed con-
ditions absolve him from his obligation;
but Chinese merchant can be counted
upon to. carry out his part of the con-
tract, even though changes in the mar
ket may make it mean the loss of thou
sands of dollars. In this they have fairly
earned the appellation OF the Anglo
Saxons Of the East"
One of the most striking elements in
Chinese life is its solidarity. AS is well
well known the family has a much larger
function than with us The marriage OF
a son does not break in upon the family
life. but enlarges il, the daughter-in-law
becoming incorporated in the family of
her husband Several generations may
be welded together in one home. the au-
thority of the elders becoming the more
absolute with time. Growing old is GER
tainly robbed in China of some OF the
terrors it has among US. The older a man
grows the more weight is accorded to his
wisdom. A girl may be worse than value
less: a young wife is the hapless servant
Of her mother-in-law; but a mother is
sure of honor. which increases with the
years, and a grandmother rules the gen
erations with a rod OF iron. In the clan
the family ;dea is again extended. and
society compacted. The leading members
OF a clan are held largely responsible for
the conduct of the rest, and are often pun
ished for their crimes. although no one
may suspect them Of personal completely
with the wrong-doers.
Yet in other aspects Chinese society
seems individualistic In N. extreme. Am
/ my brothers keeper was never asked
in more fncredUlous tone than by the
Chinese, when brother is used in It's lars-
er sense. The doctrine OF iaissez-faire
was never pushed to a greater extreme.
A man may drown in the sight Of scores
Of by-standers without one Of them be-
stirring himself IN hts behalf Civic pride
Is almost unknown and public spirit can
not be appealed to. Why should a man
trouble himself for others or seek 20 pro
mote the public weal2 The nation has
no hold upon the Imagination or the
conscience Of the Chinese. The contrast
with the japanese IN this respect e fairly
startling While the latter quivers with
patriotic feeling. and throws his goods
and his life into the scale for his coun-
try's glory. the Chinese - not aroused
from his apathy by the boom OF cannon
nor by the disbrsce OF his draEon-aag-
Such are few OF the contradictory ele-
nsnts that enter into the complex Of
Chinese character and civilization Il Is
easy 70 dispose of them by budding them
under ths patroniziug o. contemptuaas
apthet Oriental" bu; this IS 10 solution
Newell Delieacy.