New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-30
MODERN IDEAS IN CHINA.

CHINESE WOMEN GIVE a BANQUET TO FOREIGN
WOMEN AND DISCUSS EDUCATION FOR GIRLS.
W f. Curtis in The Chicago Record
A few weeks ago at Shanghai there was re-
markable invasion Of ancient Chinese custont
and an event that could not have occurred out
side Of a fairy tale two years ago. III Illustrates
more forcibly than anything that has happened
how modern ideas are penetrstlns Cni NM. 80
ciety. and how rapidly the restrictions that nave
been imposed by the policy or exclusion are
being broken down Three native young women
who were educated at the University OF NICHE
Gan persuaded ten Chinese ladies, wives u
mandarins Of the highest rank To invite my
foreign ladies To be their guests al luncheoh AZ
a restaurant in a public garden IN the SUBURBS
Of Shanghai mostly frequented by foreigners,
for the purpose II discussing ways ana means
for the establishment Of a school in that city
in which the daughters OF the roDillty may oD-
tain a modern education. 1t IS believed TO lie
the first time that noble women OF emma IN
their own country, have sat al the same 'apie
and eaten from the same dishes with women
Of a foreign race. and what Is even more re-
markable it was at their invitation ana WIN
the sanction and at the expense OF lhsir nus
bands Hitherto barrier more forilldaoie IMAM
he great Chinese wall has separated the women
Of the two races. and although the men nave
mingled in commerce and often IN social gain
erings A native woman II rank who voluntarily
appeared among foreigners would nave Deen
ofernallv disgraced and condemned 10 perpetual
secusion. if not to a worse fate. but upon tIiS
occasion they sat around tabIe spreau Il, ru,o
pean style couver5ad. 50 far as their command
% the English language would permit, ale
French cooking with knives ana lorks, uranh
each others health and even mace speeoN'a'
When a Chnaman gives a dinner 10 ms lvI
eien friends even when there are ladies' IN the
party his wife never appears ana IL mas Den
a gross violation Of etiquette to aHuue TO mr.,
Mr. Grant is said 10 be the only woman VINO
over dined with the wife Of a Cninese nople'
and she was entertained by Mrs III hung
Chang. c.,o,
were asked TO this dinner the ladies who COM
nose the Executive Committee OF the lien lSu
Usui ar Natural Feet Society, several members
Of tho missionary colony and the wives OF mer,
chants who are prominent in educauonas anu
charitable movements At the close ~ inc
luncheon the wife Of the manager MI Sn'uS.
81 the telegraph service, arose ana Hdd. ""ds
- relieved 10 b. the first public speech ever
delivered by a Chinese woman ~ rank IN ner
own country at least perhaps in the word She
explained in hesitaiins mann an ~ ~ 80 ~,
own tongue the desire ~ herself ana heI 49, 49,,
c9,.s 10 enlist cooperation Of the ladies' OF me
foreign colony in the establishment o. a'h1Vl
+, tho native section Of Shanghai. similar To the
school for peeresses founded by the Empress 81
Taran al Toxic for the education IN the in"d.
.rn stvl. OF their daughters and other s,rS 't
rank Their plans We're not formed, ana ih'y
had very few ideas on the subject because ~
their Ignorance and .neXperence, hui they were
anxious that their daughters should nave au,
vantag.s that had been withheld from them sliii
hoped that the foreign ladies present VINO had
knnyedge Of such affairs would ad them !.
The little speech was Translated ny one ~
the Michigan University girls ana heartily aP-
plauded Ill, Ill, 70
Mrs Archibald Little. an English lady re-
sponded IN an appropriate address. whlch "as
,isc translated. EXPRESSING the thanks or the
foreign ladies' for the hospitality and their sym
pafhv with the movement ana assuring th''r
hosts u their earnest desire q" cooperate IN
-. manner rossible At this point all the
chinese ladies' arose and bowed several tunes
in noNledgment Of the sentiments oNered
\ Chinese woman physician then mao
snn.ch ~ some length giving more in detail tho
MANS FOR the proposed school and several Tor
IGN women responded Before the party sepa.
rated 1t was arranged that another meeting
settlement at which organization VIII oe
formed and practical steps taken for securing
~, -. H. lou OF Teachers