The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-08
MODERN IDEAS IN CHINA.
Chinese Women Give Banquet to
Foreign Women and Discuss Educa-

Chinese Women Give a Banquet to
Foreign Women and Discuss Educa-
ton for Girls. ~ s.s1,
A few weeks ago at Shanghai there
was a remarkable invasion Of ancient
Chinese customs and an event that
could not have occurred outside of o
fairy tale two years ago. 1t illustrates
more forcibly than anything that has
happened how modern ideas are pene-
trating Chinese society, and how rap
idly the restrictions that have been
imposed by the policy Of exclusion are
being broken down. Three native
young women, who were educated at
the University of Michigan, persuaded
ten Chinese ladies, wives Of mandarins
of the highest rank. to invite fifty for
eign ladies to be their guests at lunch
con at a restaurant in public garden
in the suburbs of Shanghai, mostly
frequented by foreigners, for the pur-
pose of discussing ways and means for
the establishment of school in that
city In which the daughters of the no
bility may obtain a modern education.
1t is believed to be the first time that
noble women of China, In their own
country, have sat at the same table
and eaten from the same dishes with
women of foreign race, and, what Is
even more remarkable. 1t was at their
invitation and with the sanction and
at the expense of their husbands.
Hitherto a barrier more formidable
than the great Chinese wall has sepa-
rated the women of the two races, and
although the men have mingled in
commerce and often in social gather
ings, a native woman of rank who vol
unfairly appeared among foreigners
would have been eternaliy disgraced
and condemned to perpetual seclusion,
if not to a worse fate. But upon this
occasion they sat around a table
spread in European style, conversed,
so far as their command of the Eng
lish language would permit, ate
French cooking with knives and forks,
drank each others health and even
made speeches. When a Chinaman
gives a dinner to his foreign friends,
even when there are ladies In the par
fly, his wife never appears, and it has
been a gross violation of etiquette to
allude to her. Mrs. Grant Is said to
be the only woman who ever dined
with the wife of a Chinese noble, and
she was entertained by Mrs. III Hung
Chang.
The wives of all foreign consuls at
Shanghai were asked to this dinner,
the ladies who compose the executive
committee of the Tien Tsu Hsui or
Natural Feet society; several mem
bers of the missionary colony and the
| wives Of merchants who are promi-
nent in educational and charitable
con the wife of the manager, Mr..
movements, At the close OF the lunch
Sheug, Of the telegraph service, arose
and made what is believed to be, the
| first public speech ever delivered by a
Chinese woman of rank, in her own
! country at least, perhaps in the world.
She explained in hesitating manner.
and in her own tongue, the desire of
| herself and her associates to enlist CO.
operation of the ladies of the foreign
colony in the establishment of a school
in the native section of Shanghai, SIM
| liar to the school for peeresses founded
by the Empress of Japan, at Toxic, for
the education in the modern style Of
their daughters and other girls Of
rank. Their plans were not formed,
and they had very few ideas on the
subject because of their ignorance and
inexperience, but they were anxious
that their daughters should have adj
vantages that had been withheld from
them, and hoped that the foreign la
dies present who had knowledge of
such affairs would aid them.
The little speech was translated by
one of the Michigan University girls
and heartily applauded.
| Mrs Archibald Little, an English
lady, responded in an appropriate ad-
dress, which was also translated, ex-
pressing the thanks Of the foreign la
dies for the hospitality and their SYM
pathy with the movement, and assur-
| ing their hosts Of their earnest desire
to cooperate in every manner posi-
BILE. At this point all the Chinese la
dies arose and bowed several times in
acknowledgment of the sentiments Of
fered
| A Chinese woman physician then
made a speech of some length, giving
more in detail the plans for the pro-
posed school. and several foreign wo-
men responded. Before the party sep
arated 1t was arranged that another
meeting should be held at residence
in the foreign settlement, at which an
organization will be formed and prac-
teal steps taken for securing a build
ing and the employment of teachers
| w r. Curtis in the Chioa % Peeord