The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
ENGLAND'S HOLD IN CHINA.
an OPTIMISTIC SPEECH By SIR
CIIUDE HACDO NlLD

LONDON, Sept gN.-The Chinese question has
received little or no public attention here for a
long time. but 1t cannot repaln in obseurity
for long It is eminently ono OF those things
that must be Settled" There are not wanting
those who prophecy that when England is fully
occupied with the Transvsal-at the moment OF
writing no one 10 London has an idea that
peace Is possible como tbs oppor-
tunity for her rivals to act In the Far
Fast On the other hand. as a leading
German paper pointed out the other day. the
Transvaal war will leave the British fleet per-
fectly free But whatever happens in the near
future to China II IL interesting to note a few
remarks made by Sir Claude Macdonald last
night NJ a dinner given in his honor by the
China Association. Sir Claude Macdonald has
been British Minister In China for four years.
and may be Justly believed TO know what he
was talking about. At tho outset he de-
precated the pessimistc tone OF many
OF tho critics Of Her Majestys Government.
which on tho whole he considered to
have more than held It's own. He said
Many i'm portant results have been obtained.
and it hehooves us now to do our level best
TO improve and get Ebod value out OF what We
have"
Among these results he mentioned the open
ing of the West River. tho rectincation OF the
Burma frontier. the opening OF several new
treaty ports the opening Of inland waters TO
steam navigation and the Rrantn q OF i'm portant
railway and mining rights to British subjects
and strongly urged tho necessity OF seeing to
II that these results were properly developed.
and "a vlgilant outlook for more" maintained.
Sir Claude objected to calling these results
'concessions." az they are so often called. and
as the Chinese Government Is apt to regard
than because they will he OF immense benefit
TO China herself as well as to civilization gen
orally He Acknowledged that the Chinese
Government was inclined to take away with
one hand what they gave with the other"
trying to whittle down a concession till
II became worthless But" he added. there
are signs. think. that China is becoming alive
TO her own interests in the matter Of dealing
out fair and liberal treatment to those who are
willing to help her"
In pursuinSthe same su beet he said later on:
with regard to China becoming alive to the
necessity OF dealing out fair and liberal treat
ment to those who are willing to help her.
have recently had the opportunity OF reading a
: report OF Mr. Glass. late Chief Engineer. Pub
JIG Work. Department OF India. Employed
especially by the Pekin syndicate in survey
work In the provinces in which this syndicate
have secured most valuable railway and min
ing rights. Mr.. Glass. who is an official OF
great experience. states that:
I've mixed freely with the people and never
experienced tho slightest rudensss or incivility
Indeed. they welcomed us cordially and
evinced the greatest interest in our expedi-
ton. We were asked many questions
through our interpreters as to the OBJ
locts OF the mission, and whom they
wore told that one OF our objects was to open
up the country with railways they expressed
the greatest delight at the prospect. The
party met with unvarying courtesy and the
greatest attention from the officials at no
m throughout the the party
subjected to any annoyance save in the matter
Of curiosity exhibited by the people. which at
times was rather trying. The officials con-
versed with expressed great desire to see
the country opened up by railways and the
mineral resources developed
Capt. Twiss. r. f.. who was employed
under Mr. Glass. surveying in another part OF
the Country,gays:
'''T cannot omit bringing to your notice the
facilities afforded us by the Chinese officials all
along the route. and he excellent feeling dis
PLAYED toward us by tho people who are APP
parently anxious to have the railway
This would seem to show that the people
and some OF the officials at any rate are alive
to their countfy's interests, and are willing to
help those who are DESTROYS Of developing her
boundlcss resourres'
On another i'm portant point. too. tho safety
Of life and property for foreigners. Sir Claude
has comforting hcpes
Il think" he said, tbs TsunG- i-Yamen are
alive to the necessity OF putting down these
deeds Of lavles su sss with firm hand Shortly
befor, I left Pekin the president and mem
bers Of the board consulted me with regard to
the best means OF definitely putting an end to
this deplorablo state Of affairs. said han inR
an official. the higher the bettsr-I mean the
higher the Official Vceroy for choice. was
the best and only way"
AZ. T. 4 n
srnment Interference on behalf OF British en-
terprise. which. to be OF avail. he said. must be
self reliant.
Thomas Sidney Cooper. K. A.. the veteran
artist. celebrated his nsty-ssventh birthday
one day this week. He still paints the sleek
kline and scrupulously clean sheep which first
made their appearance at the Royal Academy
Exhibition sxty-slx years ago. Year after
year the same cattle and tho same sheep hang
on tho walls Of Burlington House. and the
venerable painter hopss to send another herd
and another flock next spring 1t 10
truly a wonderful isat. hut the artist world
generally prsfXes the time -honored qualifying
epithst to CoOper's iteration But what
ever his merits or dement's as an artist. T. g..
Cooper is q wonderful specimen OF an old man
This s how he appeared to an interviewer on
hisninety- seventh birthday
"A man with fine Silvery hair. a slight silvsry
moustache. and rather a long. taperinG beard.
small. strong. clear. sympathetic eyes. He
walked somewhat inHrmly but picked UP his
feet. and he had not the slightest assistance
not even Il walking stiek-to facilitate his
movements"
His voice Ia still strong and musical. and his
sal'N is excellent. His daily life. described in
his own words RiveS US one more OF the many
recipes for living on TO = Erent age.
A year ago" he said. "l was very feeble.
and when l went to London to attend
the private view At the Royal Aea-
demv I saw medical man. did
not get much better. and | came back
to Canterbury, changed my diet. walked in the
fresh arNs much "a possible and now | am
much stronger. | sleep well and my eyesight
is sound ! paint during nine-tSnths OF my
hours without glasses. II wear glasses the
lgh, is fogGy Even when | am painting n
she-,'s eve the Si2N OF pins point l do not
wear -lasscs, as, il did, could not get a true
expression,
For forty years I have taken oatmeal por-