St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-03-15
Travelling In China.

as the writer was formerly Y. M. =.
A. secretary at St. Johnsbury. 1t is
written in the month Of January.
Ny dear friends:
returned from work in Japan In
time to attend the autumn meeting
ofthe national committee of China. 1t
was an important gathering OF lead
ing college presidents and professors.
After mature elaboration, the COM
mittee decided it was necessary to
have constant visitation OF the asso.
Citations in order to hold, strengthen
and extend the association work
throughout the Empire. l was
asked to become the travelling secre-
tary for China, and Immediately
began that work. The committee
made several important decisions Tor
advancing the work and strengthen
ing its hold on the Christian and
government colleges already existing.
1t met in the midst of the stirring
times of the Emperor's dethrone-
ment. the murder of the six reformers
and the fight of the others for life.
Though the Empefor's edict, estab'
fishing over 200 government colleges
and universities in the provincial and
prefectoral capitals, was annulled, it
only served to delay the spread OF
western education. Even in this
apparent setback there are unmis'
taxable signs that before long
great movement toward foreign edu-
cation will be felt. The reformers,
hea AIDED by the Emperor, began their
reforms with education, another
indication of the Importance the
Chinese have for centuries attached
to advanced education. Our student
movement must be ready to cope
with many fold greater problem IN
the comparatively near future.
Ny tours were made largely on
boats-of the 264O miles less than
200 were made by rail. Sailing out
OF Shanghai, Mr.. Brockman and l
headed for Marking, the old Ming
capital, 200 miles up the Yangtsz
river. 1t is a quaint old city, within
whose great walls thousands OF
houses were RACED to the ground
and tens of thousands OF people were
massacred by the Talping rebels,
about the time of the civil war in
America. Marking is one of the
great seats of Confucian education
Here 10000 men meet once in three
years to wrestle in the examination:
for the second degree. But here also
} are a modern Christian University
, several Christian academies, anc
government naval and military
colleges.
Leaving Marking we pass dowr
. the river and take up work a
Shanghai. Shipping from the end
of the earth, imports and exports
, "hongs" and factories fill the atmos
phere with an intense commercialism
$ We are in Shanghai, which tn
Chinese look upon as "a foreig
city," Two we'll established Chris
!, tan colleges, prosperous imperia
!. college, two Christian academies an
u as many non-Christian ones, fill GU
y time.
Trans-shipping for the North, afte
s having been several days on the see
e an hour more by rail brings me t
Tientsin. This city of 100000
people is the great port of the Nortl
= My fellow-secretary, Mr.. Galley
/. was at the train to extend
v welcome. In Tientsin there are in
l. portant government colleges;-tt
Imperial Tientsin University Of %
students, the Imperial Militar
IN college Of 24O students, the Imperi'
>. Naval college of 200, and the we
" established Imperial Medical ar
IS Telegraph colleges. In TENTS
y there are also several private AGA
d. emies. Although the colleges are
IS charge of foreigners, the governme1
in allows no Christian teaching in t
i. institutions.
&c From Tientsin to Peking is
all matter of railroad and donkey
,lr The railway stops at the respect
as distance of FIVE miles from the wa
nd of Peking. AS Picking is the cent
g, of the government, so is it of Con-
clan education. stood in t
ny tempted court of Peking Universe
ice where are erected the stone NOR
rs rs liths on which are carved the nan
,sn of the most notable winners of
doctors degree during the past 8
years. This ancient Confucian ins
tuition, with its graduate catalog
the OF engraved stone, speaks eloquen
the of n great Dast.