New-York tribune., 1899-07-27
TRADE SCHOOL FOR CHINA.
THE REV. GILBERT REID WANTS To
FOUND AN INSTITUTE IN PEKING.


TAUGHT AND TRADE PRoMoTEp-EURo-
PEAN COUNTRIES INTERESTED.
To those Americans who are looking to emma as
n field for investment just now. or marhe' ioi o.
ports the work which the Rev gilbert r'e' ~ ~
undertaken will appeal with peculiar io'ce '"''
Reid has lust returned TO this country ai'er
i,o,,,o ,nontbs, stav in Europe. He is an American
missionary who after spending many years III
China is now engaged in establishing an ih'er"a
tional institute In Pedng with the OBJECT oi com
Snunicatfng 10 China and the Chinese "es'ei"
ideas of progress and Of science MT fSeiu assei's
that for the management OF the lnsu'uVe p'ope
raepla tions have been framed which have recei'eo
the official sanction of the Imperial Boaro OIL rol
eign Affairs, while Ii Hung Chang' Chahe INN
Tung and other Chinese statesmen are giving inc
undertaking their active individual support so far
little or no effort has been made to reach the IN
.euao,,a, classes in China Even the missionaries
have confined their work OF evangelization to those
whose social rank prevents them from occuPyi"e
places of Importance. Yet 1t is an admitted iact
that Il is the mandarns who really govern |lo
people of China and without their assistance IL Is
impossible TO make much headway with the ra"A
and file 1t is well known that the way Oh access ~
10 the ruling classes in China for new IDEAS
whether social, scientific or religious is more open
nov than has ever been the case, and consequently
the present seems a favorable opportunity to set on
foot movement which has for It's OBJECT 'he en-
.lightenrnent Of the upper classes
SEVEN FOREIGN COUNTRIES INTERESTED
Mr. Reid secured the goodwill OF the foreish
.Oice in each Of seven European countries ana sue
ceeded in forming committees In six OF theni
THESE committees will endeavor to raise the neces
sary funds The cost Of the institute Is placeu d.
$4,000 for the building fund and $1,000 for the an
nual expenses Mr.. Reid will remain three victims
in New-York in order TO form committee mere
He will then return TO China. He reels grea'N
nv fha
and says the prospects bright for the indorsee
fment of his plan by NewYorkers, who nave a.
ready promised $4,000 TO the enterprise
ct have long felt" said Mr.. Reid. that IN all our
efforts in China are failing-or snail say o"ly
partially succeeding g?-because we have too much
ignored the vast gulf that yawns between the
septiments and habits of thought OF the Eastern
and Western worlds. The Chinese character Is
peculiar one: the Chnaman Is essentially sus-
picous and guileful To so great an extent Is this
true that often he overreaches himself, and hnds
around for alarm where none exists For instance
.enless a Chinaman is absolutely convinced that one
sdu derive no benefit from enterprise he Will
view II only with suspicion, and will allow that
euspicion to stand in the way OF his own Dene-
sftinR for he seems be unable to grasp the possi
bility OF there being mutual benefit in any transac
zion with foreigner. 1t is this that stands In the
way of trade Of civilization. Of the advancement
OF Christianity of everything and 1t is to break
down the barriers between the ruling Chinese
eIasses and the outer world. to disarm their sus-
picon and to gain their confidence and therefore
their allegiance and friendship. that l have con-
ceived the idea of international institute which
shall be something quite apart from ordinary COM
mercial relations apart from religious enterprise
and yet the same time be powerful ally TO
good work Of civilization throughout the Empire
MUSEUM AND CLAssROOMs IN PEKING.
Coming TO the practical details of the work our
scheme is to build in Peking a museum. library,
lecture hail. classrooms for the hterat and social
halls both for men and women. In the museum
there will be exhibits of the skill arts apparatus
machinery, samples and models OF the western
world consisting especially or those auapteu 10 .ie
needs and conditions of China The Phiadephia
'Commercial Museum has promised US duplicates OF
its specimens and win exchange samples and
specimens with from time to time Many
japanese merchants have agreed to EXHIBIT am, ana
also great many Dutch firms. Indeed, nowhere
has the scheme been more heartily approved thdn
In Holland On the committee Of management We
shall have representatives of every nation and
international Tiyalres Will consequently ma no
~" Al the ruling Classes are bound to visit Pekng
more or less frequently from every part of the
Empire and thus we hope 10 get into touch with
OF Information dspel the prejudice that is begoten
of ignorance Of other lands 49,
And where does the business side OF IL come I'M
'in this way" was the reply. the exhibition
take to distribute circulars and endeaVor TO create
sentiment In favor Of proeFess AL present e az busl o
understand one another, and are altogether out Of
1OuCn. NOW. we VIII suppose. on tllo OlIleI manu-,
mandarin visits museum; he is not asked 10
buy anything: the management has no interest in
ieffecting a sale Of any kinds in fact, only con-
cerned in giving him information. The Chinamans s
interest is aroused he sees a model, drawing, a
sample. what not. and inquiries It's meaning and
use He has it carefully explained to him in all its
bearings. and he then asks If he can buy one like
1t. No; the institution undertakes no sales, he is
told, but If he will apply to Messrs so-sndoSo ne ne
can obtain all particulars. and thus the buyer and
seller are brought together naturally, and preju-
dicial suspicion dsarmed."
''Then you propose TO keep list Of agents?'
Most certainly Exhibitors be represented
on the spot by their agents. and in the event of in
quiry we should put them in communication with
possible customers"
= And what is the charge to eXhibtors?"
1--WE make no charge" was the reply. I'VE stipu-
late that only models exhibits occupying small
space shall be shown. and beyond that we leave
ihe matter to our supporters generality"