The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-05-19
Little Chinese Taught in The
Home Language.
is TAKEN AFTER ENGLISH
Visit to One OF tho Semiparies-
Teacher and Pupiis-confu.
cius-Slnging Is Heard.

Down in the heart Of the Honolulu
Chinatown. right in the middle OF a
square teeming with life, Is select
Chinese school. The teacher Is an old
man who wears great round, glass
trimmed spectacles. lie is supposed TO
be very learned. The Chinese declare
he Is fully versed in all the wisdom OF
the olden times of the Flowery King
dom. The school is popular, or at least
Is well patronized The pupils number
a couple OF hundred and range in age
from half dozen years to youths and
maidens of 16 or II. The gathering Is
a picturesque one and to the person
familiar only with the white mans
methods of instruction, the proceed
ings are unique and striking.
The books are all from China and
are clearly printed and well bound.
Each pupil has several text books. The
course in the school seems to include
reading and writing and singing and
the philosophy OF Confucius. This lat
ter Is given in the shape Of lectures by
the aged and serious instructor The
work in writing is laborious and try
ing. The pupils are taught with iniin-
tie trouble to make couple of the
queer characters. After the symbols
are made the little ones are given the
names Of them and memOrize these in
sing-sOng, buzzing tones, all working
at once and making a regular drOne of
sleepy chorus. The faculty was asked
about his lectures. lie said that there
was nothing original about them, but
that he sought to be earnest and i'm
preSsive in repeating or presenting the
teachings OF the Great Scholar of the
Nation. "lt was what Is good and
right and the best for all that Con-
fucius has handed down." said the in
structor. IF the scholars accept what
read to them from the greatest teach
er, they will be happy amongst them
serves, will be honest to all others and
viii be loved and successful.
The scholars sang for party of Wis
| itors. This was the blow that almost
| Frustrated the veteran in the ranks OF
| the explorers. The Chinese are Ia
mentally weak in vocalism, though Il
| Is the testimony Of the famous Pade
| rvwsN that their instrumental music
Is of q high order. In getting all II
readiness for the singing the old pro
feSsOr had more trouble than a stare
er at n race track with field of {
score of green horses. He shouted anC
scolded just little. Then he smiled
and called attention to the fact tina
visitors were present. The singing Il
put It very mildly, was simply yelling
contest Each participant went into !
at the top Of his voice and with all thu
speed that his lung capacity would al
low. The effect was something worse
than combination of "Come-al-yez'
and an Indian seronade. But 1t wa
applauded and teacher and pupils wert
happy.
This Chinese institution is supple
mental in its way TO the public school
of the land. The same scholars are II
various schools about the city til
= o'clock in the afternoon. Then the!
have a couple of hours in the Chimes
seminary. Most of the Weather Chin
ese send their children back to tn
home land to learn the reading ant
writing and teachings of Confuclus. Ii
the public schools here the Chinese pu
pills are bright and Industrious, bu
= woefully tiresome in pronunciation.