New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-26
THE CHILD IN CHINA.
MRS. BALDWIN GIVES AN INTERESTING
TALK BEFORE THE woMENs
HEALTH PROTECTIVE
ASSOCIATION

At the annual meeting of the Brooklyn women's
Health Protective Association. which held at
No. 153 Pierrepont-st yesterday afternoon twenty
FIVE directors elected Mrs. James Scrm-
occur, president Of the society, presided. Mrs. s.
l. Baldwin. who has lived for twenty years in
China opened the discussion on 1.-The Fundamental
Objects OF Compulsory Education" with talk
upon the child in China
'Ffial piety" she said, lis the central virtue Of
the Celestial Empire and we who have lived in
that country miss upon return to the West
the parental obedience which distinguishes the
Chinese child. The whole second table of the
law containing the command 10 honor thy father
and thy mother is the fundamental principle Of
Chinese education. Honor means more than
obedience Respect for age and observance of the
public law follow natural consequence or the
observance of the command. Through all the reia-
tons Of life, brothers and sisters aunts and uncies
even TO cousins and distant relatives, superior age
is respected. Guests at table seated according
TO their and the young stand in the presence
OF the old 1t is much against the law lot a
child TO disobey his parents there IL here for
him to steal Were such law enacted as rigorous
ly here the number Of jails would be multiplied
In towns the elders of the place the honored
people. and to them the enactment Of laws Is re-
ferred The terrible thing that can be said
about Chinese youth is that he dehes the elders
AT six weeks old the babys wrists are tied
loosely with red cord-red sgnifying joyful anc
the cord obedience. This explains to dsobedient
youths and maidens the popular expression, Your
wrists were not properly tied
Mrs. Baldwin declared that there is less gross
violation Of law in China than here; that there are
| fewer murderers. and such thing a pro-
fessional burglar; that laws strict and pen
alties swift. The teachings Of Confucius. she
stated. taught in every school.
If" she said, the teachings of great leader
were taught faithfully here there would be more
lawabIding citizens
The speaker quoted from Lady Chow's book on
etiquette, which is still standard work. although
written 1880 years ago.
Disrespect Of children was then spoken of
| 'evh words that hurt their parents ears Chill
dren were instructed rise early in order TO give
the morning salutation TO their parents; TO make
warm, to bring food If they hungry. If the
| child has. erred, the writer advises him to seek
his parent without delay make confession and beg
Tor instruction so that ne may not repeat his mis-
! when the parents grow old" the ancient book
says, be sorrowfu and fearful. II they are sick
very bones should grieve Griefs cloth three years
| you shall wear. The sacrdcta offering shall never
! cease"
A spirited discussion followed the central theme
| which why does not public school education
! Scrimgeour Mrs. A. H. Wagner. Mrs. S. r. Weed
/ Mrs. Helen Dana Brown, Mrs. c. o. Craigie and
An interesting feature of the meeting was ad
| dress by w. r. Corwine, of the Merchants Asso-
water supply from its begnning to the present
time. The first well, which was bored for Lhe
! ton Of the city about $1,000 persons, he
! believed was still in existence.
| and the company owning the well was supplying
1900 houses and several factories with SOL 200 gal
| Ions daily. The Croton watershed. from which the
present supply is obtained, furnished 25eooOOo gal
/ Ions day.
In Brooklyn. he said. there was no public water
| supply until the city had reached population or
| 10000. In that borough the consumption, which is
| average yield. The speaker rehearsed the propo-
| sitons and problems now facing the Department,
! and gave an interesting description Of various
| available sources.