New-York tribune., 1900-07-20


Hoo-Pe and Hope and Hope, Tsung-Li-
Yamen and Tsung-li Yamen and Tsungli-Yamen
and so on. Again, the same writer or printer
will in the same article employ style for
one name and another for another. For ex-
ampIe, there may be observed in the same prin,
Picking and Marking Pei-Ho and HOang ho,
Che-Foo and Shantung Wei-Hai-Wei and Shan
haikwan 1t would be interesting 10 know by
what mental processes such results were
reached. One may argue that either or the
forms in each of the couples cited is correct
Yes. but the same argument must make the
other wrong. If one writes Peking he should
surely also write Nanking not NanKng IF
the II is capitalized in Pei-Ho it should also be
in Hoang-Ho. If Che-Foo is hyphenated, Shan
Tung should be. If Wei-Ha-Wei is to he di-
vided into three parts, hyphenated, the same
treatment should be accorded TO Shan-Hai-
Kwan.
1t would probably not be practicable to en-
force invariable and consistent rules in all cases
But there are certain general principles which
might be adopted which would go far toward
lessening the perplexties of the amateur geog-
rapher and historian and of the public at large
We may say that. in the first place we'll known
names should retain the forms in which they
have long appeared, even though those forms
be not scientifically most accurate. Strictly
speaking, II might be right to change Peking
to Pe-Kng and Canton TO Canton and Shang
hal to Shanghai But little would be gained
by it and much would be lost. 1t is best to let
them stand they have long Stood in
their Angliclzed forms. In the second place,
the other names, not so well known nor with
forms so long established by custom, should be
made to conform as far as possible with a gen
eral rule. We may write Lang-Fang, or Lang
Fang. or Lang-fang. or Langfang. But which
ever form we adopt should also be used in the
cases of all similarly formed names. To write
Lang Fang. and Lang and Langson is mad
ness The exceptions to this rule are, obviously.
those very we'll known and long known names
first mentioned. And in the third place we
should make the spelling conform with English
photography. and not with French or German.
Thus, Kow-Loon expresses the correct pronun-
citation of the name according TO English GUS
TOM the sylIables respectively rhymng with
chow" and moon In some foreign language
Kaulun may represent precisely the same pro-
nuncfation, ''kau" rhyming with our how" and
"lun" with moon" But that is not English
usage And we happen to be using the English
language.
The Tribune is not going to be so rash as to
say it will never make a mistake in any of these
matters. nor be guilty of an inconsistency, nor
violate one Of the principles 1t has formulated.
But it is going to deal with all Chinese and
other foreign names as intelligently. consist
emily and accurately as Is possible in the storm
and stress of publishing in New-York at
o'clock in the morning the news that it gathers
In London as late as o'clock the same morn
ing It has been doing this latter for months
past all through the South African war in a
way that has commanded the enthusiastic
praise of all appreciative readers. and those
who have thus learned to trust its columns for
the latest and most authentic news and the
most accurate general information need have
no fear of hereafter being disappointed