The Florida star., 1900-08-10
NATIVE HUT.

NATIVE HUT.
appear OverciviliZed. for no keener
traders exist than their merchants and
no finer wOrkmen than their skilled
artisans. They differ from us In men
tai characteristics-this is the keynote
of foreign misunderstanding and OF the
present and past uprisIngs In China.
Nothing else brings out so clearly
the difference between the Chinese and
us as ii comparison OF customs. They
do things in just the opposite manner
10 us, and what appears 10 their eyes
fit and proper is 10 us ridiculous. In
Chinese schools. while learning the
mass OF aphOrisms. sayings and cere-
monies that make up the main part OF
Chinese education, the scholars shout
their lessons ut the top OF their
voices, and n Chinese school is any
thing but n place for reflection and
study. When n Chlnaman meets a
friend, he shakes his own hands and
makes n slight bow. The bow varies
in depth, according To the rank OF the
person addressed. until the highest
rank. the emperor, or son OF heaven.
Is reached. The proper way 10 salute
him Is To kneel three times and knock
the forehead nine times against the
ground. The American and English
ministers refused 10 do this and caused
much delay In negotiating treaties by
refusing. This was years ago; foreign
ministers are no longer required TO
humble themselves I'm this manner, but
the few Chinese who have beheld the
brother To the sun" have thus de-
based themselves.
To Il Chlnaman the seat of intelli-
gence is the stomach and his heaven
Is in the center OF the earth. Our flu
ger nails are cut short. while with the
Chinese long nails are mark OF dis
tinctiOn and rank. We consider il vul-
garity in our children to swear. while
Chinese children who do SO receive
cOmmendatiOn for such evidences OF
brightness. The American scholar,
when he wishes information or desires
To refer To any matter. turns 10 his
books Not 50 the Chinaman; his
memory or the memories OF those
whom he cOnsults must serve his pur-
Chinese education consists chiefly OF
inStilling into modern minds the wise
sayings OF the ancients. Books are Il
rare luxury in China. save To the very
ich. and this i'm country said To be
he birthplace Of printing. Such books
IS have been compiled are encyclo-
pediaS and other works of reference
and are never seen by the average
scholar-perhaps never even heard Of.
For any practical use. they need never
have been written, for they are only
unwicldy complications OF history or
philosophy. The Chinese are our OPP
posites in SO very many things that
the list might he extended indefinitely
10 all human affairs. and also 10 those
OF supernatural concern. The matter
Of education brings out this character
iStic OF difference sharply anu interest
ingly.
In this regard. il must be said that
the Chinese resemble us in at least
one poiut-thcy have great rcNer-
cnce for learning and wisdom. ami Il
book or anything written is an object
of regard. There seems 10 be widely
diffused belief that education is gen
eral III the Middle Kingdom. This is
an error; really not more than one
Chinaman in hundred knows how 10
read. and the proportion Of those able
10 write is still smaller. Not more
than one in n thousand OF the women
can read, and these only among the
wealthy. The only schools for girls
are those established 10y foreigners, FOR
the Chinese. whose idea and estimation
Of wOmankind are infinitely lower than
ours. send only the boys 10 school.
There are no public schools in China;
they are all supported 10y the parents
OF the boys who attend them. When
the parents OF village decide that
they want a school. they combine To
get a scholar 10 establish one. Every