Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-05-24
CHINESE CHARACTER
Minister Conser Gives an Inter.
estine Address Before Grant
Club at Des Moines.
Dwells Particularly on the Char
acter OF the Chinese as
a Nation.
Boxer Element no Criterion Of
the Average People OF
the Orient.

Des Moines, May 24.-Minister e. ~.
Conger was the guest of the Grant Siup
Thursday evening, and told the story oil
his experiences in China. A large num-
Der of the members of the club We're
present, and intense interest was mani
tested in what Mr. Conger had 10 say
After telling the story of the siege ana
giving a short description of the char
acteristics of the people and their hab-
its, he answered a large number OF
questions concerning matters of winch
those present were curious to learn more
about than they had heard.
An elegant jardiniere presented by
Minister conger TO the Grant Club stood
in the hall, and was admired by all. II
was brought by him from China, and
was said TO be several hundred years
old. AT the Close of the meeting Chan
tcellor Craig moved the thanks of the
club TO Minister Conger Tor the hand
sone gift The motion was put and car
RED with great enthusiasm.
After the supper was over President
Pratt. of the Grant Club arose and altar
expressing the admiration of the ciuh
for Minister Conger and the great work
that he had done in China, presented
him to the members of the club and the
suests. He was received with great app
plause:
Minister Conger SAID in part:
..It gives me- great pleasure TO nlee'
! ,s.tf 'liIh and
assure you that / appreciate your kind
ness thank you for the interest yot
took in the representative of your coun-
TRY. am sure that last July more eye:
We're fixed upon Pekin than upon any
other point on the gops. They arr
fixed there yet and there has been Z
great increase in knowledge regardins
( that country. Yet the knowledge of tn
average European or American is still
very limited.
China is great coun,fy. 1t is a
/ large as this country and has all varie
i ties of climate. All Of the crops grown
< here are grown there. and many other
4 beside.
4 Il nope that the people who have beel
i studying China and Chinese characte
since last summer have not made u
4 their estimate OF Chinese character fro.
4 the Boxer outbreak The Boxers ws'
made up from the people of only thrs
provinces. They did not represent tic
j people of China, who are as whole kin
and patient people. They treat eac
81 ether Well and take good care of the
: sick, with the exception of the insan
who are generally chained up in SON
cellar. In all China there is only or
insane asylum. and that was founde
BY missionary.
The Chinese as a whole are not I'll
\ ignorant people thew are generally pit
lstured There Is an educated class. who's
A wears Of Il boy's,life are spent IN til
& memorizng Of the classics. Examine
tons for admission 10 the civil servie
are given III every province. and to 81
ter the service OF the government is II
highest ambition Of every Chinaman.
u will say here that enc Of the fir:
Requirements made by the ministel
after the negotiations began was that
all provinces whore massacres OF 70
eisnels had taken place these examine
tons We're to BE- suspended for fix
years This will he the greatest punisl
ment that could be prescribed.
Poetry receives great attention
China. and official proclamations AZ
often written in verse. The officials b
lieve that these poetica composition
Will be committed to memory and n
inenbered by the people better tina
prose.
THE Chinese are the most courteel
people that ] eves net. They alwal
greet each ether eacl, man shaking h
iown hands Ii is never The custom i,
people to shake each others hands. {
course this courtesy IS largely contnt
Ia the upper classes.
The chinese do Aiot Welcome foreign
lsers to their homes. | remember Of visi
'1Iirg the homes Of only three Chiname
while L was in Pekin. These We're Il
ZONES Of Z: H.nS Chang, Prince Chi.
and the home Of the present minister
Paris. This popularity is due 10 the ia
:, that the Chinese consider themselves $
perior TO any other people on cart
: They consider their emperor the son
heaven and the whole race as superb
i to any other Tacv.
The Chinese. thanks to the system
schools that has been established
foreigners, especially the Americans, a
getting over this foolish idea. This
best and shrewdest man realize that t
only future for China is to throw OPP
its markets TO the people OF the NO,
and receive the foreigners. Their be
men are realizing this and are commul
eating their ideas to the people.
81 do not wish to excuse any of t
;. terrible deeds that We're committed
: the interior provinces. For these dee
, have not the slightest excuse. They a
: to be eNecrated by every one and l
rot wish You TO understand that | a
trying 10 excuse them in any way"
u Mr.. conger then related the story
q the Pekin siege as told in other speech
{ and the press dispatches.
Pittshurg was chosen for the place