Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-01

What Is to be done for the future of
China!
That is the problem to which WI
tine Fang, the Chinese minister, whose
kroadminded craftsmanship has won
i'm a high place In diplomatic circles,
I'd the Rev. g. w. Woodall, ID. D.,
castor OF Mt. Pleasant Methodist
episcopal Church, and formerly
"A missionary in China, addressed them
Nselves s
The Chinese minister requested a
conference with the clergyman and IL
Vas held in the Chinese Legation at
Washington. WI Ting Fang desired
hear from the Rev. MI. Woodal his
Jews concerning what needs to he
bue, and the Two agreed upon three
tsentials, namely the general intro-
fuction OF railroads, the education OF
loung men in modern sciences and
Iccording to modern methods, and the
lompusory introduction of a general
lialect
the Rev. Mr.. Woodall was born in
England, but went to New FORK in
'arly life After completing his studies
for the ministry, he went to China and
there,from 1881 toAs13Sf had chargeiof
the district about Ching Kiang. In thnt
Speriod occurred the Franco Chinese
hlSrar. and Mr.. Woodall had an oppors
s53luityj to study the people while their
Ation was passing through that ex--
! erience, e. j. Smithers, a Delaware
iau, was consnl-general Ia portion az
hat time. and Mr.. Woodall resided
ext door to him. Returning to America
y account Of his heelUh, Mr.. Woodall
bIed to recuperRte sufficiently to
bturn to the Chinese field; but his
Iealth did not. pick up as was deemed
lecessatY and he then decided to go
bto the home ministry, joining the
Troy conference. His LAST appointment
il that conference was at Westport,
Qte Chanplain, where the Rev. ID. H.
iskran, brother OF Presiding Elder w.
ICorkran, succsaded him, the transfer
ifng made tbree years ago. Then Mr..
todall came to Laurel, this State,
Prved that charge two yesIs He
bent year at Princess Anne, Md, and
Il the last conferences, was assigned To
Ills present charge at Mt. Pleasant.
1t was the fact that the olergyinen
lad had five years work 10 China that
I'D WI Ting Fang to request an inter
ew with him, tioinR to Washington
III. Woodall learned that the Chinese
1Iagation was located ut Eighteenth
aud q streets, and he thought that
4 there was special appropriateness in
the O. although apparently the CO.
Incidence with Chinese popularity of
i hyaddress had not impressed itself
upon others. He found that the iega-
! tim was one Of the finest in the capital,
elegantly furnished and most elabo-
rately finished The hardwood floors
Fere adorned with handsome rugs. The
furniture. Of the lower portion Of the
iuuse WIS almost entirely American,
* The exception being the screens and
jases and other brio-a. brao which gave
In or iental air.
FOUND Mr.. VIZ AFFABLE. ~
In speaking to a reporter Of The
Gazette h Friday afternoon, concern.
hng his visit, Mr.. Woodall eaid: u
gas pleasantly surprised at Mr.. Wu't
atebility and the easy manner in which
Tun conversts with one and his fine
yWS;Auistic ability-his flow of language
daaiust excellent. / had thought il
saifld be necessary to brush up on 10Y
thseIese 10 talk with him, but foun6
elHt it pleased him to talk in English
al conyeraation with some of the people
= ~ Warrington / found that he wal
\ airy p)pular in diplomatic circles ano
"lghly respected. had not met hin
Ell China, but we have been correspond
olg for some time. The reason of m,
\ pbing to him was to discuss with hin
y the problems of China with reference
to the future outcome of the recon
trouble. Our ideas along the line
talked of were precisely identical. .
RAILROADS ARE NEEDED.
First, was tho introduction of rail
,oads as one of the strongest factors, Il
4 ,ring the PEOPLE into touch with tn
outside world. He said he was oertai
1 that there were people in the interio
| pf China who did not know yet tina
the Powers had taken Pekin. l knoy
that the people look iupon foreigner
with the greatest curiosity; they lool
upon us as we used to look upon China
men. Theirs is no Chinese Iress at all
,tLe only efforts that have been made a
Newspaper publishing have been mad
tarsely by the missionaries. Paper
sare published In the larger cities, sue
las Shanghai and Tientsin, but they &c
sinto the interior very slowly indeed
y 1AssMr. WI says, if we can only got tn
arailroads into the interior it will brin
Jall that isolated community into touc
with the central government and th
koutside: SO that they may become az
gquainted with these problems. tn
\ people don't travel; they hardly &
\ IRON one village to another; the intro
sciuotion of railroads will bring the fevs
lof travel. F"
Steps are being taken to meet th
necessity for railroads, one great quei
tion before the government being th
granting OF franchises. Americans hay
already secured one and the capitalia
of other companies are also seekir
( franchise privileges.
4 MODERN EDUCATIONAL METHODS.
WI Continuing, Mr.. Woodall said of h
conference with WI Ting Fang:
1.-The second factor was the educatic
OF the young men in what is calle
\ western science, modern education
I contrast to Chinese classics Tn,
have national system of education
but it all consists OF the memoriziua
the classics Of Confucius. Mencius ar
other sages. They have very lit
mathematical instruction. As far
* geography or any of our sciences a
concerned, they don't have any use Il
them at all in their schools. | four
little boys, or 8 years old, who won
memoTize books of 5000 character
and then stand with their backs to Il
teacher ard recite that book from
IN ginning to end. In our Sunday scho
n lessons, they memories questions al
answers and say the whole thing. i
the enrlier years they don't pretend
\ know anything about the meaning
y what they have learned. !,
\ mr.. WI suggests that they ha
l.. l. IL g.. -