The sun., 1902-01-11
Dr. Martins New Book ON China.


As regards the question whether we are
to understand China or China Is to under
stand us wo hesitate TO say. Certainly
it is valuable, and 1t is interesting as well,
to know about China, In THE Lore OF
Cathay; or, The Intellect Of China by DR..
W. A. p Martin. President Of the Chinese
Imperial University, We have companion
volume worthy TO supplement DR.. Martins
earlier work, a Cycle Of Cathay," both
published by the Fleming II. Revell Com
pany. In a Cycle Of Csthay" DIR. Martin
represented the everyday life Of China as
It came under his observation In the course
OF a long and varied experience. In this
new volume we have an account Of the in
tellectual life OF the Chinese as IL Is shown
In their literature and in other records.
In tho authors brief preface we read: 'In
the San Kuo Chi IL s laid down as a law
Of the national life confirmed by history.
that the Chinese Empire, when II has been
long divided. is sure to be reunited. just
now the centrifugal forces are porten-
tously active. Should they eventuate in
partition. that state of things could not
be permanent though IL might accelerate
tho acquisition Of our Western civilization
by the people of China. Quickened into new
life. they would be sure 10 reconstruct the
empire and 10 take their place among the
leading Powers Of the civilized world
Here we have an encouraging suggestion
regarding the future of China There is
more to the same end. The change indeed
comes slowly For a long time" we
read, "the giant Of the East has been rub
bng his eyes" But each collision with
n L.. L.. ,l. -. of l.
ing him more conscious Of his helpless
condition and more ready 10 open his lids
to tho light Of new day" The war with
Japan stirred him, and recent events have
stirred him again. THE Chinese people
may be expected TO welcome new ideas
with more eagerness than ever before"
OF course there will be doubters. THE
proposition will be received with distrust
by some who are scsptical as TO the doctrine
of human progress. 1t will be questioned
by others, who regard as visionary the
efforts OF Christian enterprise. Nor will
1t be readily admitted by that large class
who are wont TO regard the Chinese mind
as hopclessy encrusted with the preiudices
Of antiquity"
We are apt TO misinterpret things that
we do not understand. Never have a
people been more misunderstood. They
are denounced as stold, because we are
not in possession OF a medium sufficiently
transparent TO convey our ideas to them
or transmit theirs 10 us; and stigmatizei
as barbarian because we want the breadth
20 comprehend civilization different from
our own. They are represented as servile
imitators though they have borrowed less
than any other people; as destitute Of the
inventive faculty, though the world II
indebted to them for a long catalogue
Of the most useful discoveries: and as
olinging with unquestioning tensciry to a
heritage Of traditions. tt,ueh they have
passed through many and profound changes
in the course Of their history"
The Boxer outbreak lowered them In
our ostaem That was a fudden rccoil.
stirred up for political purposes by a usIrp-
ing Regent and her Manchu agents. For
eigners themselves, they were jealous Of
anything hat tended to disturb the reposc
Of the Chinese mind or "a strengt hen the
foothold of Foreigners They gave way
to a mad fury. But II the Reign Of Terror
wa the renovation of France, and the
Sepoy mutinv the hsrbingar Of better
things for India, why may not this dreadful
drama prove to be the birth pangs Of a
new China?'
Nothing il more common than 10 think
Of China a. inert our author maintains,
however. that the Chimes. have not been
stat ionsry, as generally suppo,"d through
the long pact of their national life. The
national mind has advanced from age o.
age with stately march not indeed always
m a direct course. hut a. "ach ~ its great
spuch- recording, ~ ~ think, a decided
gain. lik" ~. dawn uf al Autic morning,
in which the hrs' blush ~ the eastern sky
disapp-an f1f many hours. only to be- sue
o.eded by brighter glow, grpSing brighter
vt aftef each interval ~ darknoss. a. the
time of sunnse appr uArhcs
Tho pat ~ l-aHt NJ" may not s0an without
sans recognition - thina dunpp Ndef,
tho mariners opmpas.. and the art II
printing afr all supppsHI a. have urglnai"d
b. china. thpush other paHs Il "a. world
have made tlsir slaims A. a. the ianh.
plao. 4 lh' ohius trarYpa th'rr oan hardly
% question Mo- flan 900 ysafs be-
fnfs tho thr,silau 'fa 'lI"y had asii unninsfs
ln lhiua and 10 .- -si ihat isu ~ flY-m
wee l,u' O.. death flr n"si' .ilns g. foIsirli
49, .Inp-s ~ tbs -un b. ,"p aHriunt
t.inua thr 'iu,.s A.i knHs isisr - tnE
uuui4slly aui b..t ~ flrirs datius ffuiu
t.t nHraIfH an 'str"u.IY h".d
tlrafss un uFI' siri ulaHsi"r O. o.
rafta.aiHt thai I.f HIursH hf.ra abUHf
tfI,ri ItsE FrsIf ~. aHi uH uulb fhnI
tify lr.faaa..I CO. aiI .Hiau ti.rsfb isiHif
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tsuf aHd uHi.r .r IHfrI af sHT .i.HiiF