The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-04
THE PUNY PRESS OF CHINA

Case-hardened as China has und 5ubt
odIy shown itself in many respects to
the influences of Western civilization,
in one direction at least intercourse wiki
the outer world has made itself felt,
says the London Globe" Periodical
publications in the shape Of newspapers
have been known in China since the
ninth century; but it is only during the
last quarter OF a century that the press
Of China has assumed its present form,
and 1t may thus be regarded as pro-
duct OF foreign influence. In the ma
iority OF the cases in which Chinese
enterprise is devoted TO journalistic
undertakings. foreign capital is rep
resented The editors Of these news
papers are exclusively Chinese, and
they are not difficult to find in a country
In which every man who wishes &c. make
name must be Iterate- The com
positors and printers are also Chinese.
It IL not surprising 10 learn that the
Chinese press is especially strong in
those seaport towns in which there are
European settlements. Il is not al
together an unmixed blessing that the
press OF China is under no restraints
from the side OF the law, for the Man
darins enjoy the privilege Of dealing
with the newspapers just as they may
happen to deem fit When a liberal
Journal has gone TO a certain length
in outspokenness the authorities step
in, close the printing Office, and i'm
prison the editor. However, the Chinese
a view OF avoiding this sudden termina-
ton OF their editorial activity many
Chinese newspapers are published by q
European firm. and a foreigner Is an
nounced as editor. By this subterfuge
the newspaper escapes interference on
the part of the arbitrary representa-
tives Of the Chinese government.
The Oldest Chinese newspaper Is the
''Pekln Journal" founded. according TO
tradition. during the Sung Dynasty,
which lasted from go to 1866 1t is
not an official organ in the present /
meaning of the word: it is simply a
newspaper which appears with the per
mission of the government, and il con-
municates to the people the imperial
DEGREES and the orders issued by the
various governmental departments It
is not permitted to make any editorial
comments or remarks; these are scarcely
necessary, seeing that in the bestowal
Of awards and in the infection OF punish
ments the reasons which have led to
the decision in either case arc fully
given. The "Pekin Journal" appears
daily. and is read by the educated
Chinese in all parts OF the empire. It
is printed by means of movable wooden
types, and it consists generally of from
ten TO twelve thin, cinnamon-colored
little sheets OF paper, which are bound
together; each side is divided into ten
columns OF red lines, and every column
contains fourteen characters of type.
Nearly every number Of this semi
official organ casts a Iurid light upon the
conduct Of the Mandarins- For example.
the issue OF January !. 1897, quotes ten
instances OF gross violation Of duty On
the part of the higher officials.
The most important newspaper In
Shanghai is the "She-wu-she-pao;" in
other words. the Current News" This
is a long and slender paper. because the /
Chinese place the words one under the
other. and these are read downward
Every number has eight sides The
Chinaman reads his paper from right TO
left: thus. In the rIght-hand upper cor
rer CT the last side appears the title. /
en- either side OF which there are the
day and the month. according to Eu-
ropean and Chinese reckoning. After the
pattern OF English newspapers. the first
side contains numerous advertisements
On the second side are printed items
of news Of political Importance. impe-
rial DEGREES, and official appointments.
Then follow kilograms from the outer
world As the Chinese press possesses
no news agencies kilograms are lifted"
cCpIously from English and japanese
ncvspa pers, but always with a most
conscientious acknowledgment Of the
source whence they are taken For its
nome news & Chinese newspaper relies
upon its correspondents in tre provinces. /
Lastly comes the leading article, in