The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-31
WHICH is The HAPPIER
W. TING-F4NG MAKES COM
PARSONS

Between China and AmerIea-china
Is Country That Does Not Reeog.
nizs the AristOeraey of Wealth More
Importance Is Given TO intellectual
and Moral Superiority.
had an American friend in China
who died only short time ago, writes
WI Tingfang. The story of his life
is rather interesting. He went to China
when he was young man. He learned
the language of the country and be-
came an accomplished Chinese scholar
He adapted himself to the ways and
habits of those among whom he had
cast his lot and thus became to all in
tents and purposes Chinese in his mode
of life. After spending the greater part
of his life in China he made up his
mind that he would pass the remainder
of his days in the land of his birth,
among the scenes of his childhood. Ac-
cordingly, he left China with no inten-
1 ton of returning. But he reckoned
without his host. No sooner had he
found himself in New York than the
noise and hustle of the metropolis of
the New World drove him to distrac-
ton. He did not know which way to
turn to find rest and quiet and he took
the earliest opportunity to go back to
China. THUS it is possible that a man
born and bred in strenuous America
may prefer the quiet surroundings of
China.
Strange as it may seem, China is a
country that does not recognize the
aristocracy of wealth. Greater impor-
tance is given to intellectual moral SUI
periority. A scholar and gentleman
commands greater respect than mere
millionaire. Indeed, the aim of Chinese
education is to make a man a useful
and desirable member of society-a
kind father. dutiful son, loyal sub
ject, good husband and a faithful
friend-with enough intellectual culture
to impart the necessary polish to the
person. Moral training may be regard
ed as the foundation of the Chinese ed
ucation system, while mental training
is the superstructure. For this reason
Chinese schools have until recent
times comparatively little attention to
the study of anything else besides the
language and literature of China. But
in intellectual endowment the Chinese
are not inferior to any other people in
the world. The good work which Chi
nese students in European and Ameri-
can universities have done is proof of
this. They have been able not only to
keep up with their studies, but also to
take high rank among their classmates.
Since man is bound by so many So
cial ties in China Their is naturally less
freedom given to the individual there
than in America. A man in this coun-
try is not tied down to any place by
family associations. At the age of 81
he is at liberty to cut loose from the
home of his parents and so elsewhere
to seek his fortune. He is not obliged
henceforth to do anything for his faith
err or mother at home. This is lmpos-
sible in China. Everyone in China is
taught from his childhood that he owes
certain duties to the family to which he
belongs and that of these duties those
to his parents are paramount He is
not allowed to leave them in their old
age to shift for themselves. He must
provide for their comfort and support.
1t may be an interesting question to
ask. which is the happier nation-China
or the United States? If wealth can
give happiness the United States ought
to be one of the happiest nations on the
face of the earth as it is certainly one
of the richest. Unfortunately, happi
ness is one of those things which
wealth alone cannot buy. Discomfort
ment seems often to be an accompani-
ment of wealth. At any rate, this coun-
try has it's full share of 1t, as the in
creasing number of strikes in recent
years indicates.
1t has been said that discomfort in an
individual as we'll as in nation is the
most potent incentive to progress But
somehow everyone strives after happi-
ness, and no one wants discomfort. Not
withstanding China is a comparatively
poor country I doubt that the sum of
happiness in this country is greater
than in China. The Chinese as peo-
pie are, on the whole, satisfied with
their lot. Once someone remarked to
Prince Kung that the Chinese are
easily governed.
Yes" replied the Prince because
they are ontented--unless there is a
famine
They are unmanageable only when
they find themselves face to face with
s+arya tiop and death