Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-16
THE STUDY OF CHINESE.
Columba's New Department in That
Language and Its Popularity.

Chinese at Columbia University has
attained unlookcd-for success during
its short career. The results have
convinced Professor Friedrich Hirtn
head of the department, that. interest
i'll the study of the Chinese language
and literature is rapidly on the increase
throughout the United States.
There has been much correspondence
between the department and those i'll
terested in Oriental matters through
out TIE country, accompanied by Il de
mand for lectures on Chinese subjects.
such as We're instituted hy Professor
Giles of oxford a year ago. The num-
Der of students registered in the
Chinese school ut Columbia has been so
great as to tax the present facilities of
the department.
Among the students may be men
toned Chin Yung Yen of Canton,
China, author of Il Chinese book which
discusses the elements and develop
mcnt of Western civilization as Il pat
tern to Chinese reform, and Professor
Ernest f. Feunollosa. for many years
Il resident of Japan, who took courses
in the literature Of Chinese art. A
Theological Seminary are taking work
in the department preparatory to mis-
sionary work in the East.
Another of the ai,.i.;.d students
has spent five years III .-tulyimg the
language while a rcSi,ictl of N;,nkin,
whittier he intends to rc;uin after his
work III New York. ni last year $
students, one has left 10 travel in
china and Tibet ana several others
have received appointments from
American insurance companies to
represent them in China.
The announcements Of the depart
mcnt for the first years were calculated
to show only what it was prepared to
offer. and. therefore, covered Il wider
field than beginners We're expected To
enter upon at once. The greater
number of thc courses. however. were
taken by at least some of the students
anxious to obtain advanced instruction
in the Chinese literature, art or lam
guage.
The university library has been for
tunate in receiving a large number of
books, pamphlets and manuscripts for
use in the department. The most
Encyclopedia TIL shutsi-cy'ong." This
consists of more than 5000 native vol
umes, which were bound in European
style by the Chinese government and
presented to the university.
1t is. outside of serials, the most
vOluminolls print ever published in the
world. Professor Hirth is authority
for the statement that its translation
into English would furnish no less
than 100 volumes of the size of an Ordi-
narily thick encyclopedia.
The department WAS established sew
cral years ago through the gift of
$100. 900 from General Horace w. Car
pentcr, who sad, at the time of the
gift, in letter to eX-PreSident Seth
Low. that the money represented his
savings by his abstinence from the use
of tobacco and spirits. The fund was
increased by second 100000 from the
same donor and an added $4,000 from
Dean Lung. the valet Of General Car
penticr. III whose name the department
was founded.
A number of scholarships are already
offered. founded by anonymous gifts
thought to be from General Carpenter.
The university is preparing to extend
its work and to make it of added SER
vice and importance to students from
the Far East, and to others who expect
to go to the Orient for business, re-
Iigious or personal reasons.