Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-10
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

placards. which were posted all over China,
were more effective perhaps than any other
agency In stirring up the ignorant natives.
He mas been engaged in writing anti-foreign
literature since 1891, and his ingenuity in
the invention of charges even surpassed his
eloquence In presenting them For years his
writings have been distributed by official as
WeE as private agencies Thousands of COP
les OF his books and pamphlets have been
given away at every annual examination of
candidates for office, which is the occasion
OF the assembling of the literati of eacn
province at Its capital for the exchange of
op1nloi.S and news and gossip. 1t resembles
In many respects our national conventions,
for every politician in China is in the habit
OF presenting himself annually for examina-
ton IL, order to secure promotion.
Although he was never officehOlder
and has never occupied any position of i'm
portance, Chou-han's faci!e pen made him
the most effective of all the anti-foreign
leaders, and almost every serious disturb
ance in central China during the last twelve
years has been started or promoted by his
writings.
Work of Rev. Griffith John.
Since the Boxer trouble, however, he has
been locked up in Jail at Chang-sha on
charges brought by Rev. Griffith John of
the London Missionary Society, a man OF
great force, energy and courage and in
many respects the strongest personality in
central China. To him more than to any
other man is due the opening of Human
province to foreigners He kept going in
there and being driven out until the atten-
ton of the authorities could no longer be
withheld. When the question was fairly
presented they were compelled to admit him
and other missionaries, until now there are
more than nifty foreign preachers and
teachers at work in the province, and
churches and schools are springing up
everywhere.
Chou-hans son is one of the most ad-
Vdnced or the "progresslves.' and although
not a Christian, he is actively engaged in
the works of reform and in the Introduction
of modern. ideas. Chou-han's daughter
who has been very useful to him his
assistant In the proposition of anti-fo-cign
literature, has also gone over to the en-
envy and has recently started school for
women on the foreign plan. Two years
ago she was even more violent in her hatred
of the foreign devils than her father, but
under some unknown influence has suffered
a radical change in her views. 1t is said
too. that the old man Is slowly mod
flying his opinions. All who know him
agree that he was honest and sincere in
the position he has occupied and has be-
lieved that his anti-foreign crusade was in
tended for the good of China. He was con-
WINGED that the presence of foreigners and
foreign innovations were to the injury of
his country; that Christianity was an evil
influence, and that all departures from an
cient customs and methods were contrary
to the welfare of the people He is In other
words. thoroughly developed anti foreign
fanatic, and the apostasy of his son and
daughter has been terrible blow to him.
he would not receive them when they first
came TO visit him after their conversion TO
foreign ideas, and even now he will not
ADMIT them to his presence If they wear
any fore1gn-made fabrics At first he would
not discuss the question with them, but OF
late both the son and daughter have had
long and earnest arguments with him and
are believed to have convinced him OF the
iutliity OF 1urther opposition to the inev-
Liable ,. Az ieast the Old viper is very much
less vlndictive toward foreigners than for
merely His sympathiZers, however denv
that he has changed his views and predict
that he Will be released In due time and re-
cover his previous influence.
The Viceroy of Human.
Chou Ehr-sun, the present viceroy of HUI
hail' Is re1ormer, supporter of the
policy of the emperor, an advanced and
courageous progressive" and not only will
protect but encourages missionaries and
foreigners to come into the province. At
the great triennial examination of candi-
dates for office last spring DR.. Griffith John
arranged with him for a free distribution of
BOOKS relating to modern ideas and general
christian literature, and with his consent
and approval Mr.. Archibald of the Scottish
binie society at Shanghai, assisted by sew
efal missionaries, appeared at Chanp-sha
with a large stock of that class of publi-
cations wtcse circulation had hitherto been
prohibited. Instead of Interfering with
them, all of the officials, including the
pcard or examiners from Peking gave them
every assistance. They were entertained at
the yamen with unusual hospitality; plat
form and booth were erected for their usa
In distributing books; they were furnished
with lists of the names of the candidates
were provided with clerical assistance a
military guard was placed over their stock
night and day, and the governor went even
IN
while they were passing out the packages
of Christian books and other appropriate
foreign literature to the officials and the
candidates for Office attending the examina
ton. And furthermore Viceroy Chou Ehr-
sun took pains to make known his desire
that everybody should read and discuss the
works that We're presented to Them
Human is one of the largest richest and
most productive of all the provinces of
China. but until after the Boxer troubles
1t was rot open to foreigners. Now thir-
teen different missionary societies have es-
tn blished about twenty permanent stations.
They have been permitted to buy and to
lease sites and to erect buildings for wor-
ship, schools, hospitals, printing offices and
shops Tor the sale of Bibles and Christian
literature. The Germans are building a
railroad through the province to reach coal
deposits in the adjoining province, and
other foreign enterprises have been under
taken. The people, who were formerly
very hostile to foreigners, are now friendly
and cordial but in order to impress them
with the policy of the government every
foreign house is now guarded by soldiers
by order of the yiceroy, and every foreigner
is provided with a military escort wherever
he travels.
A Tricky Mandarin Punished.
In 1902 two British missionaries.were mur-
dered in the province, with the approval of,
or at least by the negligence of, a local
mandarin, who refused to protect them and
left them to the mercy of mob Mr.
Frazer, the British consul general at Han
kow, went up to make an investigation. He
submitted the evidence he had collected to
the governor, who was convinced and or
dered the execution of the mandarin AS
mas frequently neen the case. an attempt