Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-22

vet been rcopencd ard the teachers are
now conducting n hospta! and school
for nurses at kiu-Kiang.
CHANGE TAKING PLACE.
An extraordinary change is taking place
among the women Of China. The educa-
! ton of women has not yet gone so far
as it has in Japan. and it is develop
| ing moro slowly because of the greater
restrictions. Chinese women have never
been allowed TO appear in public. They
are never spoken Of by their husbands
! and il would be the rudeSt of insults to
! ask a Chinaman concerning the health or
even the existence of his wife. But edu
cation is doing wonders An educated
woman will not submit to the tradition
al humiliations that have been borne by
Chinese wives and daughters ever since
the world began. and here and there,
particularly in the larger cities where
| there are n number of sympathizers to
support and encourage each other, wom
en- are breaking away from the restraints
and asserting their individuality in a re-
ma rka bio manner.
The Rev. Gilbert Reed has been work
ling among the mandarns for ten years.
| He was formerly a missionary of the
| Presbyterian board, but in 1894 he broke
away from that organization because
of differences of opinion in regard to pol
icy, and has been aborng with remarka-
bic patience and persstoncy to demon
strate the accuracy of his theory that
tho best way to regcnerate the Chinese
is to work from the top downward in
stead of from the bottom upward, as
the missionaries have been doing Many
people agrcc with him that the mission
aries would make much greater progress
and do more permanent good if they
would spend their time trying 10 edu-
cate ana convert the upper classes first
instead of the coolies On that issue Mr.
Reid split off from the Presbyterian
board and has since, dependent upon his
own efforts ana the assistance Of friends,
boon devoting his time and talents to the
enlightenment of the mandarns and lit
icrary classes.
In lSa; he founded at Picking what he
caucd an international institute. sort
Of combination of club. college, lecture
course and information bureau. The plan
was approved and the funds were furnish
ed by tho Emperor. several members OF
the ministry and other high officials,
and the membership inrfuded almost all
,of the educated mon of progressive ten
denotes in that part Of the empire, flo
published newspaper established
COURSES OF lectures on modern sciences,
political economy and similar subjects,
started classes for detailed instruction
in the same lines. and was going along
( bravely when the explosion Of 1900 &C.
, CURED.
q The international institute was the
, lhcadoUartcrs Of the rcformcrS. Mr., Reid
was ono of The closest advisers of kang
, Yu Wei. and assisted him in preparing
the famous memorandum of reforms
= which he submitted to the Emperor, and
which was adopted as the policy Of the
government until the energetic dowagor
= placed her dainty foot upon it and sent
$ the Emperor back to the nursery.
c \ DIFFICULT TASK.
Q After the Boxer troubles were over
- however, Mr.. Reid resumed his work in
t Shanghai instead of in Pchin for various
$ reasons. and has utilized the rooms OF
s Il comntosr polytechnic Institute that
a was started some years ago and allowed
= to decay For lack of funds he has beer
c running It with no other assistance thar
n Mrs Reid, who has energy and ability
2 equal to those Of her husband. and share:
n his zeal ana enthusiasm. The objects
k of his scheme as ne described it to IN,
: in shanghai not long ago are:
/. TO benefit the whole country by in
fuencing tor good the influential classes
.. TO promote through tho same classe;
t greater friendlness and harmony be
n tween China and foreign countries
d g. To advance cnlightenmsnt. truth
y righteousness and reform. through mu
s tual understandings. intercourse, ana tn
d cooperation of leading men in China an'
d the West
J. 4, To show forth, in a definite way, tn
n best features of Christian civilization
N generosity. fair dealing, uprightness AM
r the general wcll-bcing of society.
rs The plan of the international institute
r rs directed especially to tho highe
$ classes, consists of six parts:
N An international museum or exposi
IN ton.
y >, An international library or readin
room.
3, An International club or social hal
I. A !yceum or public lecture hall.
;. Classrooms for instruction.
t, Literary and charitable work.
Nh Reid wants a representative o
his staf from every country, for III
purpose of presenting to the student