Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-19
SCHOOLS FOR GIRLS
Institutions Springing Up All
Over China.
WONDERFUL ADVANCE
THE EXCITING EXPERIENCE OF
KING LING SAN.
Started the First Native School for
Mandarins' Daughters - Afterward
Marked for Death.
WONDERFUL ADVANCE
BY WILLIAM +. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Written for The Evening Star and the Chicago
Record Herald
The missionary schools and colleges in
China are very interesting; the native insti-
tutions are even more so, and the most in
teresting of all are the schools for girls,
which are springing up all over the en-
pire as they are all over Japan, for the
education of the daughters of mandarins,
who have only recently discovered that
women have souls and, like plants, are i'm
proved by cultivation.
The education of women in China outside
of the missionary orphanages is still nov
city. The first high school for girls, be-
lieve, in all the empire was started In
Shanghai by DIR. Young ]. Allen In 1892 and
is now in charge of Miss Richardson OF
Springfield, Mo-, who has eighty young
women from mandarin families under her
care. She is ambitious to raise 1t to the
rank OF a college. Mr.. Kung Sing Ming,
son of former minister TO England and
rich man, has interested himself and other
Chinese gentlemen, and has raised 10000
taels to purchase a site for womens col
lege on the American plan, and Miss Rich
ardson who is now taking her vacation in
the United States. will endeavor to raise
money enough for the first building.
The first native school for mandarins'
daughters was started in 1898 by King Ling
San, superintendent of telegraphs. with
Miss Allen as director and Miss Shin and
Miss Kahn, young Chinese doctors from the
University of Michigan, as her assistants,
but when the empress dowager resumed
control of affairs the school was closed and
Mr.. King was compelled to flee for his life
Ii has not yet been reopened, and the teach
ers are now conducting a hospital and
school for nurses at Kiu-Kiang.
Nine. sheng a Pioneer.
The wife of Marquis Sheng is very able
and energetic woman, and has been quite
active in organizing and promoting schools
for women She is perhaps the most pro-
gressive native woman in China, and has
The distinguished honor of calling together
and presiding over the first assembIage of
Chinese women that was ever gathered.
This was in 1898, when she invited the
wives of all the mandarins and rich ma
tives in Shanghai to meet and discuss
measures to promote Mr. Kings college Tor
girls.
An extraordinary change is taking place
among the women of China. Nine. Sheng
broke the Ice, and nef husband Has sur
fcient rank, wealth and official prestige to
make her course popular. or at least to
secure for 1t the approval OF public sent-
mcnt The education of women has not
yet gone so far as 1t has ID Japan, and 1t
il developing more slowly because of the
gr alter restrictions. Chinese women have
never been allowed to appear in public.
They are never even spoken of by their hus-
bands, and ii would be the rudest in
suits to ask Chinaman concerning the
health even the existence of his wife
But education is doing wonders. An edu-
Gated woman will not submit to the tradi-
tional humiHations that have been borne
by Chinese wives and daughters ever since
the world began. end here and there, par
ticularly in the larger cities, where there
are number of sympatnizers to support
and encourage each other. women
breaking away from the restraints and as
serting their individuality in remarkable
manner.
Rev. Gilbert Reid's Work.
Rev Gilbert Reid has been working
among the mandarins for ten years. He
was formerly a missionary of the Presby-
terrain board. but in 1914 he broke away
from that organization because of differ
ences of opinion in regard to policy, and has
been labortng with remarkable patience and
persistence to demonstrate the accuracy of
his theory that the best way to regenerate
the Chinese is to work from the top down.
ward instead of from the bottom upward as
the missionaries have been doing. Many
people agree with him that the missionaries
would make much greater progress and do
more permanent good # they would spend
their time trying to educate and convert
the upper classes first instead of the coolies
On that issue Mr.. Reid split Off from the
Presbyterian board and has since depend
ent upon his own efforts aud the assistance
of friends. been devoting biz. time and tai
ents to the enlightenment CT the mandarins
and literary classes.
In 1897 he founded at Picking what hs
called an International Institute a sort of
combination OF club. college. lecture course
ana Information bureau. The plan was APP
proved ana the funds were furnished by the
emperor, several members of the ministry
and other high officials. and the member
snip included a lmost all Of the educated
r1en or progressive tendencies in that part
of the empire. He published a newspaper.
established courses of lectures on modern
sciences, political economy and similar SUBJ
Jects. started classes for detailed instruc-
n he ayfln
bravely when the explosion of 1900 oc-
Cured
The International Institute was the head
quarters OF the reformers. Mr.. Reid was
one or the closest advisers of Kang Yu Wei
and assisted him in preparing the famous
memorandum of reforms which he submit
Ted TO the emperor. and which was adopted
as the policy of the government until the
energetic dowager placed her dainty foot
nursery
Mr. MT Reid was the first man that Kang Yu
WEI sought when he received that pitiful
appear from the dragon throne begging for
the interference of the foreign legations
ana ms connection with the movement was
so intimate that the Institute International
was abolished and everyone connected with
IT was under the severest disfavor
After the Boxer troubles were over how
ever. Mr.. Reid resumed his work in Shang-
hal instead of in Picking for various rea-
sons. and has utilized the rooms Of a coma
tose polytechnic institute that was start
GU ooiiic years dSU anu duO"eu 10 decay.
For lack of funds he has been running 1t
with no other assistance than Mrs Reid
who has energy and ability equal to those
of her husband, and shares his zeal and
enthusiasm.
Not Religious Movement.
The International Institute is not a reli-
gious movement any more than the Impe-
rial Institute of London, Cooper Institute
OF New York or Armour Institute Of Chi
cago. 1t Is founded upon principles OF re-
lgion and morality. but gives religious
instruction worship and is a sort Of
Young Mems Christian Association with
secular purposes to attract the non-Chris-
tan population. 1t has the support and
approval of about four hundred mandarins.
Chinese officials and merchants, who have
purchased two and a half acres for build
Ing In the French concession Of Shanghai,
and now Mr.. Reid is trying to raise $175,-
W-S15.OOO for a building and 100000 as
permanent endowment, which, at per
cent, will pay enough to keep the scheme
running until IL has passed beyond the ex-
perimental stage.
Mr.. Reid Is entitled to support and en-
couragement, not only because Of the merit