Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-09
ORIENT NOT INVITING
Few Professional Openings
for Young Americans.
EARNINGS NOT LARGE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRACTICE
EXTREMELY RARE.
Numerous Inquiries Received in China
From the United States and Else
where as to the Outlook.


the United States regarding the orient as an
inviting field for young men who have en-
tered the professions of law, medicine and
dentistry, Consul Anderson reports to the
Department of Commerce and Labor, ex-
planning the methods and practice that OBJ
tain In China. The consul does not offer
much encouragement for young men going
to China to engage in profession.
while there is always more or less dis
position he says. ION the part Of some
young men to push into untried portions OF
the world not only for travel and expe-
rience, but also for livelihood, the number
of inquiries received by foreigners in China
from people in the United States and else
where as to opportunities to engage in bust
ness, and even to practice the professions
here, seems to indicate that there is rather
weil-defined movement toward the far
east among some classes. In countries like
Great Britain, Germany. France and others,
with colonial connections. this movement
has existed for many years. and is recog-
niZed course for certain portion of the ma
TONS population. But such a movement in
the United States is new and notable. and
probably indicates turn of national devel-
opment and national life which merits at
tention.
Earnings Not Large.
buSiHesS opportunities III tic La eflSt al o
comparatively well understood in their at
tractiye as we'll as in their unattractive
phases. Opportunities for the practice of
the professions, however, are comparatively
unknown. In some lines of professional
work in the far east there are well-defined
limits of prosperity and adversely, but In
others the result Of Anglo-Saxon effort Is
yet to be shown. One reason for move
ment among young men to come to the far
TO ptjce professions is In reports
which have come to their ears OF exception
al opportunities enjoyed by other men, Of
the good fortune of some men in building
up large business connections, and of the
earning of large. fees by men in practice
here.
THAT large fees have been earned both
In medicine, law, dentistry and otherwise
is to be freely admitted. 1t does not fol-
low, however, that all practitioners here
can earn fees of this~sort. or that the OPP
portunity will come here any oftener than
it does in the United States. If 1t were true.
which Is probably not the case, that the
average earnings of professional men In
any line here are greater than they are In
the United States, it is to be considered
that increased cost of living. Increased ex-
penses for books. medicines and supplies and
the absence Of other things which go to
make life worth living. may combine to
render practice here less profitable and sat-
iSfactory In the long run than practice IN
Europe or America. Nor has the young
professional man here any better chance OF
work or advancement than he has at home.
Generally speaking, and considering mat
ters in all their lights, l do not believe
that young men In America have anything
to gain by attempting to build up pro-
fessional practice in China.
There are three professions which are
attrac sing the attention and employing the
abilities of foreigners in China at the pres
ent time-those of the law. medicine and
its kindred profession, dentistry The Chi
nese people have had all three Of these
DrOfaSSionS for Int their nractlca has
been far different from the practice In
other lands. and it will be some time be-
fore Chinese competition in any of them
will be felt except through foreign training
and as a result of the efforts OF foreigners.
Chinese medical men have not been in very
good standing among their own people for
many years; Chinese dentists have done
more than their fellows in the medical line
and all things considered Chinese dentistry
while ii can not compare with modern den
tistry practiced in America and Europe
especially in the former. IS far above what
might have been expected when other
sciences III China are considered.
Practice of the Law.
With regard to the law Consul Anderson
says the practice in China is entirely diff
ferent from that in the United States and
Europe There is some opportunity for out
side lawyers in the consular ColAts, where's
administration is based upon the laws and
procedure of the country of each consulate,
and which affects foreigners in their own
relations and disputes we'll disputes
between Chinese citizens and foreigners.
There requirements for admission
to the bar in China for the reason that
there is no bar. Each consular court has
it's rules for admission. and when an attor-
ney is allowed to practice In one court it is
taken as an international discrimination II
any other consular court does not extend
like courtesy. He says:
There should be no false idea that the
attorneys practicing law in China are max
ing immense fortunes, or that there Is much
of opening for other lawyers in this field.
Doubtless there will be an increase in the
law business in China foreign Interests
increase but 1t Is very doubtful indeed II
this increase will keep ahead of the natural
increase in the number of practicing attor-
neys. There Is a growing demand, too. for
attorneys of experience; and loose practices
which have long obtained will soon be ended
by the sheer force of the demands of the
business communities concerned for better
service Some attorneys practicing in
Shanghai are making large incomes The
younger and less experienced are making
little. IL any. money. and most OF them.
like many at home, are glad to give their
uncertain small practice for position
bringing In a thousand dollars gold a year.
especially IL the position be in way re-
lated to their profession.
There Is but limited field for the law
in China at best. and most Of the field is
already occupied by men who are well es-
the intense conservatism of the dominant
British interests. and who will probably
hold their position by reason OF such con-
servatism whether they are entitled to do
so on the score of merit or not.
ut can safely be said that there Is little
to encourage a young man entering upon
the practice Of law in Chinese port. I'm
less he Is able to buy his way into an old
established firm his struggle for business
is fully as keen as it would have been at
home and he has neither the field to work
in or the restrictions to guide him and pro-
tect him from mistakes as he has at home.
If he Is honest and conscientious he is like
ly to find that he fails In competition for
business because there are competitors who
are not honest and conscientious"
Community and Missionary Physicians
With regard to medicine his report states
that its practice is confined to the work of
physicians not connected with missionary
society, generally called community doc
tors and to those who are connected with
missionary societies. There is considerable
difference In the nature of the practice OF
these two classes of physicians, although
physicians of each class may be of the best
IL