The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-26
intellectual Awakening of China


pies minds. Societies Cloth for men
and women) have been formed through
out our country The objects of the
men S organizations are to promote the
unity and patriotism among the people
and the Romanisatiou of the Chinese
language Those of the women socie-
ties are to advocate women s rights,
unbinding of the feet and female edu-
cation.
According to reports of the different
a." Romanists, the new substitute for
the cumbersome Chinese characters has
been a marked success from the begin
ming, and the people appear to take
great pride in their new acquisition.
There is also a paper published in the
Romanised type, which is growing in
favor with all classes at Shanghai.
Though there is no official sanction to
the change, still when the popular SEN
timent is so strong the Government can
not help complying with the people S
wish Aside from what | have read
in the Chinese papers, reports have
come to me from returning Chinese
corroborating the fact that the govern
ment has authorized the destruction of
idols and the conversion of temples and
monasteries into schools and colleges.
At Wuchan, recently. a project, who is
an anti-idolist, though a thorough Con-
fucian, experimenting the change of a
certain monastery into schoolhouse,
ordered his workmen to pull down and
split the idols and commanded the
pieces to be flung into the river, which
flows at the door of the monastery.
The people seem to enter into the spirit
of the movement, and it has caused no
apprehension.
The sending of young Chinese
abroad, though widely known, is too
important to be omitted here. In these
days. hardly any boat sails from China
for foreign ports without carrying one
or more Chinese students as passengers.
More than eight thousand men, besides
women, are at present attending schools
in Japan. Among that number are two
interesting private students-one an
old man over eighty another boy less
than eleven. Both are actuated by the
spirit of the time.
Roughly speaking, two hundred and
twenty-eight are scattered about in
Belgium, fifty-six in France, sixty
seven in Germany, thirteen in Russia
and thirty-six in England. One hun
bred and fifty have found their way to
American colleges.
The World s Chinese Students Fed
Grafton, which has been organized at
Shanghai, is one of the most effective
instruments by which the transition of
China now on foot will be accom-
plished. Its object is:
(1) To help in the advancement of
the Chinese Empire by establishing,
(a) translating department for the
of Western knowledge;
(b) a press for the publication of
books, newspapers and periodicals, and
(c) an educational mission for the pro-
pagation of modern education through
all parts of China, and the introduction
of one common language (Kuan-hua)
the masses.
(2) To promote closer unity and
sympathy amongst Chinese students
residing in all parts of the world
CD To render mutual assistance in
various practical ways by furnishing
and recommendations
and seeking employment,
giving medical and legal advice and af-
fording members who may travel or
reside in any part of the world home
life and friends where branch associa-
tons exist.
(4 To assist deserving students to
prosecute their studies abroad for