Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-18
STORY OF YUNG WING
A Victim of Race Prejudice in
va Hartford.
is AN AMERICAN CITIZEN
Became Such While an Undergraduate
of Yale.
ORIGINATED THE EDUCATION
OF orientals in the occident in This
Country-Married Here and Has
Held Distinguished Positions.
ORIGINATED THE EDUCATION
Written for The Star,

Written for The Star.
The recently published statement that
Yung Wing, author, merchant, educator
and diplomat, had been requested to leave
his boarding place In Hartford, Conn, by
reason Of the race prejudice of a few other
boarders doubtless has been the occasion
OF sorrow and surprise TO many thousands
OF persons throughout the United States.
The social status of the prejudiced fellow
boarders has not been clearly defined, nor
is the public aware that any one of them
has accomplished anything for humanity
but the philanthropic work of Yung Wing
will be long remembered in both hemi-
spheres.
Yung Wing was born IN Macao, southern
China, in 1898. At the age of eight years
he entered one of the mission schools
taught by Christians Later he became a
pupil at the Morrison School under the pat
ronage of the Rev. S. r. Brown. a noted
American missionary. The poor but am
bilious Chinese lad determined by his own
EFFORTS TO obtain an American education,
and in 1S47 DR.. Brown, who was strongly
interested in him, brought him to the
United States. He entered the academy at
Monson, Mass. the former home of DIR.
Brown. where he devoted two and one
half years to preparing himself for college,
at the same time earning his living. In
1880 he was admitted 10 Yale College, and
four years later received. with high honor.
the first degree ever conferred on one of
his race by an American institution of
learning.
An Educational Mission.
While still an undergraduate Yung Wing
became citizen of the United States. He
had already been Christian for several
years. Repeatedly, during his college
course, he won prizes for English compo-
az nd
papers which attracted much attention
At this time he conceived the idea of the
educational mission which later was real
lied with distinction to himself and untold
benefit to his race The education of orien-
tails in the occident may be said TO have
originated with Yung Wing, for not until
1889 did Japan inaugurate the custom of
sending young men to Holland and other
European countries for training in western
arts and sciences, and China had not yet
awakened to that idea
In 1855 Yung Wing returned to China,
and was engaged in the silk and tea trade
fn Shanghai until 1864, when he entered
the service of the Chinese government, and
was appointed commissioner to purchase
from the United States machinery for what
Is now the kiaug Nan arsenal He had
l,een convinced for many years that In the
foreigners employed in the negotiation of
her international affairs, in collecting her
customs and in commanding her armies and
vessels OF war, China had failed to ind
public servants of the requisite degree of
efficiency and integrity. and that her only
remedy was to educate her own citizens for
those pursuits, which 1t had been her Gus
tom to intrust to Americans and English
men Therefore, he made an effort to bring
to frution the dream of his college days
to have a number of Chinese boys educated
In the United States at the expense of their
government.
Al first his plan was not favorably re-
ceived by the Chinese officials, but such
was his perseverance that after the lapse
IL. I'D in 7ffzxy To
his cause a few of the ministers at the court
in Picking.
His real opportunity came In 1870. In
June of that year occurred the memorable
massacre of Christians at Tientsn. The
disadvantage under which the Chinese com
nissioncrs labored III adjusting the sad af-
fair with the foreign powers whose sub
jeCts had been murdered made 1t possible
for Yung Wing to urge upon the govern
ment very forcibly the adoption of his plan
In August, 1871. the emperor issued an edct
embodying Yung Wings idea, and a sum
equal to Sl.JOt,O0o was appropriated to carry
f. into effect Advertisements were placed in
the Chinese newspapers. requesting native
boys of good families who wished TO go to
the United States 10 devote fifteen years TO
study, and, on returning to China to enter
the service of the government, to assemble
at Shanghai. About 1GO complied with the
request. For several months, with primers
and phrase books. they pursued the study
OF the English and Chinese languages: and
at the conclusion of the allotted period the
thirty who had made the most rapid ad-
Vsncement were chosen for the promised
promotion. They at once embarked for the
United States. in charge of a Chinese ad11-
Cational commission of which Yung Wing
who had been breyeted a mandarin OF the
third rank was chairman. Yam Phou &c
row publlcist and educator was a member
OF the party of students In q book entitled
When l Was a Boy In China" published a
Few years ago. he gives a detailed account
or this long and wonderful tourney IN an
unknown land. One of ha In
trip. after leaving San Francisco. was a
mold up OF their train. Several ner~ons
were shot and many valuables secured,
which occurrence, says the author. gave the
chinese youths some peculiar ideas 40 70
American civilization.
Placed in Different Academies
At Hartford. Conn. a large mansion In
tended to serve both as a home and snhaa,
building. had been erected for the strde,,s.
nut after brief residence either IN tb,s
mousse or as boarders In publtc-srtrt,a.,
american families they were placed IN tt,e
oiHereht academies OF New England 10 -
pare for college. " pre-
~ 0aCH oi the three years succeedire, H.,
departure OF the first body az s,,So.-
80 - > adaItional youths embarked and %;
SSbJosS Se W ioto' Ole hundred and twenty
LlI4LtSe students had landed on auerinass
shores Among them was a hot, - 'icaii
IS known as Sir Chentung Lang SyhaDrH
euF3y extraordinary and minister nIeninee''
temtiAry or China at Washington Po
. me selection OF this country for the es-
Sapnshnent or the educational mission ,sas
founded on the preference OF Ynnrr Wrs vas
lie could have procured for it welcome =,
England France or Germany, but bis o,, IL,
American citizenship. and his regars os wi
the colleges and schools of the IEn,t,
states led him to establish the mission IN
this country. +''1 III
Japanese students were already omit. an
nerous IN the New England PREPARATORY
schools and many were the dfstfnction
there noted between the characterfstics -
the Two oriental races. The Jan had q
fondness for American clothes and 60
toms, and readily adopted both The StJ
nese chung to his loose trousers and hIo,,.a
and was ceaselessly impressed wItb ~.
dGty OF loving and serving the land that
gave him his birth and provided for Ia Ia
his education. The Chinese learned and
used the English language with rreatsr