The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-01

travellers currency is always undergoing
a shave. The Government has decided to
establish a uniform system of currency,
consisting Of gold. silver and copper, the
silver tael to remain the unit.
Patent law and trademark la WIS are now
being prepared; in fact, China is being
~qu!ckened in many ways by the increasing
knowledge which she is acquiring Of the
ways of Western civilization. They are
even considering a change In the alphabet
and chara cters in order that the language
may be more easily learned.
MORE NEWSPAPERS
I nave already referred to the fact that
China has until recently been practically
without newspapers. There is no better
evidence Of the progress which China is
making than is to be found in the increase
in the number Of her newspapers.
While the circulation Of these papers is
small as compared with the circulation Of
similar papers in the United States and
Japan, still the growth is constant and the
~oolloquial dialect sometimes employed
brings the news and editorial pages within
the comprehension Of those who oannot
read books. Many Of these newspapers are
published in the interest Of reforms.
One Of the papers started at Hongkong
opposes the examination system by which
civil officials were selected, the foot binding
custom and the habit of wearing the queue.
The editor cut of his W queue as an ex-
ample and Is now encouraged by the fact
that the soldiers are gradually adopting o
like course.
He is also able to note progress In the
matter OF foot binding. An imperial ediot
has beer issued exhorting the people to
abandon the practice and numerous soci-
cites are engaged in spreading literature
upon this subject.
EXAMINATIONS ABOLISHED.
More important still is the recent abo-
lition Of the examinations. This Ia q
revolution that has shaken the ancient
empire to it's foundation, for the examina
ton system not only affected the Govern
ment but moulded the educational system
as well.
In the larger cities elaborate provisions
were made for these examinations, in some
places from 10 900 to is 200 stalls being con-
structed. These stalls were about three feet
wide by six feet deep and high enough to
permit the student to stand erect. The only
furniture was q board for a seat and an
other for a desk.
At given hour the students entered these
stalls, were given their themes and kept in
the stalls without communication until
their tasks were finished. Now the stalls
stand idle and the officials are chosen from
the graduates OF the newly established
schools.
We visited the examination stalls at
Pekin and found them in ruins. They
had been occupied by the Boxers in 1900,
and the rafters were torn out and used
fer fuel. After the roofs had fallen In the
unprotected walls rapidly crumbled.
The conservatives have been very much
incensed by the abandonment Of the ex-
%aminations, but the reformers regard it
as a long step in the right direction.
On every hand one sees signs Of intel
lectual development. As stated in another
article, the private school was for centuries
the only source from which instruction in
books could be gained Now a complete
system OF schools ia being established,
consisting Of primary, middle and high
schools, with colleges in the larger cities.
viceroy Yuan Shih KA, who presides