Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-02
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Copyright, 1907, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

BY WILLIAM l. ELLiS
Copyright 1907, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
SHANGHAI. China.
The man with gun representing Chinas
modern army of 1900 men. is not the most
significant figure in the empire to lay; that
place must be accorded to another man
In uniform, the student Of the western
learning How great and portentous Is
the change which has come over this hoary
kingdom may be seen in this new educa-
tional ferment. China is now committed,
,rreyocably to the occidental type OF edu-
cation.
After milIenniums Of proud self-suff1ciency,
and an appalling ignorance Of what the
west considers learning. the old system
of education, consisting of the memorial
ton of the Confucian classics, has fallen
with a crash knowledge of these classics
was until recently the only road to politi-
cal place and social power; men devoted
their lives to an endeavor to pass these
examinations, year after year, until the
number Of candidates beyond eighty years
of age was very large. All this has now
become one with China's past: the classlca!
examination system has been abolished ana
the famous old examination halls nave been
RACED. Today all who rise In emma must
pass through the gate of the western learn
ing.
*
The ancient contempt for foreigners and
things foreign gave way in 1900; today
China is almost as Jealous for western
WAYS as ever was Japan. There Is now
existent in this great mass of humanity
something approaching national con-
seriousness. which perceives that If the
ratfop ia to be preserved from extinction
If must be by the adoption and adaptation
of occidental education. In word, new
China must stand on the foundation OF the
new education , =,
therefore, with the passing of the old
examination system, there has come into
existence a national board of education.
Provincial governors are required TO roster
education of all grades In their territory.
An immortal decree has ordered that temples
may be taken and used for schools. so that
in many places the venerable buildings
which for centuries re-echoed with the
chants of the priests now are vocal with
the voices of young students. Universities,
colleges high schools, have sprung into
existence, almost over night, in all parts
of the nation. The best informed observers
of Chinese affairs can scarcely keep track
of the rise and progress Of the schools
Young Mems Christian Association secre-
tary says that he is frequently receiving
invitations to athletic competitions from
schools which he did not know existed.
Wherever one goes In China he finds the
military uniform OF the students Of the
higher schools.
y
japan thought to dominate the educa
ton of the new China, and apparently she
was in lust the position to do SO. She
had recently created for herself the educa
tional appliances needed by nation trying
to encompass western learning in bulk;
her books and charts were in the Chinese
text. She had valuable store Of expert
ence Thus the educational museum in
TT I~S{r 1-ls oh no cd a n M
pie contains chiefly japanese charts, pic
lures and models to show physical science,
geography, botany, zoology. history, BIZ
ography, manufacture and the manner of