Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-16
CHINA IS AWAKENING
Novel Reader Produced by an
Anonymous Author.
GIVES REAL INFORMATION
Will Mean Something to the School
Children.
TOUCHES ON OUTSIDE TOPICS
Sort Of Book Calculated to Arouse
Spirit Of Patriotism-Not
Written by q Radical.
TOUCHES ON OUTSIDE TOPICS

Special Cablesram to The Star.
PEKING. December l6.-There are
many indications that the lesson of the
rise of japan has not been lost on the
more intelligent thinkers among the Chi
nese. One of the most striking is to be
found In the publication Of a series of
ten little volumes entitled THE Chinese
National Reader" for use in the public
elementary schools throughout the celes-
tial empire. These are remarkable pro-
auctions, beautifully gotten up and Illus
trated. and containing a series of les
sons on all sorts of subjects-gcography,
natural history, science. literature, etc.
To the American reader they are especial
~ interesting for the glimpses they af-
ford of the Chinese way Of looking at
things. An American going to Shanghai,
for instance, would consider that city be-
yond all question finer. handsomer,
cleaner. better ordered in every way than
any native Chinese town. The instructor
OF the rising generation of Cinnamon,
however. evidently takes the opposite
view. The streets of Shanghai he
says. ARE very fine notwithstanding the
fact that municipal affairs are wholly
managed by foreigners" The writer Is
intensely patriotic, and his prejudice in
favor of things Chinese peeps out on near
ly every page
Here. for example, is his view of the
Race Question Raised.
race question: THE red, brown and black
races are subject to the white race. so
that they are constantly oppressed, and
their numbers are daily wasting away.
AS to the nations Of the yellow race.
Japan made an alliance with England
/ ~ ~A - - 4
that the white race dares not despise
japan. The other small nations have
either been absorbed or have accepted
white protection. In view of the size of
our Chinese empire. the whites regard
China as a sick man, and would like to
boast that the world belongs to them as
the highest race on earth. Let us wipe
out this saying"
How this saying is to be wiped out
scription is recommended I'm the time
of the Tang dynasty" proceeds the book,
everybody was trained to rms, and
must be so again II China is to be a
great nation. China should have a regu--
lar army of several millions, with several
tens Of millions in reserve Neverthe-
less. the writer cannot help seeing that
there are obstacles In the way of the
accomplishment OF his scheme. ours"
he declares, lis the oldest civilization,
the virtues Of the ancient sages. but 1t
is impossible not to admit the defects of
our national customs, as. for instance.
a. stupid adherence to outworn supersti-
ton. such as fot binding and opium
smoking
Animus Toward England.
In a long chapter on India the animus
Of the anonymous compiler toward Eng
land is shown. He says: ITO the south of
Asia is the large maritime country called
Yin-tu Qndia). 1t has formed an organ
lied nation for 5000 years. and in fact. its
civilization is second in date only to our
own. The land extends in length anu
breadth 1000 II q 300 miles,. and the pop
ulation OF 25O,OOOOOO is also only second
to that of our country. But it is a mere
dependency under British rule, and dares
not offer any resistance What can be the
reason? In the fifteenth century the Por-
tuguese and Dutch began to penetrate In
dia. and enjoyed commercial influence for
over a hundred years. English traders
followed them, and gradually appropri-
ated their profits. India being at the
time In state OF internal disorder, a
certain princely family took advantage of
the assistance of the French to mount
the throne. The French thereupon held
their important frontier posts and carried
away their jewels ana valuables. besides
usurping the power Of appointing persons
to carry on the government. The English,
envying them, went to war and broke the
power of the French, SO that the Indian
people submitted to the British. These
things happened in the eighteenth century,
The English knew that the Indians
were ignorant Of combined patriotism,
and moreover, devised plans to keep
them divided. SO as to hold the various
principalities in subsection. They caused
the Indians to fight and STAY each other,
and opportunities served, annexed
some Of the country. They also raised
armies of INDIANS and eradicated otter
ally dug up with a hoe) those who did
not submit, till by degrees they pacified
the whole of India. After rebellion
| about the middle of the nineteenth CEN
fury the Queen of England in due course
assumed the style Of Empress of India.
The British government in India drills the
natives as officers and soldiers but en-
ploys Englishmen as generals. It permits
the employment of natives as subordi-
mates, but with English:ntn to oversee
them, and no Indian Is ever granted any
civil or military post that carries infiu-
ence. ACCORDING to ancient Indian custom
the walls of houses were usually hung
with swords, but the English fearing re-
bellion or resistance. have seized and de-
stroyed these weapons. Whoever conceals