The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-29
Chinese Students in Tokyo

flor club life. Tho representatives OF
each OF the eighteen provinces have q
club Of their own. convenient to the
schools which they attend. Each of
these provincial clubs chooses d.
rector. and the eighteen men thus Sc.
lectcd are the board of managers of
the general Chinese Students Club.
This club is quartered in a handsome
building, and Is equipped and appointed
| in a style which seems luxurious to
the average Oriental who knows lir'
ment these students have organized
IThespan club and leased theatre,
which will seat 1000 persons. Most
lof the plays produced are borrowed
from the American stage.
| Japan was not prepared for any such
Influx OF Celestial students. nor were
the Chinese sufficiently well advanced
in Western educational methods to
afforded by the Japanese system. Only
| a comparatively small number haze
been found eligible to enter the high
err Japanese institutions of learning. 1t
became necessary either to establish
schools expressly for tho Chinese or
to add Chinese departments to exist
ing institutions. Proba bly, half of all
the Chinese students In Tokyo are now
attached to less than a dozen schools.
! The others are scattered through some
forty other institutions or are studying
privately SO much dissatisfaction re-
suited from the presence OF the social
| ed rapid finish" students that both the
IChinese and japanese authorities have
taken action to discourage their COM
ling here in future
| The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ition workers report that the moral and
religious conditions surrounding the
Chinese students in Tokyo are most
alarming. They are in the midst OF IN
fluences tending to extreme radicaiisn,
and gross immortality. They are re-
moved from parental oversight. and
are freed from all their old restraints.
Although most of then them are married san;sd
I They are constantly exposed to obscene
tstory- tellers. dancing girls, low the
atres and houses where vice Is cheap
and popular Many n.y. OF their boarding
Ill repute. Until very recently they
were besieged by Chinese political agi-
|tators who industriously tried to fill
ABLY no other body OF students In the
world has ever been thrown in an en-
vironment OF greater temptation and
iperil
In order to improve this grave situa-
Etiop the Young Mems Christian Assoc
citation of China has inaugurated
comprehensive campaign in behalf OF
the students AT the present time it
and upwards Of, $4,000 will be spent
this year. Educational and entertain
lment inducements are provided by
means of night classes. courses OF lee
\
ttific demonstrations. social functions,
|athletic contests and other practical
and wholesome means of diversion.
The results already show that the
students are remarkably open to the
offices of friendship, and great influ-
Ience for good will undoubtedly result
from the associations effort.
The energetic campaign being wased
in Tokyo at present is a good illus
ltration of the Young Mems Christian
associations flexlbility and resource
funess. Here we have body of men
accredited to China. who have left
there to prosecute their work among
the Chinese in another country. The
i effectiveness of this quick adaptation
| to circumstances Is shown by the fact
THAT they have here thousands of rep
lresentative young men from all parts
Iof the Chinese empire, who are con-
i|centrated in a district less than three
|miles in diameter. On account OF be-
ling strangers the students are much
more approachable and responsive than
Iif they were at home The Young Mems
IChristian Association deserves to be
complmented upon the promptness
with which it took advantage of Its
opportunity here.
| Copyright. 1908. by Frederic j..
i Haskin.) -
i To-morrow-1mperial Family of ia
4 pan.