The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-29
ny FREDERIC J. HAsK1N.

BY FREDERIC J. IIAsi<IN;
The most extraordinary student mi !,
Chinese pupils to the capital of ia
pan. AS these young men come from
every province In China their, exodus
may we'll be called national move
ment. Among them are hundreds from
the westernmost province. Szechwan,
which stands before the gates OF Thi :
bet. To journey from the interior OF
this province to Tokyo is greater IN
travel around the world. A more
striking fact that illustrates the eH-
tent to which China Is waking up Is
that the largest number OF students
from any one province have come from
Human, which was the last part OF
China to admit missionaries. and which
less than ten years ago was resisting
the Introduction of the telegraph.
The surprising thing about this move
men is the rapdtyy With Tneh u mas
missioned students from China to ia
pan were two boys sent here ten years
lago. Six years ago the number was
less than a score. The movement con
It'll the end of the Russo-Japanese War.
when it developed into rush. 1t is
said that more than a thousand stu
dents came to Japan, on single yes
sci. The height OF the movement was
reached last year when the number
was about 16. 900. From that time un-
til now there has been rapid DE-
cline, and the total is now less than H.
900.
Ibeen advanced in explanation OF this
great decrease. One is that the chi
nese have become suspicious OF ia
pans Intentions regarding their coun
neighbors on this account. The other
cause assigned Is the general misun-
iderstanding among the chinese aoou.
the length of time required TO secure
ed thereto. In two Of the central
provinces Of China the report was
started that learning was entirely free
lin Tokyo, and that graduates were
AS a consequence. OF this absurd story
over 1000 ambitious young Ceiestiai;s
lhastened to the land OF promise, with
1.-THE result that most OF them had 70
Among the short-term students, father
and son would often be found IN the
same class. No matter how poorly
equipped these disappointed seekers ar
ter learning might Pc dheg catars az
by sign which appeared in a yillnge
street in one Chinese city: "Engiisf
| taught from A to p
mass of Chinese students in TOKYO u
that the sleepy old Flowery Kingdom
lhas at last begun to stir under 1ne
influence Of Western eixiizatl9n mel
be necessary If she was to preserve
her national existence. For years !,
has been evident that she must mak !.
changes in her educational system, II
her her monetary system. in her transpor r:
tation system, in her mining system
h has long nee been clear that il China wish
ed to hold her own she must be COM
pletely overhauled ana re.ornlsd afte,
Isending its young men abroad to studS
lin ali departments that would hell
them to build up their country, Cn mn.
decided to do nkewi Use , I1,et of chinese
students flock to Japan instead OF go
ing to Europe or America. Japan i
AN Eastern nation whose written lEti,
ruage resembles their own, SO tha
within a few months or a year the!
can learn enough to attend classes : i, !.
! the Japanese language. II they nay
,Inot time to learn Japanese, comple.'
courses are offered IN law ahq Re side.
this, the expense was a great factol
lin determining Tokyo as their aesu
nation. They can study here tor :
year on what the tra ans 9ronld cost
!, In the early stages OF the migratlo,,
!, fully half Of the students were sent !, =
! Japan by the various provlnciaal q a't !,
} local goyernments OF On stiuG 9vt i,
Tokyo probably not more than on 9 9
.. third are supported by gover ,lan,,, :.
funds. All such are given SO e n lnon ~,
which they must make cover We b uMs,r sen en-
by wealthy families. by groups OF OF , Poo
other organizations and societies. ~
) motives aotuating these youns ont t'e q
! mere curiosity. others have been IN
!. f 'iu BY the thought that study
, Japan would be a sure path to politlcH
|prefernent, Then, too there re r .sd q,
!, p3olitical Views who have come her
! to escape the restrictions and ,conven
!. lions which hedge them about
China In chlness p imnt aH ak 'e Po tnae
= to ou be free have RECALLED themselve
!; With the literature of socialism, nay
drunk deep With Tolsto u, a in, en rexn, D
tionary societies. eS
White While a certain number may spen
; their time in idling. II political ag 4
: tation and In dissipation, i t., may !, .
sga asIR. eo pxr pc They have bee
E.ss nS,na the ma hlgA e then
i h hes1 GOOD trainlns in the Chinese litera
4 tire and not a few OF them arc degre
linen. A census taken under the dlrec
o zion Of the Chinese soyernIment SHOW
that the aTefasS Sea as ae rule the
/ cut Oft their cues and adopt Europea
q dress That the percentage OF femal
: Students is small ls shown by the FAC
$ that there are less than a hundred glrl
THE Chinese students In Tokyo so 4