University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-11-17
China S CiuI Service

In the city of Peking one of the
novel sights is that of 10000 examina-
ton cells in which the candidates for
the civil degrees are examined. They
appear, from a distance, symmetrical
but on closer scrutiny they are
found to be little two by fours" built
in long rows of perhaps thirty to
row. These cells, are one story in
heighth, built of brick, and are cover
led with tile roofs. They are inter-
sected by passage ways; thus the ex-
aminers are enabled to walk between
I them with ease, and are permitted ac-
cess to and from them. Over the en-
tire field are scattered towers which
appear high when compared with the
low roofs all around.
The examinations which take place
here. are equal to the civil service eX-
Iam:nations of Great Britain, and are
the door through which all must pass
to hold government positions. These
examinations mean great deal to
those who sit for them, and precau-
tions are taken to prevent the posi-
bility of cheating They are of three
to four days in length, and during this
entire time the competitors are con-
fined in their cells and their food and
writing materials are brought to them.
Their writing materials are brushes
sticks of Chinese black which is work
ed up into 4 paste on a little slab OF
slate, and of paper that absorbs the
wet ink. Questions are given to the
student on entering and with these
he has to struggle for the three days.
Many are the tales told of the candi-
dates and the tricks they have resorted
to as aids in the examination. In
China, as in other countries. graft has
power, but in China, it is known by
the name of squeeze among the
foreigners. Squeeze" is sometimes
resorted to in these examinations
The long fingernail of the Chinaman is.
sometimes Of aid. 1t is said that on
one occasion the answers were written
on some fine rice paper which as you
know permits of close rolling. This
was slipped into the nail of the China
man, which had curled over some dis
tance from the finger.
Another ruse adopted by a bright
Chinese student was to sit down on
the linked type of the questions as
they were being carried across a court
yard. This student wore white trou-
sers and, returning to his cell, he
took off the questions" and proceeded
to work from them.
Three days of mental strain is hard |
on some Of the students. and as they |
get deeper into the classics the So
lutions of them seem farther away. |
Under this strees there is but one re-
sort open to the poor Chinaman-that
oI committing suicide by taking opium.
They choose that as their favorite
mode of ending their life in the flow
cry kingdom. After the dose has been
swallowed the troubled candidate
passes away from the classics in rest
ful dreams.
A strange thing happens when the
death of candidate in the civil SER
vice examination occurs. The body
S never taken out through the door.
70 do this would bring bad fortune
IN the cell, forever. So the rear wall
s torn down and thus the body is
aiken away. The opium may either
De smuggled in by the candidate or
'arried in by bribed official To
lave entered this examination and
hen have failed is a great disgrace
n China. Hence the recourse to
opium.