Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-07
YELLOW PERIL A FANCY
Americans Fail to Understand
Chinese, Says Student at u. v. NJ.
Empire * Alive with the Spirit of
Revolution as People Rcspond TO
Touch of Western Civilian
ton.

ne ertlre CnlneSe empire, says
Jeru X. Shcn of the University Of Yer
mont, is alive with the spirit of revolu-
tion. Tho people are responding to the
touch of western civilization. and a mod
Trn army in China is n certainty in the
near future. But America and Europe
have nothing whatever to fear from the
ro-called yellow peril.
MIR Shon. now a sor homore in the on
Enecrng dCpar tmcht OF the university,
Is the son of a prominent citizen of Ticn-
Tsin, who was formerly governor of n
portion OF the Chinese empire, but who
retired from public life after the Boxer
uprising and devoted his attention 70
financial undertakings until his death re-
gently.
MIR. SHEN'S EDUCATION.
The young man began his education at
the age Of six in the schools of his native
land His family decided to send him to
America to complete his studies. and he
has now been in this country for five
years. During that time he has not Wis
tied his home.
He studied for a time in the public
schools of Amherst, Mass. and then at
tended Mercersburg Academy. at Mer-
Cersburg, Pa, for one year. This nst-
tuition is one of the Leading private
schools in America for boys He began
his college training at the University of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. but was
led 10 enter the University of Vermont
n year ago by certain advantages not to
lie found elsewhere. Here he Is studying
civil engineering, and rooms at 14l
Joomis street,
soo CHINESE STUDENTS IN L. S
There are so of us now studying in
this country" says he Every year the
Chinese government chooses 100 young
men from those who make the best rec
crds in their studies, ana sends them
to America Here they tit themselves in
various lines Of work, and form many
strong friendships among Americans. so
that they return to China trained to
take places of leadership in the move
ments of progress row under way there
while, mt the same time, their under
Standing Of both the western spirit and
the Chinese point 81 view qualities them
to be Of the greatest help in moulding
the foreign relations of their own coun-
try"
Mr.. Shen, however, is not a government
student here, but is studying at his own
expense. lie plans to graduate here and
then 20 abroad for study in Germany and
France partly in order to acquire a
speaking knowledge of the Ian
EuaGes Of those countries At
present however he fears that
some turn Of events in his native prov
ince may demand his return to his home,
whore his widowed mother now lives. In
China he has also a brother and several
sisters.
RAILROADS STARTED REVOLUTION
it Is his intention, when his studies are
finished, to 20 into the work of building
railroads in China Many lines of rail-
road are now in operation there but the
number Yet to be built is far greater
and there is a big field for the services
of civil engineers.
II is the railroad situation in China,
says he, that has given rise to the present
revolution The imperial government at
tempted to nationalize some of the large
railroad undertakings now under way in
the empire thus taking them out of the
hands of tho companies that were build
ing the lines. But the real point at issue
IS the governments effort to build the
railroads with foreign loans Were this
accomplished, says Mr.. Chen, the lines
would be practically in control of foreign
capital, al least for a considerable num-
Der of years, and to this many of the
people object.
UPRISING WIDESPREAD.
The revolution, says he. is widespread
throughout the empire, especially in the
southern provinces. 1t has the hearty
support of the educated classes, but thi.
does not mean the support Of the nobility
for many of these are not well educa- cd
What the outcome will be is Impossible
TO foresee, but the possibilities include q
constitutional monarchy and republi.
can form of government Another poss.,
bllty is that single provinces may be.
come independent. Part of the army Is
IN sympathy with the revolution, anC
the revolutionary forces are well organ
tied.
"YELLOW PERIL" A MERE FANCY
There is no such thing" says Mr.
Shcn. "as a yellow peril The Chinese
are not a people who seek war, Theii
entire history training and beliefs indi
cate Il preference for peace.
There has been a great improvement
in the Chinese army in recent years
Young men from China have been trained
In the military schools Of the Unite,
States and Germany and other countries
and they have done much to build up al
efficient army
More along this line viii be done II
US the need of a modern army. a power