Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-06-01
STUDY CHINESE
IN new YORK
Group Of Philosophers Live IN
Bamboo Forest and Teach
Lore Of Far East.
SCHOOL IN A TEA GARDEN
But a Foreign Language May Also Be
Learned BY Dancing, Head Phil.
osophef FInds-con,es From
Famous Family.

New York.-Not many people know
that among the many interesting
things which develop in New York
city Is a group Of Chinese philosophers
who dwell In q bamboo forest. Know
ing that the forest Is on Macdougal
street helps, for many interesting
things come out Of Macdougal street.
The head Of the phllosophic group is
DR.. Liu Tien Tao, who received de-
grees both In China and at Columbia,
and who, once week, may be found
imparting knowledge of Chinese Ian
guage, philosophy and poetry to a
group Of students. These include art
lists, writers and Chinese students.
The Chinese In themselves are inter-
esting, for they come from different
parts Of the world, where they have
lived since leaving their native land.
One speaks French and does not un-
derstand English; another speaks Rus
Sian.
-, Teach Chinese.
Chinese ID taught by Doctor Liu in q
semi.popular way, much as the Euro
pean languages are taught. It Is COM
paratively simple to obtain a slight
working knowledge Of the language,
the students and. The delight Of writ
Ing mysterious characters such as
those which grow on tea chests is
one Of which the pupils never tire. In
time they expect to a certain extent
to read Chinese poetry and philosophy.
In the meantime they imbibe 1t from
Doctor Llu, who later is to arrange
special courses in Chinese poetry and
philosophy, with the aid Of lecturers
from Columbia.
Doctor Liu believes that his work is
valuable in promoting mutual under.
standing between Chinese and Ameri.
cans. He thinks each country can OBJ
tain Of the other something Of value
which 1t needs-that China can get
practical business methods from Amer.
lea and America can feel the quieting
influence Of Chinese philosophy.
In the meantime, the American stu
dents Of Chinese are absorbing knowl-
edge literally In bamboo forest. II
is something like Shakespeare's
tongues In trees, books In running
brooks" At the Bamboo Forest the
students read-if they can make It out
Chinese poetry written on lacquered
tables, some Of It by great national
poets and other verses contributed by
Doctor Liu himself. Big decorative
Chinese characters signifying 'happi
ness" or wisdom" cover the walls o,
the bamboo poles which form the forest
In Bamboo Forest.
This forest is q Chinese tea garden
which, with American business vision
Doctor Liu saw would have to pay
overhead charges while he was carry
Ing on his chosen work and gathering
around him as applicants for Chinese
wisdom little .coteries Of interested
philosophers and friends. The table,
covered with Chinese characters were
all decorated by the head philosopher
himself.
The Bamboo Forest Is indoors In ,
basement Of the little old Macdouga
street house In winter, but In fall
weather extends to a more real bam
boo forest in the open at the rear.
Doctor Liu IL a philosophic philoso
pher. He takes the American world al
he ants It and adopts Its customs ant
habits. He attended the recent bal
Of the Independent Artists at the Wal
dorf dressed 40 q prince Of the oil
Tang period. But he danced American
dances with the rest Of the American
world, an accomplishment he learne,
while at Columbia.
The head philosopher Of the Bamboo
Forest comes from a family Of boil
students and warriors. His father wa
president Of q Chinese college, and al
uncle, the famous Gen. Hwang Hsine
led the republican forces In the revo
luton In China In 1912.
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