no 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



about in the subject-matter of the examinations by these decrees of 

 1901, let us compare briefly some of the questions and topics of the 

 old regime with some of the most recent ones, viz., those of 1903, which 

 are the last to be given under the passing system. To make our survey 

 representative, we shall in the case of the recent examinations consider 

 those held in Chihli as the province containing the capital of the 

 realm, in Shangtung as the province where Confucius and Mencius 

 lived and taught, in Kiangsu as the province of greatest literary 



. - Ste^ 



Yuan Shih-Kai, Viceroy or Chihli, Chief Memorialist in behalf of Educational 

 Kefokm. The most powerful subject in China. 



fame, and in Canton as the province deemed most conservative in 



literary affairs. 



Sample Themes of the Old System. 



1828. From the ' Four Books.' To serve as topics of essays. 



To possess ability, and yet ask of those who do not; to know much, and 

 yet inquire of those who know less; to possess, and yet to appear not to 

 possess; to be full, and yet appear empty. 



He took hold of things by the two extremes, and in his treatment of the 

 people maintained the golden mean. 



A man from his youth studies right principles, and when he arrives at 

 manhood, he wishes to reduce them to practise. 



