CHINA. 29 



benefit from them. The reckless prodigality with -which labor 

 was expended in works of doubtful utility showed the esteem 

 in which it was held. A man was of as little account to the 

 builders of the Pyramids as is the reef-making polyp to the in 

 habitant of the coral islands. 



What was true of Egypt was equally true of India, of Mexico 

 and Peru; wherever the separation of a nation into castes divi 

 ded society against itself, and planted the seeds of its disso 

 lution in the ignorance of the masses of the people. 



The notable exception which China furnishes to other ancient 

 nations, is due to the fact that centuries ago she began to 

 organize and practically develop the national intellect. She 

 has thus, to a considerable degree, obviated the evils of caste, 

 created a motive for industry and thrift, and maintained her 

 self in permanent prosperity, while other nationalities have 

 melted away. 



China owes her immense population and wealth to the most 

 thrifty and skillful agriculture practiced on the face of the earth, 

 except in Japan and Holland. Shoo-Ming, the primeval farm 

 er, who first substituted grain for raw meat, and the Emperor 

 Wanti, who took the plow into his own hand and originated one 

 of the great festivals of the nation, are more highly honored 

 than those monarchs who aggrandized the Empire by the con 

 quest of new peoples. One of their Sagas, &quot;Keep your lands 

 clean, manure them richly, make your fields resemble a garden,&quot; 

 though it has a modern sound to us, is of great antiquity. 

 Scarcely any other country exhibits such practical obedience to 

 the teachings of its prophets as China gives to those of Confu 

 cius, whose laws regulating labor are still carried into effect by 

 the government. As the government, i. e. ; the Emperor, is the 

 universal owner of land, the only security the laborer enjoys 

 with respect to its possession is the perfection of its culture; 

 for, though the law allows him to be dispossessed at pleasure, 

 custom continues it in the same family for many generations. 



There is sound statesmanship in the proclamation of Wan 

 Choo Tung, Commissioner of Revenue of the Nan Kiang prov 

 inces, in the year 1845, who desired to introduce the silk cult 

 ure into his district. After a somewhat exhaustive lecture on 

 the advantages of this industry, he commands &quot; all our officers 

 to assemble the village gentry and elders, and let thejn admon- 



