ON ITEMS OP CHINESE. ETHICS AND PHILOSOPHY. 55 



educatiou dictated by Tseng Kuo-FAN the father of the late 

 Marquis Tseng, a recent honoured representative in this metro- 

 poHs and country. The principles so indicated were these 

 [applicable to women and girls, as well as boys and men], 

 namely: — 1. Preparedness for examinations. 2. Weaving. 

 3. Early rising. 4. Cleanliness within and outside tlie house. 

 5. Reading. 6. The culture of vegetables. 7. The care of 

 hsh and of swine.* Thus we perceive an acquaintance with 

 subjects in certain countries looked upon as menial, holds in 

 China a place with such as are comprised in the highest order 

 of education. 



[In relation to this part of the general subject I may, 

 within parentheses, allude to the most recent report published 

 on the substitution of the method of education described in 

 the preceding paragraphs, by that which finds favour in our 

 own country, the place in which this took place being our 

 Chinese colony of Hong Kong. According to the report in 

 question, " As regards education, we deeply regret that we 

 cannot sympathise with those to whom it seems the panacea 

 for all ills — native or foreign. No greater mistake was ever 

 made by the undoubtedly well-meaning but sadly mistaken 

 officials who have during the past two decades controlled 

 the destinies of our Eastern colonies than their support of 

 the Education fad, which has so utterly spoiled the lower 

 classes in this country. To teach the small Chinese or the 

 small Briton the Three R's is commendable enough. To 

 teach him m.ore is to unfit the pupil for all that is known as 

 menial work. The result, in Hong Kong and the Straits 

 Settlements, is not to raise a race of intelligent servants or 

 artisans, but one whose members despise all but ' genteel ' 

 employments. Clerkships — Government clerkships, if pos- 

 sible, but clerkships, at any rate—are alone sought by the 

 little Orientals, whose fathers were happy to earn a few cash 

 daily for many a long hour of work. Who cares to become 

 a ' boy ' coolie, or godown-keeper, when he can rival the 

 young European in writing and book keeping, knows history, 



* New China and Old, by Archdeacon Moule, p. 151. Apropos to the 

 above the following comment on a treatise on land law pertaining to 

 Cheshire 50 years ago is given, as in its spirit nearly approaching the 

 principles here laid down, namely : — "Man to the plow, wife to the cow, 

 son to the mow, girl to the sow, and the rent was netted." And its 

 counterpart : — Man tallylin, girl piano, son Greek and Latin, wife silk 

 and satin, and — the farmer gazetted." But Cliina's yeomen and their 

 families are a long way behind the condition so indicated. 



