REVIEWS OP RECENT BOOKS 273 



self-imposed limits of the book. Then chapters on the other nations, 

 on the new Chinese, Chinese personalities, newspapers, and the China 

 of the future. 



The style is never dry, and the author is full of instances and 

 illustrations that make good reading. He has an admirable apprecia- 

 tion of the excellent qualities of the Chinese, and is not blind to their 

 defects. He indulges in a good deal of repetition ; we are told re- 

 peatedly that every little town and almost every little village wants 

 to instal an electricity plant (which may be true in South China, 

 but hardly elsewhere) ; that two Britishers founded the Maritime 

 Customs and the Salt Gabelle ; that Anglo-Saxons in the Far East 

 should co-operate. This leads us to note that to him most of China 

 wears the look of Canton and South China; "When millions of motor- 

 cars run over the roads of China, which are still unfortunately non- 

 existent, and when aeroplanes are as common as steamers on the China 

 coast, the drivers and mechanics will be Cantonese." (p. 125). To 

 that we can only say that we will back a driver or mechanic from 

 Ningpo or Hangchow ; but this giving of a Cantonese tinge to all 

 China makes the book a useful antidote to the earlier works of a 

 certain other Smith, whose deft touch makes all China bear the 

 complexion of Chihli and Shantung ! 



Where we take serious issue with the writer, is on the point of 

 China's need of the Anglo-Saxon. That she needs his presence and 

 help we cheerfully grant ; all of us need each other. But we question 

 whether China needs help just as Mr. Middleton Smith would provide 

 it. "The only hope for immediate improvement in China is the 

 emploment of foreigners in administrative and advisory capacities." 

 (p. 84.)" "If only the whole of South China could be given the 

 amount of law and order that confers such a blessing upon India or 

 Egypt" (p. 126). If the melon were to be divided then indeed China 

 might be given law and order. But if she is to remain self-governing, 

 then far better let her win, slowly and painfully, order and good 

 government, for herself. Foreign officials can doubtless teach her 

 much, but they cannot give her character. Mr. Middleton Smith's 

 ideal is thoroughly aristocratic ; so much so that he simply assumes 

 that the salavation of the land lies in the importation of a foreign 

 aristocracy, and does not consider whether democratic ideals and 

 methods will not be found to be healthiest and best in the long 

 run. As an American would say, his middle name is Chauvin; and 

 that fact makes it impossible to agree with the main argument 

 of the book. But we can thank him heartily for his detailed and 

 picturesque statement of trade conditions and trade prospects in 

 China. H. K. W. 



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