Press enter after choosing selection

Special Chinese Correspondence

Special Chinese Correspondence image
Parent Issue
Day
20
Month
May
Year
1885
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Tientsin, Marofa 19, 1885. Editor Courier: - Alter eojnytny u mo.-t plea6!int winter here In Tientsin, we are now piickingup forour journey to Slianse. Our voyage out and visit in J:ipan were both hlfjhly enjoyable, and wliile in Japan we liad our eyes opened to heathi'iidoni, missionary enterprlte, and the Oriental type of huuiiinity, as Uiey had never been opened before. Japan is eutting loose from everything ancient and tried in lier Own civilizaron, and taking in lts place the first tiiing (bat comes aloiiff, whether it be good, bad, or indifferent. Now is the time for the " Soldlers of the Cross " to do their woik in Japan, or we will be compelled to convert, by slow and tedious procesa, iuliilils, agnóstica and atheists. Bot to pass on. Our stop in Shanghai Wï&nur 'm, tion to China. We experienced unl'avorable weather tlie three or foor dayg ui' our stiiy tliero, hut on ilie whole liad a good time, and went on our jouiney to Tientsin wiih a ood baart toward the Chinese, for we do llke soine of tluni, and tind a few very sociable companions. Our prayer is tliat we may love the snuls ol allenough lo overlook their repulsivc teiïor. Shanghai is more like a city at lioine than ¦ Chinese city, to is the" foreign settlement " of Tientsin, where. we liave been living the past winter. Our home has been very pleasant, and we have met a most conlial reception iïorn thiB co-mopolitan comtnunity. We have had any number of dinners, soirees and other entertaiuments,drnmatic, elc, whicli we, of course, cooldn't "lake in." Tliere is no end to formality here. A fellow lias t,o, or is expected to wearhis "snkr-r ,ii" every tune lie steps out. Made New Year's calis, and had a big time geneially. The climate here is deÜghttul. Veiy much like our best November weather all winter long. Not cold, but the air is pure and bracing, und no storms; nearly every day being sunny. We have given our time to the study of the language, making fair progress, and to other ing and study. I have had the opportunity of visiting Dr. Mackenzie's bocplt] here, and getting many pmctical (joints for use in the iramediate future. This hospital I speak of is suppnrted by the governmeut, and has u sinall medical school in connection with it. Dr. Mao kenzie, mi Engllsh missiunary, having chaijfeof the whole. Tliia school has the patronage of Li Hung Chang. and enjoys the favor of theChineee as perhaps no other foreign hospital and medical school In the Kmpire. Some of tlie piesent students are those returned American studunts whowere recalled by the home gov't in '81. And they are "well up," notmily in Eiiglish.bnt in their medical studies also, s I had tlie opporiunity of dfteimiiiing by exajiiiuiiijf the classes a few weeks ago. The officials are so fuspicions of all toreignere that they MUDOt truat tlnir "wn teachers to examine the student but must get some one outside or unconnected with the scIjooI. China is certainly muking progress now. We have telegrapli and teh-plione lines liere and will soon have railro.-ids me govemment has iorbulden anyone saying aughtaguinst railroads and íwn llave ulreudy been made lor the cntruc tion ot the liist line. One of these days I will tellyou soinetrue stories on the civil service of China- so good in theory but in practice tbe loltenest of the rotten. War clouds are still frowning oq us and we teel al most certain of a close blockade liere soon bilt the nutives seem frieodly and are so seltish and disinterested that they don't care wliat happens so long as they are not peisoually inolested. All oursteainers cominsf liere are utopped and seanhed by the French tbr coiurnbaiidgot' war, rice in particular. The Chinese are o arrogant and conceileiJ that they believe every engagement with the French a victory, anu üiat the enemy have retieated In ilisirruce. lor ïf any puit or their í orces get o 11' ilic field alive that's h victory, aiui if all are killed tlie ofticials report rfctorjr just tlie same. To show jou how absurd sume of their reports ure, circulated amonjf the people and fully credited by the poorer and iornoiantclasgei. A litlle time BgO 'twas reorted here, and I am lold fulTy credited, tliat the OfalDOM had marclu-d "verland from Buchiuinli und taken Paris.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News