Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

THE ITALIAN MAGAZINES.

In

THE Peace Conference continues to be the principal topic of discussion in the Italian reviews for May. By far the most noteworthy contribution to the subject is from the pen of the ex-Prime Minister, Francesco Crispi. He sends to the Nuova Antologia (May 16th) a few brief notes giving his full adhesion to the programme laid before the Conference at the Hague, and relates an incident not without interest at the present moment. August, 1877, Crispi called on Gambetta in Paris and pointed out to him that the Church and the Army were the main obstacles to a democratic government in France. Gambetta agreed, declaring that the only remedy for the latter evil lay in universal disarmament, and begged Crispi to sound Bismarck on the subject in discreet fashion. A few weeks later Crispi met the Iron Chancellor at Gastein, and introduced the subject. But Bismarck gave him no encouragement. "Disarmament," he affirmed, "is not possible in practice. Military institutions vary in each country, and even if all the armies could be put on a peace footing, the nations concerned would not be on an equality as regards offensive and defensive operations." In conclusion he declared that the problem might safely be left to the Peace Societies. Over the exclusion from the Conference of the Pope, Crispi naturally rejoices, and expresses his satisfaction that the "specious arguments" of the Vatican should have proved of no avail. On the other hand, the Rassegna Nazionale, which is in no sense whatever an organ of the Vatican, protests energetically in one or two articles dealing with the subject of the Conference against the action of the Italian Government, and condemns it as a serious diplomatic blunder. The Riforma Sociale prints an exceedingly lengthy philosophical article on the Peace ideal, tracing its development through history, and more especially through the present century. The ideal of a universal peace the writer unhesitatingly condemns as a Utopian dream.

The Antologia, which is a particularly strong number, further contains a critical study of a play by Albertino Mussato, a contemporary of Dante, from the pen of the veteran poet G. Carducci. A literary article of more actuality by Professor Mazzoni, of Florence, deals with d'Annunzio's two more recent plays "La Gioconda" and La Gloria," which have excited much eager controversy throughout Italy. The Professor writes of both with sympathetic moderation. D'Annunzio, he holds, is not a great playwright. His work "has none of that dramatic energy which alone is necessary for a long and glorious life. The very beauties of his plays, beauties of descriptive romance and of a lyrical imagination, are almost out of place in them. The same number contains the opening chapters of a new Neapolitan romance by Matilde Serao, entitled "La Ballerina," a translation of which is running concurrently in the Revue des Deux Mondes.

The Civiltà Cattolica (May 20th) has an article on the progress of the casse rurali or co-operative village banks in North Italy, where they are doing a splendid moral and economic work. Their number is steadily increasing, and at the close of 1897 over nine hundred were in existence, all worked on the Raiffeisen principles.

We have received the first numbers of a new scientific monthly review, the Rivista di Scienze Biologiche, of which the editor is Dr. P. Celesia. The names of Haeckel, Lubbock, Richel, Lombroso and others which appear among the list of contributors are a suffiCient guarantee of the high scientific level of the publication.

INDEX TO THE PERIODICALS OF 1898. I HAVE pleasure in announcing that the ninth volume of the "Annual Index to Periodicals" is now in the press. and that it will be ready about the end of the month.

In the new volume, which covers the year 1898, the Index classifies and arranges the Contents of some one hundred and eighty British and American Periodicals published during the year, on the same plan as th adopted in the previous volumes, the only point to notbeing that with each volume the Index shows a steady increase in the quantity of matter to be dealt with. For the "Annual Index " reflects both the phenomena development of periodical literature during the last de and the nature of the topics which have engaged most serious attention in each year. The great unwieldy headings of one year may dwindle down t manageable proportions in the next, as new questi crop up to absorb our interest.

From the indexing point of view, the most import of the newer political topics of 1898 seem to have by Cuba and the American War with Spain, Amerian Expansion and kindred topics, the Partition of Chin the Soudan Question and France and England a the Niger in Africa, the Dreyfus Case, Holland 25 her Queen, the Political Crisis in Austria, etc.; the chief commemorative celebrations have her Ireland in 1798, and Europe in 1848. The "grand men" of the year, from the same point of view, incl Gladstone, Bismarck, and Burne-Jones; and the book d the year, the book most frequently noticed, is perh Bodley's interesting work "France." The Tsar's Feat Rescript scarcely had a chance last year, but in the Index for 1899 the number of articles relating to it wi afford ample proof to posterity of the important place t occupied in men's minds at the close of this century.

In this way the "Annual Index" forms a permanent record of the thought and interests of the year, and since the articles are carefully classified under suitable headings, with very numerous cross-entries, reference is mad easy to all the matter directly dealing with, or indirecta connected with, any subject. The bibliographical plan ot which the Index is compiled, showing all the articles et each subject gathered together in one place in the alp betical arrangement, instead of being scattered through the volume under various, and sometimes synonyms, headings, will always be invaluable to authors an students, enabling them to see at a glance how far th ground has already been covered by other writers. A when history repeats itself and interest in the old tors is revived by current events, the journalist and are writer know that it is in the periodicals of the past raththan in books that they will find information in the mo convenient and condensed form to draw upon for fis and items of interest for their more up-to-date contre tions to the literature of their subject.

The "Annual Index" may therefore be confident commended to the notice of all writers and students recent events and current thought, as the magic key wa which to unlock the vast treasure-houses of information contained in our periodical literature. It is not concen able that any library which makes the smallest pretenc to direct inquirers to the chief sources of information can afford to dispense with the services of the "Annual Index." But it is as a reference-book in the private library and in the study that there is another immense field of usefulness for the Index, and the low price 108 net, post free) at which such a work is issued brings it within the reach of all. A specimen page will be forwarded to any address.

As

S the Revue Universitaire is not published during the months of August and September, those boys whose names are received after the 30th of June may have to wait some little time before receiving letters from France. Lists sent in before the 30th are published in the July issue of the Revue Universitaire, and letters may be expected about the 20th of July. As the rule is to give the school address, such scholars as wish to continue writing during the holidays should give their home address in replying to letters which reach them just before the end of the term. The idea of a gap of two months in the publication of an educational magazine seems strange to English minds, but I am told that even in England teachers often leave "the shop" carefully alone during the holidays.

The "Correspondence" sheds much light upon the essential differences of the various nationalities. The German girl who, writing to her English friend, spoke of the charm of a birthday treat being much greater because it was celebrated beneath the spreading branches of a tree planted over the grave of a great-aunt, caused considerable astonishment, for we more often seek to "bury our dead" than to associate their memory with our daily present life. I do not know if it is often the custom for the Germans actually to have interments in private grounds; perhaps some of our foreign friends can tell us. The organisation of the scheme is another instance of these differences. On the French side, this was so carefully done in the beginning, that the names of boys came in by hundreds and caused desperation, for English schoolmasters were slow to realise the merits of the plan. As a consequence, French boys had to wait so long that their masters became disgusted; and the Revue Universitaire was so flooded with letters from them, that the scheme became somewhat of a burden. Our girls have to wait, but have been patient. In Germany the plan was received favourably by the few, scorned by the many, and having lived through its probation, is now so carefully watched over and so thoroughly worked as a pedagogic instrument that it is in danger of losing its chief charmthe spontaneity of letters between comrades who chatter freely about their private concerns. With us, started necessarily in a haphazard fashion, and received with disconcerting dislike by the scholastic world, it has apparently come to stay as a real help, first in the study of language, but in the long run to be of even higher consequence, for as the Young Man so well says: movement now can be a merely national one, and the attempt of one people to rise from stepping-stones of their dead selves to higher things will be aided by the force of progress in all nations." So may the correspondence spur us on to emulate each other's virtues and avoid each other's faults.

A NEW SUGGESTION.

"No

A gentleman writing a short time ago spoke of a difficulty experienced by those who live outside the great towns. It is often said: "My young people would like to read a French or a German story, but I really do not know how to manage. What books can I order? I may send for one on Hachette's list for instance, but I have no money to waste, and the book thus sent may be quite unsuitable for my special purpose; and if I order one from Mudie's or any other lending library, I can then only judge by the names of one or two authors whose writings I know." It is probable that each person in our

army of letter-writers may have read at least one book of especial interest. If, therefore, the reader would tell us about such a book we might pass such knowledge on. There will be some difficulties, no doubt. This is not an advertisement sheet, nor can we always guarantee a book recommended, but opinions on this subject from our friends will be gladly welcomed. Correspondents have already exchanged books, as well as magazines, and if one delights in a book it is a pleasure to tell of it.

INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES.

Professor Hartmann writes that there has been a slight misunderstanding. The agencies are not intended for professional teachers, of who n there are already several : and in Germany, as in France, only natives are employed as professors in the schools. But, as in France, the girls' Normal schools take an English student teacher, so it is hoped some such arrangement may be made in Germany; and therefore young English people-students --who are capable of teaching their own language, and wish to improve their German, are invited to write to Dr. Max Gassmeyer, Blumenstrasse 31, Gohlis-Leipzig, Germany. And teachers and parents in England who wish to engage a German student anxious to improve in English, and able to teach his or her own language, are also asked to communicate with him. A foreign return postcard would be the best medium in the first instance. There would of course be a small fee to pay in the event of an arrangement. I suppose a sort of au pair plan is intended, but am not quite sure. The weak part of the au pair arrangement is always that the hours. of service are rarely specified.

NOTICES.

A young Englishman, a builder's apprentice, would be glad if any one similarly employed in the United States would correspond with him. Will our U.S.A. friends please notice?

A Canadian wishes to exchange letters with a gentleman or clergyman in Great Britain; the language to be English in both these cases, of course.

A native student in Seringapatam, the son of a lawyer, is most anxious to correspond with an English student. I do hope some lad will respond to the wish of a far-off fellow-subject of the Queen.

English boys are invited by a Dutch professor to correspond with his students.

Italian male students eagerly hope for English correspondents.

Our adult applicants are reminded that they should mention age and occupation and contribute one shilling towards expense of search.

The "Cours de Vacances," arranged by the Teachers' Guild, will probably be at Lisieux, instead of Caen, this

summer.

The international holiday sojourn at a country house in the Ardêche, so much approved of last year, will be carried out again this, the cost for young teachers to be 23s. per week. For particulars, write to Université Hall, 95, Boulevard St. Michel, Paris.

It will be remembered that our last November issue contained particulars of the offer of M. Vaché, of Nontron, to take three English boys for £16 a year each. Only two went, so another can be received by him, and a glowing account has been received thence.

M. Mieille writes that for £20 a year, one or two boys can be received by a master at Tarbes, which is situated between Bordeaux and the Pyrenees.

[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

MAP

OF

CHINA

AT THE MOMENT OF GOING ΤΟ PRESS (JUNE Int, 1800).

THE YELLOW PUZZLE: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH CHINA? *

HERE," Macaulay is reported to have said about

some item of news, "is a Mandarin in China who has beheaded a thousand people in a batch. I was quite shocked when I read it this morning. During the day I contrived to cut one of my fingers. I'm ashamed to confess that I thought so much about the finger that I quite forgot the massacred Chinamen!" Macaulay expressed, in a picturesque way, what has been in the past the attitude of the great majority of Englishmen in regard to China. Some exceptional event may for the moment have awakened their curiosity, but it was merely curiosity, and not sustained interest. That day is past, or at least is quickly passing. It is not China alone which is in a state of transformation, but the public opinion of Europe as well. Within the last two years China, which for centuries has attracted but little attention, has become the centre of political gravity. The seizure of the port of Kiao-Chau by the German Emperor violently transferred the pivot upon which the policies of nations turn from Africa to the Far East.

In

For the latter half of the nineteenth century the eyes of Europe have been steadily fixed on the Black Continent. A whole continent has been carved up into geographical spheres of interest and influence. This has been done not without wrangling, but without any actual war between the nations of Europe. Now the attention of the civilised world is concentrated on China. The question which confronts the twentieth century is how to deal with this great empire which has endured for four thousand years, but which now shows unmistakable signs of disintegration and decay. Is China to be divided as Africa has been? Is her integrity to be guaranteed as that of Turkey has been? Or is the great yellow Empire to be rehabilitated as Egypt has been? These are questions which time alone can answer. the meantime much can be done in determining what that answer shall be. "Ignorance is ever the channel through which fear attacks a human being" was one of Sir George Grey's wise sayings. The unknown is always terrible to the individual, and equally so to that collection of individuals, a nation. Most of the alarms which have agitated the British public in regard to China have been due to lack of knowledge. We smile incredulously at the gross ignorance of a Chinese official of what to us are everyday commonplaces. But we ourselves are unaware of the most simple but essential facts of the Chinese problem. There has been no intelligent anticipation of events, because there has been so little intelligent appreciation of present conditions. A policy of a great nation must be moulded in accordance with the facts of the problem to be solved. To make known these essential facts is the best service those who are acquainted with

* "Intimate China: The Chinese as I have seen them," by Mrs. Archibald Little. med. 8vo. 120 illustrations. 615 pp. 21S. Hutchinson. "The Break-up of China," by Lord Charles Beresford. med. 8vo. 2 maps. 510 pp. Index. 125. Harper Bros.

China can render their fellow-countrymen. They can provide the raw material out of which opinions are formed. When they go further and map out a cut-and-dried policy which, with the dogmatism of the expert, they insist must be accepted in all its details, they exceed their province. They may see clearly enough what would be best in their own estimation, but it must be remembered that all the governing facts do not lie within the range of their vision. A visitor to China, if he takes the pains to be thoroughly informed, may conceivably be in a better position to judge what should be done than the man or woman who has spent many years in the country.

It is an encouraging sign that the literature dealing with China and Chinese problems is growing apace. Last month, for example, saw the publication of twobooks, both of which contain a mass of the most interesting and valuable information. It is an addition to their value that they describe and discuss China. from very different points of view. Mrs. Archibald Little, in a brightly written and beautifully illustrated volume, describes with sympathetic insight Chinese life as she has seen it during her eleven years' residence in the Celestial Empire. It is a picture of China from the inside, at least as much from the inside as sympathy and appreciation, guided by a woman's quick intuition, can penetrate. Very different is Lord Charles Beresford's bulky report to the Associated Chambers of Commerce. He regards China entirely from the outside, from the position of the European trader, whose first consideration is the pushing of his wares, and who regards all questions from that point of view. Whatever Lord Charles has left undone, he has set forth with minute detail the wishes, complaints, and suggestions of the European merchant. In doing so he has rendered a genuine service, for it is the first time that the views of the merchants in every part of the country have been pooled, as it were, in one volume. It is rather dry reading for the average man, no doubt, but it is undoubtedly a most reliable and authentic guide to the opinions of men whose needs form one of the principal determining factors of any policy this country adopts in relation to China.

Lord Charles Beresford gives the dry bones of Chinese life and conditions; Mrs. Little clothes them with flesh. It is interesting to note how frequently they corroborate each other, and how, on several points, the conclusions they arrive at are similar. On the broad facts of the case they are in agreement. China possesses immense possibilities for the European trader`; it is essential that the integrity of the Empire should be maintained; Chinese government is rotten at the core and corrupt throughout; the only salvation for her lies in radical reforms, which, however, must be carried out with the help or encouragement of one or more European nations. Both look upon Russia with a suspicious eye, but neither advance any valid reason for this distrust. Both seem to favour a policy of a combination of Powers more or less openly hostile to Russia, but both books contain ample evidence that if the question of China is to be settled without war the one essential thing is a clear and friendly understanding between England and Russia. But let us turn to the pictures of Chinese life depicted by these writers.

1. "INTIMATE CHINA."

"It is impossible to understand China," says Mrs. Little, "unless it be first realised that the individual life is nothing there, and that the is family the unit; and yet further, that no one stands alone in China, but that every one is responsible for some one else, guaranteed by some one else." If you engage a servant, he is secured by

some one to a certain amount. If yours is a well arranged household, this head man engages the other servants and secures them, reprimanding and discharging them at his pleasure. He pockets a portion of the money which you think you are paying them. This is his "squeeze," and in China, the land of the "squeeze," the proceeding seems perfectly legitimate. The solidarity of Chinese family life possesses many advantages. Aged relations are carefully tended and provided for at home, and needy relations assisted. But this general interdependence is accompanied by the assertion of a certain amount of authority which is claimed by the father, and after his death by the eldest brother of the family :--

Photograph by] [Alice Hughes, Gower St.

MRS. ARCHIBALD LITTLE.

In each of the large and beautiful homesteads in which Chinese live in the country, adding only an additional graceful roof-curve, another courtyard, as more sons bring home more young women to be wives in name, but in reality to be the servants-of-all-work of their mothers, and the mothers of their children-in each of these harmonious agglomerations of courtyards, it is the eldest man who directs the family councils. Thus, when a man dies, the deciding voice is for his eldest brother, not for his eldest son; than which probably no custom could tend more to conservatism, for there never comes a time when the voice of youth makes itself heard with authority.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CHINESE LIFE.

The principle of local self-government was accepted centuries ago in China. Family is linked to family by mutual responsibilities. The village elders are held responsible if any crime is committed in the district. It is they who have to discover and bring back stolen articles; it is they who have to quiet disturbances and settle disputes about local boundaries. Each village, and, as far as possible, each family, is self-sufficing, growing its own silk and cotton, weaving at home its own cloth, eating its own rice and beans, Indian corn and pork. Schools are established by little collections of families, or tutors engaged. The teacher is poorly paid, but meets with a respect altogether out of proportion to his salary. It all is very ideal in theory, tolerable in practice, and the people of China appear very contented.

In the towns the same principles hold good, modified,

however, to meet the peculiar conditions of city life. The guilds represent family life on a large scale. A man coming from a distant province brings with him no letters of introduction. He straightway goes to the guild-house of his province, and there, making due reverence, relates how he is So-and-so, the son of So-and-so. Every one there knows at once all about him and can easily ascertain if his story be correct. Here he is at home. He finds friends, a free employment agency, and a bureau of information about the various businesses of the city, their solvency and the like. The guild-house is a club-house, furnished with a the usual requisites of such institutions. The guild will ever see after the new-comer's funeral, giving him a free buna if necessary.

But probably the custom which has the greatest effect upon Chinese life is the practice of co-operation. In a Chinese business, be it large or small, almost every man in the business has his share. This as a natural resul has had the most beneficial effect upon industry. Mrs Little says:-

Men will row a boat day and night for four or five days knowing that the sum of money gained will thus be quicke earned, and only pause one at a time to take a whiff at a pip to eat. They will press wool all through the night to obi their employer without a murmur, if only given free meals whis doing this additional work. The truth is, the habit of industry has been so engendered in Chinese as to be second nature, the whole system tending to encourage it.

Notwithstanding the rampant corruption which prevails, and the breakdown of the means of government, the Chinese peasant enjoys a degree of liberty and immunity from government interference unknown on the Continent of Europe. There is no passport system: he can travel where he pleases; he can form and join any kind of association; his press was free till an edict was issued against it in 1898; his right of public meeting and free speech are still unquestioned. Public readers and trained orators travel about the country. The system of appealing to the people by placarding the walls has been very far developed in China. There is complete liberty of conscience. At the same time the moral conscience of the people is so educated that an appeal to it never falls flat.

A CHINESE STREET SCENE.

These are the broad outlines of the sketch Mrs. Little draws of life in the Far East. Her book is crowded with personal experiences and observations gathered during her eleven years' residence which illustrate all phases of Chinese life. After the perusal of the 600 pages of her volume the reader obtains a fairly intimate acquaintance with the characteristics of life and its surroundings in China. This is a graphic little picture which Mrs. Little draws of a Chinese street scene as she witnessed it at Chungking in. Szechuan, in the Upper Yang-tse-Kiang:

The streets, although wide for a Chinese city, are very narrow in comparison with English streets, being only eight feet at the widest, and extraordinarily crowded. Passing through them is a continual pushing through a crowd of foot-passengers; of sedan chairs, carried by coolies, with sometimes one or two men running before to clear the way, and if it be necessary beat back the crowd; of mules, donkeys, or ponies, with loads; and of numbers of carrying-coolies, a bamboo across their shoulders. and from either end a basket hanging by strings. Everything that can be done in the streets is done in them: pedlars go by with great quantities of goods for sale; men are mending broken china with little rivets after a fashion in which the Chinese are great experts; here is a barber shaving a man's head; there are two women menders on little stools, very neatly dressed, pur

[graphic]
« AnteriorContinuar »