THE FAR EAST REVISITED.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9389, 8 March 1909, Page 6

THE FAR EAST REVISITED.

In a review of “The Far East Revisited, ” by A. Gorton Angier, the “Athenaeum” says One of the 'most noteworthy features of the modern history of the world is the change which has come over the leading empires of the Far East within the last fewjdeoades. We have been accustomed to look with astonished amazement at the rapid conversion of Japan from a feudal and anti-foreign State to a leading Power in the world. An almost similar boulevcrsement has taken place in Korea, which has been led to change her political system and welcome foreigners to her shores. Siam also, which, until lately, maintained its character as a typical * Oriental State, has now entered the comity of nations; and last of all. China 1s bracing herself up to face the problems which recent events are forcing on her attention. The Chinese and Japanese and the Russo-Japanese wars have been revelations to the Chinese, who were accustomed to regard with contempt the Wojen, or dwarfs, as they were in the habit of calling the Japanese; > and they were forced to inquire into the secret of snob startling success. The answer came speedily and withont’hesitation. Unless they reformed their methods—political, social and commercial—their doom was oast. A large party in the Empire straightway advocated reforms in all directions of State. A constitution was to be granted to the Empire; the lore of Confucius and Mencius was exchanged for the learning of Europe; colleges and schools were opened in every large city in the Empire; and factories were founded for the manufacture □ot only of warlike materials, but also of articles of oommerce. These changes were introduced on all sides. Houg-koug, which sixty years ago was little more than a barren rook which formed the borne of a few native fishermen, is now one of the largest ports ;in the world. Three hundred steam launches ply on the waters of the harbour, which are overlooked by terraces of large and commodious houses which line the hill. “The banks, the new blocks of offices on the reclaimed Fraya ground, the new law courts and post office, and the dwelling-houses may with justice be described as palatial.” That reforms so marked should have occurred at Hong-Kong is not' surprising, as it had been the great port for the transhipment of goods for the China coast, and has been in the hands of Englishmen during its lifetime as a colony. But with Canton things are different. There, in a purely native city under the influence of native traditions, the “new learning” is making pronounced headway, and accommodation is being found by the conversion of temples and otber public buildings into school huoses. “The most conspicuous is the normal college now under construction on the site of the old Examination Hall. The long rows, with their hundreds of cubicles, have entirely disappeared, and in their place three blocks of buildings are being erected. In the rear is a threestorey building that will provide ao-. commodation for some hundreds of the students that will attend the college. Primary and secondary school buildings are also contemplated, as well as a hospital and medical school. The whole : scheme is intended as an .example that may be copied elsewhere. ” Five post offices, managed on the European system, are to he met with in the city, and from these, it may be noted, letters oan he sent to any part pf the Chinese Empire for one halfpenny; while the streets have police distinguished from s their fellows by neat add serviceable uniforms.

In many respects Canton is typical of the cities of Southern China; its streets are harrow, indicating the impossibility of vehicular traffic, and its buildings, until lately, were modelled on the strictest native patterns. The inhabitants are an independent people, and have a rough-and-ready way of making their wants known, as was recently shown on the appearance of the Imperial edict prohibiting opium smoking, when, with flags flying and banners waving, crowds marched through the city proclaiming their approval of the order.

What Canton is to the South of China, Peking is to the North. Its streets are wide, but until lately were a disgrace to Chinese civilisation. Now,- however, the roads, especially those in the neighbourhood of the Legations, _ are well macadamised. The indecencies which used to be prominent have also disappeared, and the hawkers who were accustomed to frequent the streets have been relegated to the by-lanes. But the most noticeable innovation is the substitution of jinrickshas and European carriages for the sedan chairs and carts. New official buildings are also taking the forms of European models. But the greatest change which has come over China, northern and southern, is the institution of railways. Until recently, the “iron horse” was abhorred by the Chinese; now lines of railway cannot be too quickly constructed for their taste. Already 4079 miles of railway have been laid, and half as many more are in course of construction.