HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Expositor, 1869-05-07, Page 4`f-
4
Promotion According to Merit—:
Chinese Competitive Examina-
tion.'
111•1,•••••••.....•
Competitive . exainination was esta-
bl's'ied about the -commencement of the
Christian era. It is the foandation of
the present political system of the em-
pire. It is Democratic in principle,
and deserves the attention of stasesmen
in. the world over. :Under this system
a person of the leweet condition may
attain to -Cie highest positionofhonor.
There.are several classes who -are exclu-
ded frorn. entering the course of study,
—play actors, prostitutes, executioners,
jailors, and inferior servants waiting up-
on Maiidarians. Their children to the
third generation ate also excluded.
The therory aclOpted is that these per-
sons and there descendants are wanting
in these moral qualifications which are
necesSary- in the administration of go-
vernment.- Persons who , have lost a
parent cannot enter the course of study
_till after the expiration of three years,
inasmuch. as hard stucly'Is inconsistent
withedue respect for the dead& during
'that period of time.
CONTRAST.WITH. THE UNITED STATES.
In the United States, official positi-
, • ons are obtained through personal favor,
or on political considerations. Beer
and whiskey have influence. Brothers,
cousins, friends are- appointed to office
by those who have the dispensing of
. patronage. Partyservice demands pay.
Merit and qualification areltoo often
the least of consideratiOns.i
Not so in China. The theory of the
.7eivi1 officers must be literary graduates.
$ em thea that all those who are
Three degrees have been established.
,Tile first may be obtained at the col-
t ) 'witness the triumph of tthos
dear. The city is'filled with dr
13 is a grand harvest tinie for ho
shop keepers. Excitementi is a
heat, - The. student who wine
honor. not only to himself but .
friends. -Re is on the road to fo
most
gerst
el and
fever
rings.
o his
tune,
for, if he -passes examination, official
position awaits him. Wealth is sure ;
privilege is one of the results,—gradu-
ates, like members of Congress, being
exempt from arrest, except for crime,
High Station in life, Favor of the Em-
perm,—everything worth living -for, as
viewed from the Chinese stand point, -e.
is involved in the effort.
Students bring. bedaing and fodd, as
they are required to Stay OR thepre-
mises several days ; servants and friends
accompany ,them to the gate, but are
parted from them by. soldiers, whb al-
low none but students to enter. _ Ntirken
ell are in, the gate is slitit and sealed
and a file of soldiers guard all -approach
'e, a
;-
to the wall. No book is allowed *-1
th-
in the premises, but each itucle t is
supplied with paper,pen, ink; iy.
pointed a cell, where he spreadshie
-bed . and plaees his basket gentaining
'his food.
DECOND DEGREE.—" ADVANCED MEN." '
The cemmissioners announce themes,
from the "Four Books" of the ancient
classide—uPon which students ard, to
write three essays and one par m. 1
As soon. as the subjects are given out
all hands apply themselves to composi-
tion. They have no aid, ca,u consult no
ono; but must rely -wholly upon them-
selves. As fast tis their compositions
are finished they are' handed to *e
class of examiners, whose businesa is
to see that there are no great def ots-
and that the rules prescribed have ben
leges in the Hien or district college, the complied with. If they pass the ordeal
third in the Ira-perial University at they are copied, so that the judges may
Pekin.
The city of Wu .Chang, being a pro-
vincial capital at the centre of the Em-
pire and easily accessible, has become
ene of the chief literary centres. In
this rospect we may think of it as rank-
ing With Canibridge or Orford in -Enk-
land, Harvard or Yale or : Ann Arbor
in -the United Stites.
ENTERING THE UNIVERSITY.
The student having been through the
district college i4 obtaining a degree
from the Chancellor comes to ziWu
Chang, to enter the highest . courses.
Each student, before coming here, filed
a paper with theidealmagistrate, con-
• taining, the narne of his father, graud-
4ther, teacher, and his next door neigh-
bour, stating also his own age, height
and coraplexim The names of several
literary graduates. are required as in-
dorsers for his good character, and one
of these is required to be present when
the student enters the University.
We meei; crowds of students `in the
street. Thry are herefroth every town
and village in the Province. The num-
ber entering at this 'Univrsity is from
. six to ten thousand per annum.
THR, BUILDING4
'Ivassing • down -one •of the streets
we reach the University - build-
ings, /occupying a large area enclosed
by a high wall- about twenty fee,t high,
covered completely over with 'placards
clisola.ying the names of the successful
eandidatesfor honors at the last exa,mi-
nation. ' Entering the enclosure, we be-
hold a paved court filled with long ran-
ges cf sheds, with. 'tiled roofs,: beneath
which are, about ten _ thou8a,nd small
•-cell-like apartments or alcovers three or
_four «feet square, open itt front, ieith a
seat And a board which can be placed
• ,against tlJe wall on snpportS.for a table.
'These are, the students' Quarters, which
-
:they ocam py during examination.
A Chl;mese IT.niversity does not :ie.ve
resitat:e sn hall, laboratory, or dormi-
t ery. It it not a place where students
sp end four years in study, but simply a
ba -rack wh ere they cong,regate for- a few
in:riyn, trte_cetl/Lno.reaceciunittit eation With their friends
i lft)et;
day, 1,—a pat 'son rather, for while heia
they are shill in and ar,e not allowed
a
e of the aaaa 'stands the
sl Tempc)f
...rtnaean'
-feet Justice,"—a
e
the convenience of the
tt
uperial commisSioners,
zitehare'
e, d sent I. min Pekin to decide
-ut)o-rt the lite. "arY '.erits of tie students,
and who are t worn to render an impe-
till verdict. 6 Dirai-G is apartments are
iasiiiiiagultleiveythearar‘ • IT,ane.wieedllbfyurnaislabie,gt
•
ac «th
of servants
FIRST DEGREE-= a BEA FuL 'ABILITY."
ich came to
'rst degree
ipt Mast -
degree
means
of A.
with -
for
All of the stu(lente
tills. city have taken the ir
in the district college. .1. f;
ez• or Bachelor of Arts, 'but't the
of "Beautiftil Ability," wiiich
quite as much in -China as t hat
B. does in the United States,. and x
ont ee.T. ,.orcpetie
Lyn _
no student cal/
-bideeehonors.-.
• 1Ve examinations here are held ti
eziniel1, and there is never less tha
teia -ltrft thousand competitors,-
.
not show favoritism by anp previous
knowledge of the hand writing of the
candidates. *
A jury of literary men read the es-
says, which, if they reach a certain de-
gree ef excellence, reeieve a red mark
of approval. All that do not come -up
to this star dard are • rejected. Those
approved are passed on to the chief. ex-
aminers.
The standard of excellence adopted
by the final judges must be very hiih
or the scholarship exceedingly lowl, fOr
not more than one hundred out of tl
ten or twelve thOdsand obtain the seco d
degree of "Advanced Men,"—a, prosaic
title in comparison with "Beautiful.
Ability."
• OVA TIONS.
Great ovations await those' who pals
the 9rdeal. The best orchestras, of the
empire are here with one -stringed, two -
'stringed and three-etringed fiddles, flae
.geolets, symbals, gongs, and drums ;
dl ,
cannon are fired, bonfires kindled,' Ian-
ters are lighted, prooessions •formed,
feasts prepared, ' songs sung, and the
whole oity joins in grand jubilee.
Messengers are started to convey the
tidings to all the surrounding counti7.,
This is an election, and is just, as ex-
citing as a political contest in America.
Each district is interested in the success
of its candidates, and so drums beat and
bondfires blaze over the entire. pro-
vince. ••
The name of the student who takes
the highest honor is placed on .the wsll
at • the top of -the others. We cannot
read. crow tracks," but -here they are
n large characters, which may 1,e read
by the excited crowd from the street.
THIRD DEGREE. --DOCTOR OF LAWS.
The successful competitors, if they
aspire. to the third degree, have an al-
lowance from the Imperial TreastuT to
enable them tog° to Pekin, whei•e a simi-
lar examination is had. • If successful
• they receive the degree of Doctor of
Laws, and are prepared to occupy high
official stations.
We are not to forget that the authen-
tic history of this people reachee baclt
to the time of Moses, and that the
"Book of Classics" is as old as the Pen-
tateuch, and that .the chief tet book
of political economy written by Con,
fucius is as ancient as the prophecy of
*Isaiah.•
The ec• onomy of those by -gone ages is
not exactly fitted to the 19th century,
ancl for that reason China is stationary.
She is chained to the dead ages.
But notwithstanding all this, the
method of choosing political and mili-
taey- office's by Competitive examination
gives a powerful stimulus to literai7
pursuits. Every village has its sehools,
and ambitious young men seeing the pos-
ssibility of attaining positions i of honor
apply themselves to study. Poor peo-
ple deny themselves comforts that they
may educate thentesons. Brothers in a
family unite to help' on one of their
number, that all may obtain honor.
'Virtue in this respect is found in. China
as well as in (Air own -land.
, Pa
•
7-.T441:git .
3ys
DEFECTS AND EXCELLENCIES.
Unfortunately theprOfound reverence
id to the Chinese' classics robes the
tem of some of its excellencies. • If
thematical and other text books of
ence were used instead tf the "Four
•.sics," China would have a political
.01011J
'13141"
YO3 TeciP .to
eat °c tr.1 61r3---ke erl re :
$ g CSSI° e
116 C
g
bo -e -ors cdaierred.
1
eke tortrie.c6:044, col3T- 1,13,exs
„system which -would challenge the ad-
iniration of the world.- 'But as it is
now, if we were to choose our ofilcials
on their ability to' write an essay from
a text in the book of Genesis. or a poern
from a ka.ssage in the Song of Solomov,
we should be doing according to the
present Chinese methed. It is an open
question whether that would not be
quite as sensible a proceeding as to
elect one who has just taken out natu-
ralization papers, and Twhose only re-
coramendation. is that he keeps a liquor
shop and can inflnence -voters by sup-
plying thera with 'whiskey .
Lob off thc defects of the Chinese
system, adopt its excellencies, modify
some of its parts, and we shall ha-ve the
true Democratic system for official ser-
fice. We commend it to the attention
of tne people of the United States. —
C cerleton.
•
11,
A Railroad Between Scotland and
. Ireland.
We learn from Cazells' Magazine
that a scheme, has been proposed for
uniting Ireland and Scotland, so as to
do away with the necessity of making a
seiilassage altogether. The entrance
to -the railway tunnel, by which it is be
be accomplished, on the Irish side is
to be from a point about midway_ be-
tween Cushondon and Cushendall, on
the coast of Antrim, and -on the Scotch
side at Glenstrone, from whence it
w uld run thrdugh the head. of the
ull 'of Cantyre. The total length of
ttinenel under water would be fourtiiiie
\miles three furlongs, a,nd is said that
the ground through which it would
hieve to be made is exactly suited for
ttinneling operations ; and the,, sand
stone for mining it can. be had in •a,ny
qiiantity On the Irish side. It is
proposed to construct - the tunnel
for a single line only, the 'extren e
depth being twenty-one feet, and the
clear width, of the .e'ver' of the rails
fifteen' feet. It is proposed, howover,
to lay., down three of the rails to acce%
modate wide and narrow gauge car-
riages, . The gradient at.the entrance
of the tunnel on the Irish side would
be one 10-iecty for about fi-,ve miles; it
would the Yi fall to ene in; eighy-two for
about half that dist e, and to one in
773 for about five miles in the
centre of - the' tunnel under the
water, rising from that to One in 272,
then to one ixr r13, then bo one in six-
ty- for a.bout the sanae distance as on
the Irish side, which 'continues to the
entrance of the tin-1nel on the Scotch
side., The estimate tinie that v-ould be
occupied in completing the tunnel is,
allowing four contigencies, under six
years, and the cost under fonr ancl a
quarter millions. To pay a dividend
of five per cent, the weekly earnings
must be £4-2 per mile, and an estimate
is appended to show that grim earnings
would largely be in excess of this
amount, and the mineral resources of
the land in the immediate vicinity of
the Mai end efithe tunnel would be
immensely developed. Nebody will
be disposed to deny. thst a railway
communication, between the two coun-
tries would be a very desirable thing
if it can be acComplished.
, 4 -rA •
AMINE IN ORTHERN EUROPE ---It
l‘T
is that bakers' children go without
bread, butchers' without meat, an d
shoemakers' without shoes. We ques-
tion de genei•al fru th of this proposi-
tion ; yet it must be admitted that' irk
the most productive -the largest amount
of the staffoof life is shipped, famines
most trequently- make their appearance
and create the largest amount of 3 uffer-
ng and misery. The peoplp of the Bal-
tic PrOvinces are at this moment, strick-
en with the food famine, and :with death.
Though useally. thee Provinces are
among the most prelific wheat -produc-
ing countries in the world, yet bread
cannot be obtain cl at any price. There,
are fourmillion of people in danger of
star \ ation, and the invaxiable attendant
of the hungry fithd—pestilence. They
herd together in despair, bound by
the irresistible affinity which misery
creates, and engender the disease which
thins out the wretched crowd, and re-
lieves tla emthus of
suffering and of
wart. The naturally poor soil of the
region ; parched and shriveled by the
dry, hot eeaspn last summer, refused to
yield the usual crop, and the roads
rendered impassable by the unusually
wet winter have cut off- relief from
;abroad. A writer At Sb. Petersburgh
idraws a picture of the fearful acenes :
i"Fieldi lying waste ; villages depopula-
Ited ; private houses turned into hospi.
Itals • fever -parched skeletons tottatirg
from the doors of over -Crowded„. places
ren wandering over the
t and squalid nakedness;
kr outrage, roaming
nd day."--7-11conilf op,
f refuge; 611
duntry in gau
roveds of men p
the_ streets night
SEW
1
0
1°. ,.,,i
_ v pi ti2 q) -.:1-
-% (i) s .
a, g 4111P... •
O . Pig 17,11.4
111 pl of 8 -i-&'3
O 0 •
;.. ....,
'ig I11 ).--4,
z
-a 1 A 4 : g
, , , c*
I 7. t i
V. pi
itt 1-1
I - c>
4::▪ '.. ; • - i —1 - *671 1 -' 5' : 4 ;:e:
ril
.”. rl •
2 fil • Q.4
ci .r.-. ,....1
z PI
a c-.) MC -3 •;.'e El
-1...P k'4
•---,
' CI) ::•M''
i.
m.
'Is
cQ
• c•
%b
FC`
:
0 take orders for Fruit Trees, &c, during
the coming summer,. for a Piret-01ass
!II) '6 '-‘) ROehester Nursery, at present doingl alarge
business in this County. Liberal. Cpronnsa-
p
0 ion allowed. References required. I Apply,
a. CD by letter, post-paid, to •
e•D WM. CAMPBELL
Gen.Agent, Goderieli.
April 9th, 1869. 7(j -3i
tte '
8
w
„ 0.2
;:*- •
flarui p1.4
..••
IF YQIT, WANT A
PLOU0
GET
"Victor" or Impro
Steel Mould
ecl "Yocuan "
bard,
From JOHNSON Bito
TICE
TAKE N
MAT JOHN HA L
aprited Official Assign
uron.
Office at SEAFORTTI,—J,
Office at Gonseaca,--Di
Post Office. -
Goderich, 'March 5th, 18
)AN', has be
e for the Conn.
8. PORTER'S.
-ectly opposite thq
8. 13-tf.
MILLIN
• DRESS, I
MANTLE M
MISS- M'IN
TXT1SHES to announce
Seaforth and vicinit
pared to execute all orders
despatch, and in the latest
of the season,
From her experience in t
she hopes, by unremitting
wants and tastes of those w
with a call, to merit a liber
patronage.
• -ROOMS over Corby's
Second Door North of the
Seaforth, April 2, 1869.
ERY
AK N G.
0S11
to the ladies
, that she is prep
"th neatness an
style and fashion
»' GO TO
T. J. SIMONS'
FRUIT OYSTER
3:30m12:porri
For Fresh Oysters, Sardines, Lebsters, Pez,
Cakes, and :Sweets of every deticription.
• CALL AND fiEE
Hi Fresk Stock!!
Opposite McbANN'S Old Stand. -
Saforth, Peb. 12, 1869. 63,4 r
• More of Those
12 Dollar Suits!
GLEGiO tiV 8,
AtS0
A Choice Seleation of Silk -mixed and,
•• West of England
TWEEDS1
A T
ASTONISIUNOLY LOW 13,210.ES.
Sfew Sewing Machines for Sale
• that ba,ve bee:a run for .short
time. Just the tlynu• for Tailor; or Dress-
makers. Call and see them -40'zking,
Seaforth, March 18. fi7-3ra
• FRANK I PAL iRIDGMS
Old Established
PHOTOGRAPH G --ALLEY
REMOVED!
Y numerous customers and the publio
,attentidn to the1,1
e above business41 have Removed. from the Old Stand to Ih,
•0mayfavor herinto
'OPPOSITE 8111".E OF THE ST.REET, '
generally will please not forget that I
.:
share, of publiet.„ ..cott's New 3 story -T -Brick Bleek, next
, 'C. -to Kidd & M'Mulkinis store; and directlY
tore. .aEnotffiracneci built the best Gallery in the Connty peci•-
,,,ez
lsouth,of Hickson's new afore, whcre I hav.
e
69 -3m. 1Tally for my own work, being large and com-
:modibus, and with the proper aetenic light ;
rbeing the only Gallery in Seaforth construct..
OUSE '':---: - . gr ' P i -
- .flatter myself that I Can satisfy all who may
11 -.'ed on true photo aphic rinciples. This
r, anlykght that can reflect the true leatures I
.
Block, 3.-palL Remember, I don't want your money
.
or nothing; I am bound to please or no pay.
As many have had pictures in Seaforth, but
were dissatisfied, having confounded my
ved his first in-' wnaamirte 5ria
good picture, properly made and
th another, I would request if you-
- . durable, that you ask for Frank •Paltridge.
_' :pDaolit'ent. asek flra Patlitriisclge,ep'skezliyie, rote
Fiankany
0
by Frank Paltridge ; but by a mistake, iu a
p. -..,not going to Prank P.'s, get sadly disap-
q pointed.
, WASK FOR, AND GO TO FP.ANT'-
t,
in the Brick Block, up one flight' .of
' and tum to the right nand.
My specimens at the door are
Make, and. are not bought, or -
flecoy the public, .
Coble any day, Frank is, •
luidin Good Temper.
"CANADA WAR
in scoffs Brie
• SEAFOR H.
FIE subscriber has rece
stalment ok
PRINGG
LADIES & MI
Brown, Black, Colored
SUNDOWNS
GENTLER,:
Straw, Canton, Panama,
and Merino
11 A T
Decided. Bargains in Union
• BRUSSELS OA
Also some very choice Gun
3E3 3F_J Ci
Sugars, Syruir, Coal
CLOVER AND _TIPACNT
SES'
and White
Amvirba
All-Wooland
PETS.
owder, and
_A. S
il,
&c.
Y SEEDS.
A ,large stock of BOOTS & SHOES ex-
pected in a few days_ .
Co -Highest price paid for But r, Eggs. ike-
. AitCHiCALD McpOtrGei -
Seaforth April, 1869. •
300 KEGS
JAM'
If you are a wise man you will '
the world as the' Moon treats it. &Teat
4 only one side of yourself Silo*
show yourself too much at a e
let what you show be cab- Gan Aild
polished. But look at -11, Mil and
le world - everyside of
POOR COPY
11,
bk-stQb-AL
think tiley are going to
get a pieture mad*
flaYoWi}
tforrewed
Piaui -es of deceased •
1*.eaturiodwingypto • can:fullti;:scopatieet6: -
1,
iny kind of Picture 0
5' Iteraeraber, it is ÷
th' aye to go toga r
f ' Seafo, Acture look rich, Alia a win
are, Scenery, &e;, that J:iiftr
.4 good. Photogra.pfi.
a) Fraiik Paltridge's y
.esired.
tztiLltaiadicericyhoFururVt>
- _LANE. PALTRIDG.E. ? ..10e4 loft -
` * ' ds WI, " ITN
yogi! - frien : -o r ye =
:th, Jam 6th.
53.0
TY
ED I .0114
i361 -LED AIND
TtliiPENTINE
BENZfNP,
.4,
'VARNISHES,
PUT &e,i
At Johnson 13AY
Seaforth, April 9th: I •
.
11*
•
Note The
THAT
0
•
N •
it4• tl:r'llua°1gref Jinplete with a.new
NEW AALL.ER
.A4 DE R. INSTRU WIEN
..tgrounds, &e. None but
It- lap" ..ass pictures taken, anti Bagdad,-
e,tiguat2 Aateed.
--AY over Drsmith's office, next awe
Jr. DI -.-iyees.
er..iforth, _Aug. 13, 1868. •36-6711.
53-1)r
Fact
Itrid
J. SEATTER
EXMANGE BROKER 1'
• And dealer in Pure
DRUCS, CHEMICALS & DYE STUFFS,
The Drug Department is under the special
care of an experienced Chemist,
•R. M. PEARSON.
January 2let, 1860 •
SV -17
The age requi.
oiL aid horottgli we
requirments 'are raet
tsined, theie:1. is DO
big fine, eolid -heatig.
the plants ihould be ;.q-7,rt,
or cold-feame, tut seed li
bage should be sown in.
i 11 the spring, Some vai
do best if tee seed is ees1
-where they. are,to retrat
particularly ;the case avi
headed varatks. Sow
seeds where :encli plant
Lige varieties req uire,
then pull up ia,11. laue the st
ed about three feet apar
early sorts, from a fe,ot
inches. Alaiaye give eal
rieh soil, and lteep it
early -winter use, keep a
eellar. 'Me rnain crop
t out of ⩔ f7et
Ita and -covered with stre
with a little earth over
C nide,
HA.in As. Ai FEAT! LIZER:
.1;1S a good fertilizer to3 appi
„ArT),acs(ohill::rtananr'l‘eajcsie.--op
Rair
lent to -eraeatl around
grape vines. Pt reatterei.
where -turnip seed is to be
minute fibias• of the,grou
-1 &v hOld of the hair and
VS deve-lepe large and. so
Rair of any .kind is
ticb. per ix'.) as bon.e-f.
ee•
pieces are co 4.1., .7iowu
feed oa the notaiShmertts
forcled„, so titat a liuntlre
hair will produce a. Ilea
. gram or gtain: iu the fist
the- i.s applied than
amount of bonedust were a
is a larger pereentage of-
tel n hair...! 'Tile hest.
plying it to the hind is;
broadcast orer the Infitt'ts
in, as it is deSirai?te te hoe
turface, n'prIic-dto
all teat is required is
<1 thin onthese-a
settle down Nvlaci e
taken up by the '
'quantities -of he eruwine,
iebtained for e Air ma
: .ae bare e
D '111
The en, AXIIIt POD, Pc.
„earth, 4.pl0yment
appe as a deoderiz.
..are, says the
- orthy of more
oitherto recei-
four hundre'
by this aid , c1 to fi.Ve
anenthfit . be ket3t in
to lee f ilogethee wit
zapa.i .-ountle in any o
ch de e of aecome
e' ekensp. is Irt-Ty 00
eticaete. In the" Vial
ional Comteetay, Wi
been a.tcertained, sev
are ket-t 'ill each cc
. -
feet by tlaree feet,
sreell or .traCe Leo
thia,cc
tipttlf (lit
pe
removed frorej the re
and that'fee (try m-
• in:arum t-aat, f4i1s-du
ims its necisture
b the earth. iha
.taulverized, mixes
.ceazes to smell. S.
deodorizing effect of
• cl.ces net reqUire to
runs folemany weeks
z
F Enell FAR1
"revolutions" in rr
taken place within.
The first was that in.
An old three coern
sisting of the •divisi
two portio3as, one be
other was subdivid
ne of these eves u
allow, that is re
nee, in. every two
i'oot crop, generally
ersedett the fallow.
tation, compri.sing
wheat; and oats, is
sent, • The second
some thirty years
manuring', that is,
artificial or chemi
juncies or complete,.
farm yard. 2—Letter
HOME Lt Gi.
.(ji. the -America
he made a nice pile
a few shovels -full o
Crep3. The airt-rag
droppings from
week during the fal
Itt the sprix' 1g the
several times, and s
dry atid odourless.
ful ef it to each
corn, arid fowl(' it
so fast that the out
it, and he had aa
early. 'This is a
a --valuable manu
confined.to one ph
pending few DI
wpek.