No. 55.
Mr. Low to Mr. Fish.
Legation of the
United States,
Peking, January 15, 1873.
(Received March 29.)
No. 222.]
Sir: When the ministers of the foreign office came
to make their New Year’s call upon me, inquiries were made about the young
students now in the United States. In reply, I said that I had seen in one
of our newspapers recently a published correspondence concerning them, and
had also received a dispatch from the Department upon the subject, and that
if it was desired I would send a copy of the one and the substance of the
other to them.
The inclosures herewith contain a copy and translation of my note inclosing
the paper, and the prince’s reply.
The prince’s note is exceptional in style, and its tone is unusually cordial.
Instead of inclosing the minister’s cards with his, (which is
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invariably done in notes emanating
from the yamên.) this came with the prince’s card alone.
The reason for this is apparent. He desired to impress upon me that he takes
a special personal interest in this matter. It was also intended to convey
the thanks of himself and the government in a more pointed and emphatic
manner than would have been the case had the note been in the usual
form.
The kind reception which these youths have met with and the interest
manifested in their welfare is very gratifying to the promoters of the
scheme for sending them abroad. If the reports from them continue favorable
it is not unlikely that the others will be sent faster than was originally
contemplated, and also that the total number may be increased.
As Mr. Northrop is included in the prince’s note of
thanks, it seems proper that he should be furnished with a copy of it. A
cover to Mr. Northrop’s address is inclosed herewith.
It contains a copy of the note referred to; and, if there be no objection, I
would thank you to forward it to its destination.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Low to Prince Kung.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, January 10,
1873.
Sir: In a late American newspaper there appears
a circular issued by the board of education of the State of Connecticut
addressed to the teachers of the Chinese pupils recently sent from here,
and, a letter from the guardians and tutors of the students to the
secretary of that board. As these letters may prove interesting to your
imperial highness and their excellencies the ministers of the yamên, I
beg to send them herewith. The English copy, unaccompanied by a Chinese
version, is sent, for the reason that a translation made by the
president of the Imperial University or some of the students will
probably prove more acceptable than one made by translators attached to
the legation.
I may add that, in a recent dispatch from the State Department, I am
instructed to inform your imperial highness and also his excellency
Le-Hung-Chang that the educational mission is regarded with much
interest by my Government, and that it will afford the honorable
Secretary pleasure to manifest his friendly feeling toward the students
should occasion offer.
With renewed assurances of my high consideration,
I have, &c.,
New
Haven, October 1,
1872.
The response to the call for homes and instruction for Chinese boys has
been suprisingly prompt and cordial. One hundred and twenty-two families
have offered to receive two each, so that homes are open for two hundred
and forty-four, while, as yet, only thirty have arrived. The number, and
especially the character, of the applicants show that this liberal and
far-reaching plan of the Chinese government has enlisted the practical
sympathy of philanthropists widely over this country. A desire to aid in
promoting the progress of the largest nation on the globe, with the hope
that these ambitious boys, when disciplined and equipped by the best
education which America can impart in a thorough course of fifteen
years’ study, will become the exponents of a higher civilization and the
benefactors of their country, is the explanation of this general
interest in their culture.
My new and numerous correspondents propose many questions, which,
burdened as I am with official duties, it is impossible to answer in
detail. The commissioners of
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the Chinese government will probably reside in Hartford. For obvious
reasons the boys are placed in towns easily accessible
to them. Hence they have been distributed only in Connecticut
and Massachusetts, and those in the latter State are in towns not remote
from Hartford. Their continuance in each locality will depend upon the
progress made. Though in private families, they are expected to have
regular school-hours for study and recitation. They are still boys, and,
though studious, exemplary, and bright, need strict control—a kind but
firm and steady government.
The Chinese educational mission.
Office of
Connecticut Board of Education,
State-House, New Haven, Connecticut, October 9, 1872.
To the Teachers of the Chinese Students:
The new Chinese educational mission awakens a profound interest as a
prophecy of great progress to the oldest and largest nation on the
globe. America congratulates China on the inauguration of this noble
work and gives a cordial welcome to these ambitious and earnest
students. Every possible effort should be employed to make this
experiment a success. If wisely managed at the outset, it will expand
into broad agencies and vast results. That nothing may be omitted to
give efficiency to this comprehensive and liberal scheme, the following
suggestions are submitted for your careful consideration:
- I.
- These students should have regular school-hours for study and
recitation, as well as for exercise and recreation. So far they
seem to be exemplary, cheerful, studious, and promising, but
their youth necessitates a parental supervision and watchful
control—a kind but firm and steady government. While their
habits of prompt and cheerful obedience must be continued, they
should be thrown upon their own resources, and trained to
self-reliance, self-denial, self-command, energy, and
perseverance, and every manly virtue. The Chinese justly despise
vacillation and effeminacy. They scorn sloth, love labor, and
practice industry and economy. Resisting all temptations to
indolence, prodigality, fickleness or irresolution, these boys
should emulate that patience and persistence and frugality,
which are the pride and practice of the true Chinaman.
- II.
- A regular record should be kept of the branches daily pursued,
of the progress made, the deportment of each, and any aptitude
shown for special studies. If any student should so underrate
his privileges as to become irregular in his habits or negligent
in his studies, he should be promptly reported to the
commissioners.
- III.
- As these students are preparing for positions of
responsibility at home, it is important that they should
continue the study of their own language and literature. Hence
at least one hour a day will be set apart for each student to
devote to the Chinese studies prescribed for him for a period of
three months. Thus the knowledge and use of their vernacular
will be kept up and enlarged.
- IV.
- Filial piety and patriotism are to be inculcated. Love of
country and ambition to become the exponents of our science and
culture, and thus the benefactors of their own land, should be
an incentive and inspiration to them as soon as they can be led
to appreciate their privileges and responsibilities.
- V.
- They should be early instructed in the laws of health,
especially as to neatness and bathing, precautions against
“colds” in the sudden changes of our climate, protecting the
feet and the person, guarding against currents of air, of a
sudden chill after violent exercise and when in a
perspiration.
- VI.
- For the present, reading, spelling, drawing, and writing, and
especially writing simple English sentences, should be their
prominent exercises. Geography and arithmetic, and particularly
rapid addition and “mental combinations,” will soon
follow.
The commissioners will frequently visit and inspect the boys, and the
continuance of the boys in each locality will depend upon their progress
and improvement.
Springfield, Mass., October 8, 1872.
Dear Sir: The deep interest you felt toward the
young students recently sent by the Chinese government to be educated in
this country, as shown by your energetic and prompt action in securing
suitable homes for them, calls for some public acknowledgment of your
invaluable services on our part. Permit us, therefore, to tender to you,
as we now do, our united thanks; hoping the young students also, when
they come to years of discretion, will be able to appreciate your
efforts for them in their comparatively helpless condition in a strange
land.
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We must not fail to mention in this connection the great pleasure we
experienced from the cordial welcome the public has shown toward this
educational mission, and we feel especially grateful to those good
people who have so promptly responded to the call for homes for those
young students, where they are cared for, protected, and instructed. It
will give us the greatest pleasure to report to the Chinese government
this cordial welcome and this generous treatment which we have received
of American people.
We remain, dear sir, your obedient servants,
- CHIN LAN PIN.
- TSANG HANG CHUNG.
- YEH SHU TUNG.
- YUNG WING.
Dr. B. C.
Northrop,
Secretary of the
Board of Education, New Raven, Conn.
[Inclosure 2.]
Prince Kung to Mr.
Low.
A few days since a note was received from your excellency, stating that
your Government regards with much interest the sending of Chinese young
men abroad for study, and that the honorable Secretary of State would
take pleasure in rendering them such aid as he could properly. An
extract from a newspaper accompanied your note, which was, without
delay, sent to the imperial university for translation.
From these letters the generous and thoughtful kindness of the
superintendent of education toward each of the students is plainly
apparent. Such generosity is worthy of praise and commendation; it is
highly appreciated by this government, and will be gratefully
remembered.
When communicating with your Government I beg that you will convey to all
who have so kindly manifested an interest in the educational mission my
warmest thanks.
Such acts of kindness tend to strengthen and make lasting the sympathy
and friendship now so happily existing between your country and mine, a
fact which will be as gratifying to your excellency as to me.
With thanks and compliments.
[Card of Prince
Kung
.]
January 14,
1873.
