"That no belong my pidgin"—a phrase which our Aomestics so constantly attempt to make use of, and which, translated into the more flowing languages of India, is a stock expression with every dusky serviter may be taken to express one of the secrets of Orion tal backwardness. But very little reflection is needed to shew that much of the diticalty which arises in controlling the native population of this colony, arises from the constant is application of the idea contained in these words. If robbery or outrage be commit: ted, if a drowning man require aid, if the police meed assistance, no belong my pidgin" is the ready excuse put' forward for inertness. The theory that every man should mind his own business and leave that of other people alone is one which finds considerable favor with a certain class of Europeans. To tell them that if carried out it would have done away with half the noble actions on record, would have riven into obscurity more than half the men whose names are famous, would have in fact resulted in complete dead-lock of civilization, avails nothing. 'They cannot see that the 1g mark of civilized, as distinguished from savage, man is the fact that the individual goes beyond the narrow circle of his own belongings, sometimes to teach wondering nations the troths' of science—sometimes to confer the blessings of invention on uncomputed multitudes. It is a somewhat remarkable fact, indeed, that wa owe the majority of our discoveries and inventions, not to men who have professedly devoted their lives to the subjects dealt with, but to those who have made them the amusements of their leiguro hours.
Strikingly different is the case in China, Scarcely can a single example be found of that independence of thought which is the prime necessity of eminence in are or science. We can afford however to let this pass, 80 far as it concerns foreigners. But the same spirit, when carried out in the matters of every day life, becomes nuisance, to which those most given to high-toned speculations about China ani the Chinese cannot remain indifferent, Tt may seem absurd to connect the Inziness of low caste coolies with a trait of national temperament, but, as we have said above, it it is displayed under circumstances which render the conclusion that it is something more than personal, inevitable. Wo are not sure thata good deal of the difficalty experienced in our official dealings with China may nob be traced to the same invincible determination to attend solely to one's own "pidgin" without concern for that of others. But we forbear discanting on so temptingatheme—Li Saigo it is very certain that to break down this feeling ix a duty as well asa necessity. [t may seem a small matter to bring up a lazy coolie at the Volice Court but it is quite certain that he learns an important ley. son when he is first told in a manner that impresses the fact upon his memory that ' no belong my pidgin" isnot a recognized excuse for disobedience or insolerica amongst Western nations. We wish that a little more vigour had been shown in days gone by when ''respectable shopkeepers" were charged with witnessing assaults and robberies and declining to interfere because it was not their pidgin.' {€ the foreign community outdo their duty m checking this feeling, the comfort of individuals witl be increased, and the hands of the Government strengthened.—China Mait
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.