There was a large attendance on Monday afternoon at the French Municipal Hall on the occasion of the annual distribution of prizes in connection with the French Municipal School for Chinese. The Fren Cunsul-Gonerel, M, Wagner, presided, an several Chinese officials, including the Txotai and Chehsien, were present during a part of the proceedings. As usual, an excellent programme, well calculated to show the success attending the method of instruc tion adopted, was carried out by the pupils, many of whom showed themselves able to speak French with " clearness and correctness which many 8 European might envy. Not only were there a declamation, two dialogues (one dealing with the subject of electricity) and complimentary speeches in French and Chinese, but there was singing in both Innguayes, to the accompaniment of harmonium, played by one of the Chinese teachers, M. Bruvat, Chairmen of the french Must uring the early part of the proceedings
cipal Council, gave a short address in which he pointed out that the school had been established with the ubject of propagate ing among the young Chinese of the concession " knowledge of the French language and European ideas, Tangible results in this direction had alrendy been obtained. Several of the former pupils were employed as interpreters, and had obtained employment in the Municipality and in other situations, Two of teachers, Messrs, Li Kien-sang and Chiav Nen-ping had been to France to perfect their knowledge, and had been teaching French for more than a year. These results were largely due to the energy of the former President of the Municipal Council and of the school committee, M. Chapsal. But they were still more due to the zeal and devotion of the lamented Pere Capitaine whose loss they had experienced during the year. Ho (the speaker) felt it his duty to bent public testimony, both in the name of the Council and of' the scholars, to the esteem nnd love with which they regarded the late father. He had been replaced in the direction of the school by Pare Crochet, who would spare no Paine to advance the work already begun.
oferring tu the instruction imparted in the school, the speaker went on to say that the course of study included not only the French language, spoken and written, grammar, geography, arithmetic and several other useful subjects, but a course of Chinese to maintain in the pupils a kuowledge of their own tongue, Pore Crochet had this year udded instruction in music, in which he had been usefully and happily assisted by their Chinese professor M. Pare Vu. The songs which had been sung, after short a. time of study, were xn augury of the-happiest results'in the future. Turning '0 the prize list, M. Brunat observed that the "encouragement prizes" had been discontinued, there appearing tu be no further need for them. The number of prizes had been reduced, but those now given were of greater value than before. In conclusion the speaker thanked HE. the Taotai for the interest which he had taken in the school—an interest own by the forwarding of several prizes 1 _by his presence on that occasion.
tribution was then proceeded with at intervals, the Taotai and Chehsien handing some of the prizes to the successful scholars, and M. Wagner continuing the ceremony after the Chinese officials' departure,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.