8th October.
'THERE is one aspect of the political situation—a minor aspect certainly, but this is a land where small things may count for much—which his a considerable bearing upon the good will of foreigners and Chinese to each other in this and every district throughout China where' the two races come in contact. 'I'he us: by Chinese generally of opprobrious epithets when speaking of the foreigner, in evidence over all this region, is a matter which deserves more attention than it has received, What's in a name? A good deal sometimes, Call an acquaintance a dirty dog and watch the result. The curses of utile children may not seem to count for much or be worthy of special notice, but when they are the expression of the known sentiment and constant attitude of almost a whole population they should not be neglected, It might have been supposed that in any other country but China such lessons as the last two years have brought would have been taken seriously '0 heart and a greater respect. of speech born of wholesome fear or growing wisdom would be evident, Nothing of the kind here, however. "Quos yuit perdere, prius dementat." The fact is, as recent visitors to our coun~ try districts can testify, that the objectionable " Yangkueitze" is to be heard around Shanghai oftener and loader than ever, and the altogether untranslatably indecent " Yangleupan"—a distinct step to the bad in the art of Chinese cursing—has come into frequent use in many places during the past two years.
It is well known that some cities are much worse than others in this matter. Those who travel frequently in this region can locate the bad spots, and on the other hand in a few places, more noticeably perhaps in the Soochow Fu, the cursing of foreigners is the exception and not the rule. We have heard of cities where a change of magistrate, a weak mansucceeding fa strong one, and vice vers, has ab once brought about a change in the demeanour of the people towards the passing foreigner. A'l this clearly shows that if those in authority could but be persuaded to act, it is within their power to end this wre: ched cursing altogether. Let it once be made known that the officials are determined to make the cursing of the foreigner an offence to be followed will it be stopped, but the whole by prompt punishment and not only
sentiment of the people undergo a welcome change. The people's curses are born of what they believe to be the sentiment of the officials and gentry. When their respect of the rules of courtesy in regard to the foreigner, now sadly lacking, is evident the speech of the multitude will follow suit, 4
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.