Chiang, another old boy who had won an honoured placed as a physician, {in the course of his speech, said:
We are here to-day to congratu-Into the school' upon reaching a new era of efficiency, and therefore of success. I can' searcely express the feelings that I experience today, at being permitted to be present after all these years upon this joyful day. I, too, as former [speakers have said they did, have thought to-day of the name of Mr. Gedye, who lived so Jong in this place and did such great work for the progress of this school.
Forty years ago, China was not yet awakened. She did not understand what the West had to give to her. We missionaries came, greatly respecting her long literary history and her splendid devotion to learn-jing. But at that time, China to nay that T wold Wesleyan Mission beloved in duce [watch tse me" Jetsons" And tion, Because they knew what great began-my teaching under the scorn-gifts an enlightened mind has to ful eyes of assembled Asia! offer to a nation, So when David After a few days, the crowd got Hill asked for an English University tiged of coming, snd T'was able to man to conte to China to teach settle down to regular. class-work, Western subjects I was rejoiced to My pupils grew in numbers, and offer myself for the work. the "end of a month T had 20, To prepare the way, a piece of I commenced with the Arabic ground was bought, a feast was numerals and simple addition. given aiid deeds were drawn up and the end of a month, several of them signed. But when the deeds were had completed their education and returned from the consulate, the Joe the school. This went on for Chinese authorities refused to seal {few month, and I ind a fair nom them. We then. found that the ber of Uiterati amongst. my pupils, neighbours were agreed toilet us Presently it. seemed time' to open have the Iand; but there was one the regular school. Te was attended widow with an interest in the pro-by a few pupils, and among the first perty, who felt that her little son's was Shen' Weneeing. Many came prosperity when he grew: up would for only a short time, but a few depend upon his rights in this piece persisted. of ground, and therefore she refused Meanwhile, after a couple of years. to give her consent t® the trans-the deeds of the purchased "land faction. On this account, the aut-were not yet sealed, and the owner horities refused to seal the deeds twas still in prison, David Hill felt which had been signed by hat it was time to make a further owners, and the seller was imdevelopment, and sought a plot of prisoned. land in another place. On the The difficulty was great, byt we ground which he required in the could not stop our plans, so a house Giang Kini, buildings were ted jup for the school, and by this time was secured by a private bargain, the Mandarins were accustomed. to which stood just outside the great fun and raised mo difficulties, T hed public examination-hall. We had 2 guest-room, where it Was easy for idea of the alarm that spread copie to. come and talk to mo and when it became known that the Feeeive information, by. degrees Foreigners had possessed themselves prejudice died away, and gradually fof a house so near to the great the schoo! grew up. I had to. examination centre. But public home four years after the school had feeling became so strong upon the been started on the permanent site. subject that we had to seek some other place for our design, and in Viceroy's Solicitude ansulation with the Mandatins, who Just before T went home, there now were driven to help ni iwas a good cal of anger in Hunan bought Instead a house on the Chiang Jagainst the foreigner; but for all Kiai (Long Street). that, we had pupils from Hunan in Meanwhile, I had spent a couple the school. Parents were willing to of years in the country, and had send their boys, because they knew Tearned enough of the language to that we Tooked after their morals my work. I fand helped them in forming good characters, Before I" left "the he referred to the ancient learning Viceroy, Chang Chih-tung, sent a of China and her progress in the'art message, expressing his appreciation of mathematics, and announced that fof the work being done at the school, 'a Western scholar had arrived, who fand asking if he could give assis: had come for the purpose of teachtance by sending a subscription, oF ing Western mathematics and invarly other way. T. sent a mos defence. I made it my first object sage back, saying that we did not to appeal to the scholars in the city, task for apy subscription, but would Wuchang at that time was full of be lad if he would recommend the. expectant Mandarins living in the "kang kuans" or big houses, and Boone had already been opened a these gentlemen were invited to few years before I made my first come freely to my house, to see me. experiment, "It is a Joy to me toand talk over my plans. "When you Jdny to come back to China, and to remember that there were more find these txo great schools work-than 2,000 expectant Mandarins in ing side by' side, imparting. know-Hedge and developing, character. y by day my time rejoice to know that there are was fully occupied with receiving trained youths going out. from end talking to visitors. I had as-these institutions to take their part tronomical charts and other edueafas leaders in the Chute, or if out tional pictures hung around the side the Church, to help China in walls of my guest-room, and these this time of change. Men come here Provided subjects of conversation fand work, and leave, but the good when the ordinary civilities were work oes on, T pray that in the exhausted, future' there. may ever be men to A Heroic Beginning lead the youth of China in paths of safety, ever eager for new ud use:
In the beginning, I thought it best, ful knowledge, and with their faces not to open a formal school, but to turned towards the light of truth, invite a few gentlemen to come to Tam toon going back to England, me to study Western mathematics, never again to see. you in China, made a small charge for instrac-But I shall always bear in mind the tion, and named a day for opening the" school. Seven young men selimpses that I have had of you during these few weeks, Wesley enrolled and paid their money. The College in the past has had the day came, and I was ready with blackboard and chalk, Behold, "not beauty and joy of young life develop-merely my seven pupils, but. aping and being trained for woeful and parently the whole city walked in to Jearnest service. Its past. will eet tainly lead to a future that my little school-room. I had to say. that it was quite impossible for me brighter stil and better sil, teach amid such a multitude and At the conclusion of his speech Dr. with so much noise going on. My Barber spoke in. Chinese to. the gate-keeper unformed me that these boys, and following the time-honour were the bider brothers, fathers and jo custom he asked the Headmaster uncles, who had accompanied my t0 grant them a holiday. Mr. pupils to school for the first time, Thomas promised that. the request said Thad no idea that seven young should be granted on the following men could have had so many elder brothers and fathers amongst them, I gently urged them from one room to another, until they found them-Wuar was the prize electioneering selves out in the street before they. mixed metaphor? This takes some knew where they were being led. But this did not mend matters, for they all came in again. At last 1 beating. A London speaker deplored the folly of "killing the goose that lays the fatted calf."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.