In the mider of present aphearal and chaos, when the name of officialdom in China stands conventionally for too mach that is corrupt and self-secking, it in " relief (o personal feelings, as it|! may be of pablic. advantage, to recall the names of some who may indeed stand as ideale of Chineee citizenship.
First of all is the name of Peog Yé-lon, He wav a native of the proof Hanap, and showed his loyalty i Honan men in bringing ping rebellion. As Imperis! Commissioner of the Yangtxe, he was ® terror to evil-doers, His)?! reputation was that of strict honesty, plicity and self-denial. He pire to aristocracy, or assume: any form of extravaga: He lived on Peace pla: n food, and chessed in a plain cotton garb. He bad only one or two per-tonal attendants, 28 be sailed ap and] down the Great River.
The times wore bad, and he knew what was needed.
A second name i that of Yen Ching-ming. A native of Shansi province was for many years Governor of 8 gi yameo, Like Peng Yiilon, he was wont to dress in cotton raiment, except when ceremony required otherwise. remember when, on calling oe bim in 1887, I teand only one servant io the' gate-house and one servant to give attendance in the guest-room, The wes small aod unpretentious. Hia simplicity of living was not a closh for amassing wealth to be hereafter enjoyed. He was always poor, and his family as well. He was honestly bonest.
A third name is that of Prince Tan, known s the filth Prince Chun, a brother of the former Prince Kang sod Prince Chen, father of the present Prince Regent. Though the son of an Emperor, he did not presume on his power, or find pleasure in display. There is a story that one day, when he ment to audience to the late Empress be, in his usual manner, went im an old, rickety cart, bat, on coming oat from the palace and seeing the Inxarions sedan-chair of his younger brother, Prince Kong, outside the palace' gate, he went home in the better conveyance and left the poor old cart for the then powerfal Regent. No "gate money" was ever needed in entrance to the palace of the herd Privoe, and no one dared to seek for office by bribery or " present."
A foorth name is that of the Grand Old Man, Chang Chih-tang, " native of the metropolitan province. He bad the reputation for spending money recklessly on pablic works, but never on himself. Surrounded by " crowd of aspirants and expectants, he was never! known to stain his hands by receiving bribes, Neither did be find it neces-in favours by giving bribes. With millions passing through his bande, be found it unnecessary to stop a little for himself or his family Yet another name is that of Li Pit beng, boro, I believe, in Manchut His grest reputation was for bating foreigners. Rather, I think, he bated foreign ways snd foreign aggression. Economy and simplicity were his pride as with the other Governor of Shi adoption of material change, be replied in a letter of great cordiality expressing hearty approval, He may have been luckiog in many qaslitics noxersary for s statesman, bat he was, honest. For this let bim be remembered.
The last paine I mention is that of Sun Chis-nai, " native of Anbai ce, who I have called him The aaint of Chin not orly honest, bat hamble, not only hamble but pore, not only pare bat.
ble. A tator to the Emperor. the highest of the literati, with a great following of trae adm! ings.
Among officials of to-day, and still more among the gentry, I coald name others, bat I limit myself to men of the With loyal, bonest, capable both Manches and Chinese, there still hope that through the tra of the present there will oom one an
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.