The need of a new Chinese school has long been felt. As early as 1013 steps were taken io bring about the separation of this department, The Great War brought the question to a standstill, but the number of pupils coninned to increase, and to the regret of the Brothers, hundreds of new applicants have to be re-fessed every term.
In 1922 a financial drive was started in order to raise funds for the realization of the scheme. In spite of the already hard conditions Shanghai, the drive, together with another one conducted by the students themselves in 1923, brought in Tls. 18,755 and $31,581 respectively. This amount increased a few. years Inter by a generous donation of Tls. 10,000 contributed by a friend of the college, Mr. Denis Chen. At the same time in' 1993, some ex-students proposed to start a branch School to receive those students who could not be admitted to the college, and to ald financially in the realization of the separation scheme.
Accordingly the branch school was opened in some Chinese houses on Seward Road in February 1923, but two and a half years later was removed to its present site on Boone Road, where accommodation is pro= vided for 350 pupils, thus bringing the present mumber of Chinese students to the fair number of 750. Land situated at the eastern end of Tongshan Road was purchased at the cost of well over Tls. 100,000. However, as the district is wholly an industrial centre and not very suitable for a school, the scheme at present fs to sell that property and acquire another in a more suitable quarter.
Thus is conclusion it can he said that on September 21, 1874, the school started with four pupils and one teacher. To-day, November 26, 1934, there are 1,350 pupils attending the shoot guided by 51 teachers. Yet the value of a college cannot be judged only by the number of its pupils. The most important, the real Work is the formation of character. This the school has long tried and succeeded in achieving.
May God Almighty continue to bestow His most precious gifts on St. Francis Xavier's College!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.