CHINAMAN SEES AUSTRALIA

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 31, 7 February 1928, Page 6

CHINAMAN SEES AUSTRALIA

A Chinese Mandarin (fourth button), HwuyHig, being concerned in the differences arising between the Emperor Kuang Hsu and the Dowager Empress Tsu Hsi—which resulted in the former' 3 followers being in danger of execution— escaped to Australia, and from thence wrote a series of letters between the years 1899 and 1912, to his brother in China. These letters being the work of a man of education and refinement, were translated by a missionary, and afterwards forwarded to a friend in Victoria, and by his agency have been published in volume form. Matters of purely personal interest to the two brothers have been omitted by the Victorian editor, but otherwise the translated letters are as nearly in the original as translation from Chinese to English permitted. As the writer of the letters says in one of them, there is great difference between a language having more than fifty thousand written characters and another with only twenty-six. The humour of the earlier criticism is so definite that one suspects a literarv hoax, but the later comments upon political affairs are too serious and genuine to support this fancy. An American cinema director has recentlv told us that Australian manhood has nothin" of physical beauty, and that in a lengthy search he discovered no more than a dozen girls in all the continent, one or two of whom might possiblv 'go" on the screen. Our Chinese critic is o'f similar opinion, and adds that lie found the women so forward that he constantly turned awav his eyes in shame—for them, and after visiting a dance, could breathe easily only when outside the room. Til reference to the Chinese revolution, lie quotes Meng, the Sage: "If medicines do not raise a commotion in the patient, the diseases will not be emed by it," and regrets China's ignorance of warfare. Of women and courtesv. he says: "Women are freeing themselves from'the rule" of men, and like liberated slaves, become tyrants, or like starved wretches who, when at" table! gorge themselves beyond prudeness." "Laws," he says, "are constantly changed, added to, or cast out, that the people not be foolish trying to know them, and so deprive lawj men of their rice." " 'Propriety restrains the good man; the law restrains the worthless man.' There must be many worthless men in this civilised city." (Melbourne.) He dropped orange peel upon the footpath, and was rebuked by a policeman. Overcome, he neai lv swallowed a pip, choked, and spat on the footpath, and was reproved by a second policeman. "Ai-ya!" he says, "is not the cup of my miseiy full to overflowing?" A third policeman moved him on for standing still upon the pavement. He goes home to his room quoting: "The best government is that least seen." Motor horns, he complains, are not all alike. One is musical, and when a stranger stops to listen he risks soon "going on high." Another horn grunts like a liog, or belches like a beast, and the visitor is nearly run down, whilst searching for tho animal. "Property is wealth to the foreigner (Australian); moderation in his desires to the Chinaman," is one of his comparisons. Of the sheep owners he says: "Their 'stations' are big—big; have times one hundred li in loii"short and five ten, seven ten in where are three, five hundred thousand sheepowner thus place name 'Squatter!' He resemble small king in ride, and constantly in riches. Have times he has big debt to cash shop, station in its hands, and he in sea of troubles." At one dance there were many "fine, tall, strong younmen, having, im doubt, great measure for meat." One of these tripped over the author's foot. "He lead young female, and with anger sav in loud voice, 'You pla-ti Chow. Place for vou is in cook room!" Another young man, "Tab mi," protects the author, and retires to the open to tight the offender. They return and drink (the °rr£° ?> r a e y e )' aE| d seem good friends. - T ™ 5 ' 8A e cntic ' " is the s P irit of sport in O-se-lia." (Australia.) He almost splutters his indignation at the waste of timber. The bush felling, the fires, the general destructive process of clearing. "Foolish men wanting grass kill trees, rain runs down— no trees to stop it—carries away soil, leaving onlv r ° j trees no " rass - Wood 's top'hard, and has much use for building, mines, roads, fuel poles, piles, and in making paper. Oil (from 1 eucalypts) of much value, and from bark ropes and mats—all disregarded. Now time ten two million tails go to flower flag country for wood m one year." Of business, hunting, music, the social functions, gardening, farming, travelling, 'homes life, and domestic customs, anything and everything comes before the observant eyes and ear's of Hwuy-ung, and he ponders long upon each subject, and makes shrewd and pithy comment For hard work, courage, and cleanliness, he has all to say in praise, for the wide roads, machinery and general inventivness of the colonials he commends notice of Australia to China, but for courtesy, quietness, personal conduct, art, and dress, he advises Australia to imitate the Chinese. *"A Chinaman's Opinion Of Us," by Hwuy-ung (Mandarin). Translated by J. A. Makepeace, M.A. (Chatto and Windus.)