STUDENTS WORKED TO DEATH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8365, 27 February 1913, Page 10

STUDENTS WORKED TO DEATH

HOW CHINESE CANDIDATES OBTAIN DEGREES. ' Wuchang (China), on the mighty. Yangtze river, opposite HankoW', is the capital of the two provinces, Hupeh and Hunan. Here, every tiurd year, the examination for competitors from both provinces is held, and then it is that tne streets are thronged with long-robed, large-spectacled gentlemen of all ages. Not long ago Wuchang had from 12,000 to lo,oou Bachelors dr Arts within its walls, who came from the far borders of the province for .examination of the provincial degree. About one-half - per cent, only were successful. Thousands of them knew 1 they had not the shadow of. a chance, but literary etiquette compelled themto appear. In the wake of these Confuciah scholars there always follow a troop of traders, painters, scroll-sellers, teapotvendors, candle merchants, spectaclemakers, and others, added to which there are the students’ servants; and , friends, so that the triennial examination makes a difference’ of from 40,000 to 50,000 in the residential population. As soon as the lists have been prepared the city takes a holiday to witness the ceremony of “entering the curtain ” —that is, opening the examination hall. Generally, for days previous Coolies have been pumping water into two great tanka, droves of 1 pigs have been driven into enclosures,' and doctors, tailors, cooks, printers, etc., have been massed within the hall for possible needs. The whole company is first entertained to breakfast at the yameh, and,then the procession forms. The hall is a miniature city, and what is practically martial law is proclaimed. In the central tower is a sword, and misdemeanour -within the limits is punished with instant death. Altogether, there must be 20,000 people shut in. Cases have been known :in which a hopeful candidate was crushed to death in the crowd at the gate. Each candidate; is first identified, and he is then assigned a certain number,- -which corresponds : to a oell a few feet square, contamingone board for a seat and one for- a desk. Meanwhile, the printers in the; buildings are hard at work printing' the essay texts. ■ Each row of cells has two servants), for cooking and attendance, assigned to it. The candidates take their-seats, the doors are locked from the outside, - the themes are handed out, and the contest has begun. .The examination is divided into three bouts of about thirty-six hours—two nights and a day •—each with intervals of a day. The strain, as may be imagined, is very great, and it is by no means an uncommon occurrence for a student to die in the hall. At the end of the third trial the first batch of those who have - completed their essays are honoured with the firing of guns, the bows of the officials, and the strains of a band of music. Three weeks of anxious waiting will ensue, and then a huge crowd will assemble to see the list published. Such is the mode of procedure in the Hanlin College of the Celestial Empire.