Text
China & England
Seldom if ever have I enjoyed such pleasure as I feel at being privileged to speak, imperfect as it may be, on my native country before such an audience. But being a world-despised Chinaman, I could not help feeling when I cast my eyes upon myself how unworthy I am for such a great honour. Nevertheless I am unwilling not to make use of this great chance and say something which I hope may lead us to understand each other more and better.
Since I came to this country, I have found that most of the people here in England have a very poor idea of the Chinese, in other words, you think we are barbarians or uncivilized people. But this is not the fault of the people ; it is the fault of those who bring back to you the ideas that they have got partly from associating with the low classes, and partly from misunderstanding our laws, customs, beliefs, &c. I feel that it is my duty to-night to explain these to you.
A great deal has been talked and written about China, the great empire of the East, the oldest, the most populous and the most highly organised on earth, is modernising or Westernising itself. The country which made the dying Xavier, the famous missionary, exclaim in 1552, " O ! Rock, Rock ! when wilt thou apen ? " is at last indeed opened, and changes are taking place in that hoary empire, which bid fair to constitute the miracle of the 20th century. China has been dubbed " The sick man of the Far East," " The Sleeping Lion," " The Tottery Empire," and other names more or less picturesque and complimentary have been bestowed upon her. With some people, it is the conviction that China has only a historical interest, that her glory is of the past — that the leopard may change its spots, but
No copy data
No other version available