College one paper; all the essays being upon Chinese government and history, and the papers upon themes connected with foreign political economy and the industrial sciences.

In any exposition of themes from the Four Books or the Five Classics in the above-mentioned examinations it will not be permitted to use the "eight-legged arrangement, but the essays and papers must be practical and logical. There must be none of the verbosity and useless padding nor of the plagiarism that have obtained heretofore.

Henceforth, after the issue of this edict, all must strive to rid themselves of these faults. Let them use the Four Books and the Five Classics for a foundation and apply their minds to the study of political economy. Let them take special care to avoid empty phraseology and to attain to a thorough understanding of the subjects studied and their practical applications, so that they may prepare themselves to become useful instruments in fulfillment of the desire of the court to find men worthy to be intrusted with office.

As to the details of the regulations to be adopted for the conduct of the various regular examinations, together with all matter not yet determined relating to any further examinations, the board of ceremonies will consult with the board of national administration and make satisfactory arrangements, after which they will report in a memorial to us. Respect this.

On the same day the following edict was received:

In the custom of holding military examinations we have followed the regulations of the Ming dynasty which preceded us. But as the custom has obtained for a long time there have grown up a great many evils. The exercises with the stiff bow, with the sword, and with heavy weights, together with the archery exercises, both on horseback and afoot, have none of them really any relation to a soldier's duties, and under present-day conditions are utterly useless. We ought therefore to devise a plan introducing reforms, and earnestly seek after what is practical.

Hereafter the examinations for the degree of military bachelor of arts and the test examinations of the military bachelors, together with those for the military master of arts and doctor's degrees, are all forever discontinued. The present military masters and doctors are all required to enter the army and thoroughly learn their profession. As to the youthful, athletic bachelors and those who have heretofore been preparing themselves as candidates for the military bachelor's degree, they may all be enrolled simply by enlistment (i.e., without examination). Hereafter each province will establish a military school, and a set of regulations will be adopted later prescribing the examinations to be held for the selection of officers, that thus we may be able to secure the military talents which are needed. Let this edict be published abroad for the general information. Respect this. Minister Conger transmits from Pekin, October 1, 1901, translations of two more imperial edicts, providing for the establishing of schools throughout the Empire, and ordering the viceroys and governors to select and send students abroad for the purpose of being educated in special branches of industrial science. The edicts follow:

[Translation from the Pekin Gazette of September 29, 1901.]

On the 5th day of the eighth moon the following imperial edict was received: The development of men's talents is certainly at the present time of urgent importance. Some time since it was proposed by the provincial_authorities of Kiangnan, Hupeh, and Szechuen to select and send students abroad to travel and study-an excellent suggestion.

Let the viceroys and governors of the various provinces all act in accordance with it and exert themselves to select students of mental gifts, upright character, literary talents, and a general knowledge of affairs, who shall go abroad to thoroughly educate themselves, particularly in the specialized branches of industrial science. Let them acquire a thorough mastery of some profession, and genuinely exert themselves in the pursuit of knowledge.

When their education shall have been completed and they shall have obtained their diplomas and returned to China, let the viceroys and governors and literary chancellors of the provinces concerned at once divide them into classes, according to the courses of study which they may have pursued, and examine them. If their knowledge shall really correspond with the statements made in their diplomas, the authorities mentioned shall issue a document certifying the same, and send it with the student to the board of foreign affairs, who, after further

4

examination, shall select the most worthy and memorialize us, requesting honors to be conferred on them. As to the expenses attendant upon such travel and study, let each province arrange some satisfactory method of paying the same, and it will be permitted to enter the item under the head of government expenditure. Should any person go abroad to study at his own expense, let the viceroy and governor of his province at once report the fact to the Chinese minister in the country to be visited, that he may look after such students as occasion may require. If he shall complete his course of study and obtain a first-class diploma, on his return to China he shall be permitted to enter the examinations on the same terms as the students which have been sent abroad by the Government. Afterwards they will await an imperial decree bestowing upon them, according to their attainments, the degrees of doctor and master of arts, that they may be prepared for official employment and to encourage the pursuit of learning. Let this edict be published abroad for general information. Respect this.

[Translation from the Universal Gazette, Shanghai, September 17, 1901.]

On the 4th day of the eighth moon a telegram was received saying that on the 1st day of the same moon (September 13, 1901) the following imperial edict was issued:

Human talent lies at the foundation of all affairs, and in the cultivation of talent the most important thing is the improvement of educational methods. From of old it has been the glory of the academy that it has laid emphasis upon the practice of virtue and the cultivation of the arts. Therefore, in such times both theory and practice were attended to, and men of talent and virtue were numerous. But nowadays scholars are either empty pretenders or of no use or are fickle and wanting in sincerity. At present it is desired to remove these evils; but without reverence for teaching and exhortation to study there is no way of prospering the undertaking.

Aside from the Imperial University at Pekin, which must be put in thorough order, it is commanded the viceroys and governors of the various provinces, each to convert the schools at the provincial capital into a college, and let each prefecture, subprefecture, and independent department establish an intermediate school, and each department and district a lower grade school with numerous primary schools. In the curriculum let the four books and five classics, with the three bonds and five virtues, form in a general way the foundation, and history, Chinese and foreign government, and industrial science be employed to supplement this course. Let earnest effort be made to inform the mind, to secure upright conduct, to improve both literary talents and character, and produce men acquainted with the times, diligent in the pursuit of real usefulness. This will approximate the laying of a foundation [for] the completion of virtue and the improvement of talent, which will assist in fulfilling the purpose of the Throne to secure men equipped for the duties of government. Let each of the viceroys," governors, and literary chancellors earnestly consult together and proceed as directed. As to the teachers needed, the rules to be established for the schools, and the methods to be employed to reward those students who shall complete the course of instruction, and all the details of such regulations, let the board of national administration issue instructions to all the provincial authorities to prepare the same, and when they shall have been submitted, let the said board, together with the board of rites, again examine them and prepare a memorial. Let this edict be published abroad for general information. Respect this. Minister Conger sends from Pekin, February 6, 1902, copies of two imperial edicts recently issued, which, he says, indicate the loosening of the bonds of old custom and the present trend toward a new order. The removal of the prohibition of intermarriage between Manchus and Chinese is of political significance, as indicating a desire to emphasize less strongly the distinction between rulers and ruled. The other edict is in line with the policy declared in a number of recent edicts to encourage the study of Western methods.

The edicts follow:

[Translation from the Pekin Gazette of February 1, 1902.]

The following imperial edict was issued to-day:

Our dynasty, distinguished for its benevolence, has richly bestowed its benefits in overflowing measure throughout the whole Empire. No partiality has been shown to Manchu or Chinese, whether high official or people; but according to an old custom there has been no intermarriage between them. This was originally

because, when the dynasty was first established, the customs and speech of the two peoples were considerably unlike, and therefore the prohibition was made. Now, however, customs and beliefs are alike, and, more than two hundred years having passed, we ought to defer to the general feeling and remove the prohibition; and therefore we command that Manchu and Chinese, whether officials or people, be allowed to intermarry. Let there be no bigoted adherence to old custom. But, as for the Chinese women, for the most part, they have followed for a long time the custom of foot binding, which is an injury to the good order of creation. Hereafter, let the officials and gentry all exert themselves to gently persuade and lead the people, and cause them all to understand, in the hope that this old custom may be gradually abolished. But on no account will it be permitted officials, clerks, or the slippery yamên runners to take advantage of this to go about harassing the people with their prohibitions. But at the times for selecting girls for palace attendants, the Manchus must still be chosen; there must not be any selection of Chinese, lest we fall into the corrupt practices of the former Ming Dynasty. We therefore make this restriction out of deference to the feelings of the [Chinese] people. Let this edict be published abroad for general information. Respect this. [Translation from the Pekin Gazette of February 1, 1902.]

The following edict was issued on the 23d of the twelfth moon (February 1, 1902):

Our international relations are of the utmost importance. At the present time, when we are seeking to restore prosperity to the people and the Government, we ought more than ever to gather together those of superior merit. If those who go abroad will devote themselves earnestly to the investigation of foreign methods of government and the sciences of those countries, we may hope to so increase our talents as in some measure to meet the needs of the Government. At present, there are many students from the various provinces, zealous in acquainting themselves with current affairs, who have gone abroad to study in foreign schools and learn a profession. This practice has never obtained among the imperial clansmen and the eight banners, and it is urgently necessary that they become more liberally educated. Let the imperial-clan court and the lieutenant-generals of the eight banners select young men from each banner between the ages of 15 and 25, of good character, intelligent minds, and sound bodies, and prepare a list to be sent to the grand council, who may report to us and await our appointment of an official to reexamine and make a selection of a certain number, who shall be furnished with means and sent abroad to travel and study, availing themselves of the opportunity to familiarize themselves (with foreign methods) and enlarge their experience. that they may assist the court in its purpose to cultivate talent for the service of the Government. Respect this.

BUSINESS TRAINING FOR AMERICANS IN FRANCE.

In view of the fact that we are finding new markets abroad for our products, I would call the attention of our manufacturers and exporters to one method the European exporter employs to extend and retain trade-a method which, so far as western France is concerned, has been almost entirely ignored by us. The young men of the United States should be given a practical business training abroad. It is just as essential that the American should have a knowledge of foreign business methods as for him to have a knowledge of the foreign language. These two trade weapons should go together when markets are to be conquered. Although our enterprise and progress are acknowledged, and we have attained a place in the foremost ranks in the commercial world, we can not expect to force our crisp and rapid business methods upon the conservative Frenchman. We may gradually convince him of the superiority of our system, but we must in the beginning make certain concessions. Our young men should come to France and obtain employment in some of the large business establishments for six months, one year, or two years, as the exigencies may require. True, wages are low here, but doubtless a number of young men could obtain employment which would at least pay their board, and the experience thus obtained would be beyond value. Large manufacturing and export houses could send young men abroad. In this

city of 200,000 inhabitants I know of but one from the United States who is engaged in business, and he is with a retail firm. Young men from England, Wales, Belgium, and Switzerland are here temporarily, with the leading import houses, getting a practical knowledge of the language and of French business methods. Especially is this true of the coal and the wholesale commission trades, where deals are made for phosphates, lumber, and grain in cargo lots. In such positions these young men are often able to give valuable pointers to the exporter from their own country. They usually attend to the correspondence from their respective countries, study French, and obtain an insight into the metric system and French peculiarities in business. I am convinced that the sale of American coal in France during the past year would have been doubled had it not been for lack of information on the part of American producers concerning French trade, and their consequent inability to meet the requirements promptly on this side. JOSEPH I. BRITTAIN, Consul.

NANTES, FRANCE, October 24, 1901.

DISTRIBUTION OF NOBEL PRIZES.

Under date of December 11, 1901, Minister Thomas, of Stockholm, Sweden, writes:

The prizes offered by Alfred Bernhard Nobel, the Swedish engineer and inventor, to those persons who contribute most materially to benefit mankind in the domains of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and in the works of peace, were awarded this year as follows:

In physics, to Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, professor at the University at Munich, the discoverer of the Röntgen rays.

In chemistry, to Jacobus Henricus Van't Hoff, professor at the University of Berlin.

In medicine, to Emil von Behring, professor at Halle, the discoverer of the diphtheria serums.

In literature, to Sully-Prudhomme, member of the French Academy.

In works of peace, the prize was divided in two and awarded in equal parts to Henri Dunant, of Switzerland, the leading spirit in bringing about the Geneva convention and in instituting the societies of the Red Cross, and to Frédéric Passy, national economist, of France. Each of the five prizes is for the sum of 150,782.23 crowns, or more than $40,000. Five prizes of like, or perhaps greater amount, will bo awarded every year on December 10.

Alfred Nobel directed that substantially the whole of his vast fortune be used for the benefit of mankind. Though the discoverer of dynamite, he instituted one of his grand prizes for works of peace. His beneficence was as broad as humanity. He was more than patriot; he was the friend of the human race. In his last will he directed that no consideration whatever be paid to nationality, but that the worthiest be awarded the prize, whether he were Scandinavian or not.

GERMAN EFFORTS FOR THE MANUAL TRAINING OF BOYS.

Mr. von Schenckendorff, of Görlitz, Prussia, published recently an article with reference to German efforts for the manual training of boys. He says that manual training of boys is becoming of great importance in all civilized countries. Manual training is most cultivated in France, the countries of the North, and in the United States, but England, Switzerland, and a number of other countries are making good headway.

In Germany the idea of the manual training of boys found a ready response, as it was recognized that the one-sided system of German schools in training the intellect and the memory required a supplemental, practical education. This had been already advocated by such pioneer pedagogues as Comenius, Pestalozzi, Froebel, and others, but has only recently become a systematic branch of the education of boys. Progressive methods for teaching working in wood, pasteboard, and metals, also in modeling, have been adopted for the boys of school age, and trained teachers conduct this part of their instruction according to established principles of pedagogy, similar to the "Froebel” work in kindergartens. This instruction is not only for the purpose of imparting manual skill, but, above all, to stimulate and develop original creative work. The German society for the manual training of boys has about 2,000 members and is the champion of these efforts spoken of. One thousand manual training schools are in operation at present.

A normal school for teachers of manual training exists at Leipzig under the direction of Dr. Pabst. A practice school is connected with it. The students receive instruction during the summer months. Until recently manual training was confined to separate schools but lately it has become a part of the public schools proper. This latter method is now recognized as the best. In Worms and Königsberg experiments have been conducted in the public schools on a large scale for a number of years past, with the approval of the Government and aided financially by the municipality. They have given excellent results, which will soon be published.

FRANKFORT, GERMANY, December 28, 1901.

RICHARD GUENTHER,
Consul-General.

FRENCH WRITING SYSTEM FOR THE BLIND.

In 1829 the Braille machine made reading possible to the blind. This machine is composed of a metal frame with a movable copper reglet, which slides across the frame. This reglet is pierced at regular intervals by little holes in squares of 6. There are 24 squares on the reglet and each square is susceptible of forming a letter.

In order to write, a thick sheet of paper is placed on the frame between the reglet and a sheet of zinc, on which are depressions corresponding to the little holes in the reglet. The writer uses the left hand as a guide and, with a pointed instrument that he passes into the holes of the reglet, forms depressions in the paper that appear in relief on the opposite side. These dots form the letters. When one line is finished-that is, when he reaches the end of the frame-he moves the paper and begins another line, and so on, indefinitely.

Since the characters must be read on the opposite side from the one on which they are formed, the writing must be from right to left. The blind must learn two alphabets-one for the formation of letters from the wrong side and one for reading them from the right. As the sheet of paper is fastened to the frame, it must be removed to correct a mistake.

A new invention permits the blind writer to write as he reads-from left to right. He can thus correct as he writes, without displacing the paper. He has but one alphabet to learn, which he can acquire in six lessons.

Mr. Dussaud, the inventor, uses the pointed instrument and reglet for writing, but instead of passing through the holes into depressions in the paper below, this instrument simply presses on small mobile keys, which are hollow, and in their