Part 11

While there was in this a definite reduction of one-fourth of the opium-joints in the settlement, there was nothing definite as to any future policy, though the implication was that the houses would be all closed within a period of two years. In his speech introducing this resolution before the ratepayers, the British chairman of the council said, among other things, "I feel sure that every one of us has the greatest sympathy with the Chinese nation in its effort to dissipate the opium habit, but we are not unfamiliar with Chinese official procedure, and how far short actual administrative results fall when compared with the official pronouncements that precede them. It is impossible not to be sceptical as to the intentions of the Chinese government with regard to this matter, although on this occasion we quite recognize that many officials are sincere in their desire to eradicate the opium evil, and I am sure there is every intention on the part of this community to assist them. Yet we know of no programme that they have drawn up to make this great reform possible, if indeed they have a programme.... The absence of these, so to speak, first business essentials, on the part of the Chinese government, was among the reasons which led us to the view that the settlement was called upon to do little more than continue its work of supervision over opium licenses, and wait for the cessation of supplies of the drug to render that supervision unnecessary.... The advice we have received from the British Government is, in brief, that we should do more than keep pace with the native authorities, we should be in advance of them and where possible encourage them to follow us."

In the following quotations from a letter written by Dr. DuBose, of Soochow, President of the Anti-Opium League, to the municipal council, the attitude of the reformers is clearly shown.

"The prohibition of opium-smoking is the greatest reformation the world has ever seen, and its benefits are already patent. Let the ratepayers effectually second the efforts being made by the Chinese government to abolish the use of opium throughout the empire.

"It has proved a peaceful reformation. In the cities and towns about one-half million dens, at the expiration of six months, were closed promptly without resistance or complaint. The government will grant all the necessary privileges of inspection to the municipal police in the prevention of illicit smoking.

"The consumption of opium in the cities has fallen off thirty per cent.; in the towns fifty per cent.; while in the rural districts in the eastern and middle provinces it is reduced to a minimum. It is well for Shanghai to be allied with Soochow, Hangchow, and Nanking, and not to permit itself to be a refuge for bad men.

"The Chinese merchants in the International Settlement have sent in earnest appeals to the Council on this question. As friends of China, might not the ratepayers give their appeals a courteous consideration?

"The question of opium at the Annual Meeting commands world-wide attention and Saturday's papers throughout Christendom will bear record of and comment upon the action.

"To close the dens is right. Shanghai cannot afford to be the black spot on Kiangsu's map. _Opium delendum est._

"In behalf of the Anti-Opium League, "HAMPDEN C. DUBOSE, _President_."

The appeals from Great Britain, America, China, and Japan, like the petitions of merchants, missionaries, and officials, were without effect. The "vested interests" carried the day, and a resolution, ordering the closing of the dens on or before the end of December, 1909, was lost by a vote of 128 to 189, the council, as usual, influencing and controlling the votes and carrying the original motion--the only concession it would grant to this gigantic movement.

Another surprise came to the cynical foreigner, when, on April 18th, the whole of the opium licensees participated in a public drawing in the town hall, to decide by lottery which establishments should be shut down on the 1st of July, numbering one-fourth of the total number, this method being adopted by the council to avoid any suspicion of partiality in the selection. The keepers of the dens cheerfully acquiesced in the proposal, the sporting chance no doubt appealing to the gambling spirit for which they are noted, and in the town hall this remarkable drawing was held without any sign of disfavour or rowdyism. The keepers of the Shanghai opium shops are no doubt thoroughly convinced that the feeling of the native community is entirely against the retention of these places and are ready to bow to the inevitable. None of the trouble or rioting feared by the Council, materialized, and it is certain that the entire list of licenses might have been immediately revoked without disturbance of any kind--and without protest. Three hundred and fifty-nine licenses thus cease with the end of June, and it is doubtful, with the present spirit manifest in the Chinese, that such another drawing will be necessary at all. The funeral pyre of opium-pipes, we trust, marks the end, or the immediate beginning of the end, of Shanghai's reproach, and it is distinctly to the credit of the 500,000 Chinese living within the jurisdiction of this foreign community, that they themselves are taking the lead in wiping out this stain on the "Model Settlement"--doing what the foreigner _dared not_ and the "vested interest" _would not_ do.

CHARLES F. GAMMON.

MISSIONARY--TRAVELS

The Call of Korea

Illustrated, net, 75c. H. G. UNDERWOOD

"Dr. Underwood knows Korea, its territory, its people, and its needs, and his book has the special value that attaches to expert judgment. The volume is packed with information, but it is written in so agreeable a style that it is as attractive as a novel, and particularly well suited to serve as a guide to our young people in their study of missions."--_The Examiner._

Things Korean A Collection of Sketches and Anecdotes, Diplomatic and Missionary.

Illustrated, net, $1.25. HORACE N. ALLEN

Gathered from a twenty years' residence in Korea and neighboring countries by the late Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to Korea.

Breaking Down Chinese Walls From a Doctor's Viewpoint.

Illustrated, net, $1.00. ELLIOTT I. OSGOOD

"Dr. Osgood was for eight years a physician at Chu Cheo, and conducted a hospital and dispensary, visiting and preaching the Gospel in the villages round about. He writes from experience. The object is to show the influence and power of the medical missionary service, and of the daily lives of the missionaries upon the natives, told in a most interesting manner by the record of the living examples."--_United Presbyterian._

Present-Day Conditions in China

Boards, net, 50c. MARSHALL BROOMHALL

"This book is very impressive to those who do know something of "present-day conditions in China," and most startling to those who do not. Maps, tables and letterpress combine to give a marvelous presentation of facts."--_Eugene Stock, Church Missionary Society._

The New Horoscope of Missions

Net, $1.00. JAMES S. DENNIS

"Dr. Dennis, who has long been a close student of foreign missions, and speaks with authority, gives in this volume a broad general view of the present aspects of the missionary situation, as foundation for 'the new horoscope' which he aims to give. The book is made up of lectures delivered at the McCormick Theological Seminary on The John H. Converse Foundation."--_Examiner._

The Kingdom in India

With Introductory Biographical Sketch by Henry N. Cobb, D.D.

Net, $1.50. JACOB CHAMBERLAIN

"This volume is Mr. Chamberlain's own account of what he did, saw and felt. As a teacher, a preacher and a medical missionary, Dr. Chamberlain stood in the front ranks. If all who are abroad could have the ability, the training, and the heart interest in the redemption of the endarkened lands that Mr. Chamberlain's life reveals, and the support for carrying on the gospel were adequately furnished, the future would be radiant with hope."--_Religious Telescope._

The History of Protestant Missions in India

Illustrated, 8vo, cloth, net, $2.50. JULIUS RICHTER

The author of this book is the authority in Germany on missionary subjects. This, his latest work, has proven so valuable as to demand this translation into English. India is a vast field and the missionary operations there are carried on by many societies. This survey of the field is broad and accurate, it reaches every part of the work and every society in the field, and gives a splendid summary of what has actually been accomplished. It has the unqualified approbation of the workers on the field themselves.

Overweights of Joy A Story of Mission Work in Southern India.

Net, $1.00. AMY WILSON CARMICHAEL

Mission-loving men and women, if you would know India, and the glorious uphill fighting of its missionaries, you _must_ read this book, hot with actual experiences, and learn the truth.

"A priceless contribution to Missionary literature."--_Illustrated Missionary News._

Bishop Hannington and The Story of the Uganda Mission

Illustrated, net, $1.00. W. GRINTON BERRY

The personality of Bishop Hannington was full of color and vigor, and the story of his work, particularly of his adventures in East Africa, ending with his martyrdom on the shores of the Victoria Nyanza, is one of the most fascinating in missionary annals. Hannington was himself a picturesque writer, with a noteworthy gift of producing dashing and humorous descriptive sketches, and quite a third of the present volume consists of Hannington's own narratives.

Transcriber's Notes:

Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_.

The following misprints have been corrected: "sod" corrected to "pod" (page 26) "suport" corrected to "support" (advertisements)

Other than the corrections listed above, inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from the original.