p. 16 | Becoming “Civilized”

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 24, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 43.

Becoming “Civilized”

Becoming "Civilized."—A Mr. Monnier tells this story in Christian Work, as illustrative of the manner in which "civilization" is taking hold of the official class in China. It sounds much like some of the improvement schemes in American cities, altho it is on a smaller scale:—

"A short time ago the emperor of China made up his mind that the street of the legations in Peking should at last be paved. To insure the work being done, he himself provided the money—some $16,000. This sum was handed to a high official of the Public Roads and Highways Department. It entered into the mind of this dignitary that the work could be done for much less. He very soon found an enterprising contractor who undertook the task for $5,000. No. 2 had, however, views similar to those of No. 1, and was equally successful in finding a No. 3, who, in his turn, considered $2,500 an extravagant sum for so insignificant an undertaking. The street was eventually paved at the cost of $1,600."