JOHN CHINAMAN.
John. Chinaman and a Pew Others. By E. H. Parker. (John Murray. 8s.)—The charm of this book—a charm which is scarcely spoiled by a certain mild middle-aged cynicism—is very considerable, and it is to be attributed mainly to the fact that the author, who was for a period a Consul in the Far East, and whose " China : her History, Diplomacy, and Commerce" entitles him to the highest consideration, has used his eyes to purpose in a per- sonal as well as an official sense. Here, indeed, are the keynote and the " leason" of the entire book :—" To the best of my powers I relate nothing but what is true ; what I have seen with my own eyes, heard with my own ears, or searched out with my own brains (or 'what does duty for brains), and it is quite impossible therefore for me to draw convincing life- pictures unless I introduce the tertium quid of my own personality, and must consequently be always regarded simply as a mere peg whereon to hang a tale. What I wish particularly to point out is that shifty and crafty though Chinese officials may be, they have never been impenetrable to suasion.' so far as my personal experience goes, and have never failed in the end to settle any case, however long pending I believe with Sir Robert Hart that in attempting to crush the Chinese spirit we are making a great mistake for which we shall pay dearly in the future, unless we stay our hand in time: and there is yet time." But Mr. Parker is far more of a photographer—as the Scot:th would say, a photographer "with brains "—than of a preacher, or even of a philosopher, and as a consequence the sixteen chapters of which this book is composed constitute an eminently readable mélange of folk-lore, politics, history, sociology, and personalia. The titles of many of the chapters, such as "Births, Marriages, and Deaths," "For Ways that are Dark," "Religion and Missionaries," "Piracies and Murders," "Distinguished Foreigners," "Pseudo-Chinamen," and "Raising the Wind," indicate very clearly Mr. Parker's method. As there is a full index, and as the "contents" of each chapter are also very ample, the book is of a kind that does not suffer in any real sense by being taken up at odd moments. Perhaps the most valuable portions of the volume are those in which sidelights are thrown on Chinese history, such as the chapter in which there is given in a popular fashion an account of the idiosyncrasies, achievements, and rogueries of various Chinese Governors and Mandarins. In this respect Mr. Parker's work will be found of the highest value as a complement to other and more elaborate works on modern China. Mr. Parker is perhaps most delightful when he combines drollery with information. " Mak' or Ma' is a Chinese family name (Cantonese pronunciation), and is pronounced like the Mc' in McPherson,—without any definite vowel. In Otago nearly every one is Scotch, and so the son of one A-fu (or Mok-fu) ingenu- ously styled himself Macpherson. In this way did the wily Celestial circumvent the canny Scot and become a prominent citizen. When I was there, he resided at Round Hill, and, if I am not mistaken, had an Irish wife ; at all events, I met several prominent Chinamen in the Colonies who were happily married to British wives ; and several wives told me (in a whisper) they pre- ferred a Chinaman to a white man, as being more sober, domesti- cated, and thrifty."
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