第4章

(12)Bearnomaliceagainstanyone。

(13)Beequitableandjusttoallmen。

(14)Libertyandfreedombutnotlicense。

(15)Donotuntootherswhatyewouldnotthatothersshoulddountoyou。

Ihavejotteddowntheabovejustastheyoccurredtomewhilewriting。

Theycaneasilybeamplified,andbemadethebasisofanethicalinstructioninalltheschools。Inanycase,everynationshouldaimatthehigheststandardofmorals。

Co-educationintheUnitedStatesisnotsounpopularasinsomeothercountries,anditisincreasinginfavor。Inalltheprimaryschools,andinmostofthehighschools,boysandgirlsstudyinthesameclass-room,andgirlsareadmittedasstudentseveninsomecollegesanduniversities。

Thisprincipleofadmittingthefairsextoequaleducationalprivilegesisslowlybutsurelybeingrecognizedeverywhere。Insomeuniversitiestheauthoritieshavegonehalf-way;lecturesaregiventothegirlstudentsinseparaterooms,orseparatebuildings,orhalls,areprovidedforthegirlstudents。Withregardtotheteachingstaff,intheprimaryschoolsnearlyalltheteachersarewomen,andinthehighschoolstheirnumberisatleasthalf,ifnotmore。

Insomeoftheuniversitiesthereareladyprofessorsortutors。

Itgoeswithoutsayingthatgirlshavethenaturaltalentforlearningeverythingthatboyscanlearn。Theobjectionsraisedbytheopponentsofco-educationseemtorestchieflyuponthedangeroftheintellectualorphysicaloverstrainofgirlsduringadolescence,andupontheunequalrateofdevelopmentofboysandgirlsduringthesecondaryschoolperiod。Itisfurtherallegedthatinmixedschoolsthecurriculumissoprescribedthatthegirls\'courseofstudyismoreorlessadaptedtothatoftheboys,withtheresultthatitcannothavetheartisticanddomesticcharacterwhichissuitableforthemajorityofgirls;butwhyshouldnotthecurriculumbearrangedinsuchawayastosuitbothsexes?Isitnotgoodforbothtolearnthesamesubjects?Thatwhichisgoodforaboytolearnisitnotequallyadvisableforagirltoknow,andviceversa?

Willnotsuchapolicycreatemutualsympathybetweenthesexes?

Theopponentsoftheco-educationpolicyassertthatitmakesthegirlsmasculine,andthatithasatendencytomaketheboysalittlefeminine。Itcannot,however,bedoubtedthatthesystemreducesthecostofeducation,suchastheduplicationoftheteachingstaff,laboratories,libraries,andotherequipment。

Itisobjectedthatthesystemhasdonemorethananythingelsetorobmarriageofitsattractions,bydivestingmanofmostofhisold-timeglamourandromance。Itisclaimedthatthisearlycontactwiththeothersex,onafootingofequality,andthemannerinwhichthemajorityofthegirlstudentsmorethanmaintaintheirintellectualstandingwiththeboys,hastendedtoproducethatcontemptofthemuch-vauntedsuperiorityofman,that,asarule,isreservedforthosepost-nuptialdiscoverieswhichmakemarriagesuchaninterestingventure。Buttheyforgetthatmarriagesarefrequentlycontractedinplaceswheregirlsandboysaretaughttogether,andwheretheyhavehadampleopportunitiesforknowingeachotherintimately,andthatexperienceprovesthatsuchmarriagesarehappyandlastingunions。

Itisinterestingtoobserve,however,thatasthenumberofeducationalinstitutionshasincreased,thenumberofunmarriedwomenhasbeencorrespondinglyaugmented。Itiseasytoexplainthisbythefactthatalargenumberofwomenearntheirownlivelihoodbygoingintobusinessandtheprofessions。Astheybecomemoreeducated,andareallowedtoparticipateinmanyofthesameprivilegesasmen,itisonlynaturalthattheyshouldshowtheirindependencebyremainingsingle。Thesamethingwouldoccurinanycountry,andwemayexpectalikestateofthingsinChinaasgreaterfacilitiesforinstructionareaffordedtowomen。Idonotfeelalarmedattheprospect;

indeed,IwouldwelcomeitifIcouldseemycountry-womenactingasindependentlyandasorderlyastheirAmericansisters。

Thegamesandsportssanctionedandencouragedinschoolsanduniversitiesareuseful,inthattheyafforddiversionofthepupils\'mindsfromtheirschoolwork。Theyshouldnot,however,beindulgedininsuchawayastointerferewiththeirstudies。Take,asanexample,boatracing;severalmonthsofpreparationarenecessarybeforetheeventtakesplace,andduringagreatportionofthistimethestudentsdonotthinkmuchoftheirstudies;theyareallmadwithexcitement。Thecontestbetweenthetworivalpartiesisverykeen;

theyhavebutonethought,andthatistowintherace。Inthisway,atleastsoitseemstome,themainobjectofrecreationisentirelylostsightof;itbecomesnolongeranamusement,butlaborandwork。

Iamtoldthatthecoxswainandtheothermembersoftheboatracegenerallyhavetotakealongrestwhentheraceisover,whichclearlyshowsthattheyhavebeenoverworking。

Ifavorallinnocentgamesandsportswhichmeanrecreationanddiversion,butifitbethoughtthatwithoutacontestgameswouldlosetheirrelishandtheirfun,thenIwouldsuggestthattheaimshouldbetheexhibitionofaperfectbodyandabsolutehealth。Letthestudents,whentheycometotherecreationground,indulgeinanysporttheyplease,butmakethemfeelthatitis\"badform\"tooverstrain,ordoanythingwhich,eventemporarily,marstheperfectworkingoftheirphysicalorganisms。

Leteachstudentsotrainhimselfastobecomehealthyandstrongbothphysicallyandmentally,andtheonewho,throughreasonableandwholesomeexercises,isabletopresenthimselfinthemostperfecthealthshouldbeawardedthehighestprize。

Chapter6。AmericanBusinessMethodsIfIshouldbeaskedwhatismostessentialforthesuccessfulcarryingonofbusinessinAmericaIwouldsayadvertising。AbusinessmaninAmericawhointendstosucceedmustadvertiseinthedaily,weekly,andmonthlypapers,andalsohavebigpostersinthestreets。

Idonotbelieveanyup-to-datemerchantinAmericafailstodothis。

Everybookandmagazinecontainsmanyadvertisements;sometimesfullyhalfofabigmagazineiscoveredwithnoticesorpicturesofarticlesforsale。

Whereveryougotheinevitableposterconfrontsyou;andevenwhenyoulookoutofthewindowofthetrainyouseelargesign-boardsannouncingsomearticleoftrade。Thenewerthebrandthebiggerthepicture。

Ifwhenyougetintoastreet-caryoulookaroundyouwillseenothingbutadvertisementsofallkindsandsorts,andifyouansweranadvertisementyouwillkeeponreceivingnoticesofthematteraboutwhichyouinquired。

EvennowIreceivelettersurgingmetobuysomethingorotheraboutwhichIsentaletterofinquirywhenIwasinAmerica。

Atnight,ifyoustrollroundthetownyouwillbeamazedbytheingeniousandcleversignswhichthealertmindsofthetradespeoplehaveinvented,suchasrevolvingelectriclightsformingthenameoftheadvertiserwithdifferentcolors,orafigureorshapeofsomesortillustratinghiswares。Buteventhisisnotthoughtsufficient。

Circularsareoftensenttoeveryone,makingspecialoffers,settingforthforcefulreasonswhythecommodityadvertisedisindispensable。

Certainstoresmakeitapointtoannouncecheapsalesonceortwiceayear,withfrom10to25percent。reduction。Itshouldbenotedthatnotradesmanvoluntarilysellshisgoodsataloss,sothatifduringasalehecangiveasmuchas25percent。discountwecaneasilycalculatethepercentageofprofithegenerallymakes。

Therearecaseswheremenwhostartedaspettydealershave,afterafewyears,becomemillionaires。

ToshowtheimportanceofadvertisingIcitethewell-knownsanitarydrinkwhichisasubstituteforteaandcoffee,andwhichbyextensiveadvertisinginalmosteverypaperpublishedineverycountryhasnowbecomeafavoritebeverage。Theproprietorisnowamulti-millionaireandIamtoldthathespendsmorethanamilliondollarsayearinadvertising。

AnotherthinginseparablefromAmericanbusinessisthetelephone。

Atelephoneisapartofeverywell-appointedhouse,everypartner\'sdeskisprovidedwithatelephone,throughwhichhetalkstohisclientsandtransactsbusinesswiththem。InallofficialdepartmentsinWashingtonscoresoftelephonesareprovided;eventhesecretaryofthedepartmentandthechiefofthebureaugiveordersbytelephone。

Itgoeswithoutsayingthatthismeansofcommunicationisalsofoundinthehomeofalmosteverywell-to-dofamily。

Theinventionofatelephoneisagreatblessingtomankind;

itenablesfriendstotalktoeachotheratadistancewithoutthetroubleofcalling。*Sweetheartscanexchangetheirsweetnothings,andevenproposalsofmarriagehavebeenmadeandacceptedthroughthetelephone。However,oneissubjectedtofrequentannoyancesfromwrongconnectionsattheCentralOffice,andsometimesgraveerrorsaremade。Once,throughaseriousblunder,oramischievousjoke,IlostadinnerinmyLegationinWashington。

Myvaletreceivedatelephonemessagefromaladyfriendinvitingmetodineatherhouse。Igladlyacceptedtheinvitation,andattheappointedtimedrovetoherhome,onlytofindthattherewasnodinner-partyon,andthatIshouldhavetogohungry——

*\"Tocall\"inthesenseof\"tovisit\"——A。R。L。,1996——

Withsometrades,inordertocreateanewmarket,commercialtravellersor\"drummers\"givetheirgoodsawayfornothing。

Experiencehasprovedthatwhattheyloseatthestarttheyrecoverinthecourseoftime,receivinginadditiontripleortenfoldmorebusinessthanthecostoftheoriginaloutlay。Thesecommercialagentstravelthroughallsectionsofthecountrytosolicitbusiness;

theycalluponthosewhocangivethemorders;theylookupthosewhoareengagedinsimilarbusinessestotheirown,and,iftheyareretailers,theyinvitetheirorders,oraskthemtobecomesub-agents。Thesegentlemenpracticallyliveonthetrains:

theyeat,sleep,anddotheirbusinesswhiletravelling。

Oneofthemtoldmethatinonemonthhehadcovered38,000miles,andthathehadnotbeenbacktohisfirmforthreemonths。

ThereisnodoubtthattheAmericanpeopleareactive,strenuousworkers。

Theywillwillinglygoanydistance,andundertakeanyjourney,howeverarduous,ifitpromisesbusiness;theyseemtobealwaysonthego,andtheyarepreparedtostartanywhereatamoment\'snotice。

AnAmericanwhocalledonmeashorttimeagoinShanghaitoldmethatwhenhelefthishouseonemorningatNewYork,hehadnottheslightestnotionhewasgoingtoundertakealongjourneythatday;butthatwhenhegottohisofficehisbossaskedhimifhewouldgotoChinaonacertaincommission。

Heacceptedtheresponsibilityatonceandtelephonedtohiswifetopackuphisthings。TwohourslaterhewasonatrainboundforSanFranciscowhereheboardedasteamerforChina。

ThesamegentlemantoldmethatthistripwashissecondvisittoChinawithinafewmonths。

Americansalesmenarecleverandcapable,andwellknowhowtorecommendwhatevertheyhavetosell。Youwalkintoastorejusttolookaround;

theremaybenothingthatyouwant,buttheadroitmannerinwhichthesalesmantalks,andthewayinwhichheexplainsthegoodpointsofeveryarticleatwhichyoulook,makesitextremelydifficultforyoutoleavethestorewithoutmakingsomepurchases。SalesmenandcommercialtravellersintheUnitedStateshavecertainlylearnedtheartofspeaking。

Ionce,however,metaremarkableexceptiontothisruleinthepersonofanAmericangentlemanwhowassingularlylackingintact;

hewasinChinawiththeintentionofobtainingaconcession,andhehadnearlyaccomplishedhisobjectwhenhespoilteverythingbyhisbluntspeech。HesaidhehadnotcometoChinaforanyphilanthropicpurposes,butthathewasinthecountrytomakemoney。

WeallknowthattheaveragebusinessmanisneitheraPeabodynoraCarnegie,butitwasquiteunnecessaryforthisgentlemantoannouncethathissoleobjectwastomakemoneyoutoftheChinese。

UptoafewyearsagobusinessmeninAmerica,especiallycapitalists,hadscarcelyanyideaoftransactingbusinessinChina。

IwellrememberthedifficultyIhadinraisingarailwayloaninAmerica。

Itwasin1897。IhadreceivedpositiveinstructionsfrommygovernmenttoobtainabigloanforthepurposeofconstructingtheproposedrailwayfromHankowtoCanton。Iendeavoredtointerestwell-knownbankersandcapitalistsinNewYorkCitybutnoneofthemwouldconsidertheproposals。

Theyinvariablysaidthattheirmoneycouldbejustaseasily,andjustasprofitably,investedintheirowncountry,andwithbettersecurity,thanwasobtainableinChina。

Itwasonlyafternearlytwelvemonthsofhardwork,ofcarefulexplanationandmuchpersuasion,thatIsucceededinfindingacapitalistwhowaspreparedtodiscussthematterandmaketheloan。

Conditionshavenowchanged。AmericanbankersandothershavefoundthatinvestmentsinChinaarequitesafe。TheyhavesentagentstoChinatorepresenttheminthematterofabiginternationalloan,andtheyarenowjustasreadytolendmoneyinChinaasinEurope,andonthesameterms。InconjunctionwiththerepresentativesofsomelargeEuropeancapitaliststheyevenformedapowerfulsyndicateinChina,forthepurposeofarrangingloanstoresponsibleChineseinvestors。

Inthespringof1913,however,theywithdrewfromthesyndicate。

TheopportunitiestomakemoneyinAmericaaregreatandayoungmanwithonlyfairability,butanhonestpurpose,willalwaysgetsomethingtodo;andifheisindustriousandreadyforhardwork,ifhepossesscourageandperseverance,hewillmostsurelygoforwardandprobablyintimebecomeindependent。

Therearehundredsofmillionairesandmulti-millionairesinAmericawho,intheiryoungerdays,wereaspoorassparrowsinasnowstorm,butthroughperseverance,combinedwithindustriousandeconomicalhabitstheyhaveprosperedfarbeyondtheirownexpectations。

Theclevermethodstheyadoptinthecarryingonoftheirbusinesscannotbutarouseouradmiration,andChinesemerchantswoulddowelltosendsomeoftheirsonstoAmericatostudythevarioussystemspractisedthere。Butnonationoranyclassofpeopleisperfect,andthereisonemoney-makingdevicewhichseemstomenotquitesoundinprinciple。Toincreasethecapitalofacorporationnewsharesaresometimesissued,withoutacorrespondingincreaseintheactualcapital。Thesenewsharesmayrepresenthalf,orasmuchoftheactualcapitalashasbeenalreadysubscribed。

Suchacourseisusuallydefendedbytheclaimthatasthepropertyandfranchiseshaveincreasedinvaluesincetheformationofthecorporationtheincreaseofthestockisnecessaryinordertofairlyrepresenttheexistingcapital。Itissaidthatsomerailwaystockhasbeen\"watered\"inthiswaytoanalarmingextent,sothatagreatdealofitisfictitious,yetthoughitexistsonlyonpaperitranksastheequalofthegenuinestockwhenthedividendsarepaid。

Whetherornotsuchanactionreallyisjustifiable,orevenmoral,IleavetotheChristianclergyandtheirfollowerstodecide。

Thepromotersanddirectorsofsuchconcernshaveatleasthituponaveryclevermethodforbecomingrich,andifthesecuritiesoftheoriginalshareholdersarenotinjured,andtheholdersofthegenuineandthewateredstockcanshareequallywithoutendangeringtheinterestsofall,perhapssuchanactionmaybelessblamable,butitisanewkindofproceedingtoOrientals。

Imustnotomittomention,however,theconfidencewhichisplacedinthehonestyofthepeopleingeneral;forexample,youenteranomnibus,youwillfindthedriver,butnoconductortocollectthefare。

\"Itisuptoyou\"toputthefareintoabox,andifyoudonotpaynoonewillaskforit。Yeteveryfareispaid。Ihaveneverseenadishonestmanwhoomittedtopay。ThisisaremarkablefactwhichIhavenoticednowherebutinAmerica。Isupposeitisbecausethepeoplearenotpoor,andastheyarealwaysabletopaythefaretheydoso。Theyaretoohonesttocheat。Itiscertainlyagoodwaytoencouragepeopletobehonest,toputthemontheirhonorandthenrelyontheirownsenseofuprightness。

ThemostcurioussightIhaveeverseenwastheStockExchangeinNewYork。

Itisusedasamarketforthepurchaseandsaleofvariousarticles,buttherewerenogoodsexposedforsale。Isawagoodmanypeoplerunningabouttalking,yellingandhowling,andhadInotbeeninformedbeforehandwhattoexpectIshouldhavethoughtthatthemenweregettingready,intheirexcitement,forageneralallroundfight。

However,Ididnotseeanyexchangeofblows,andIdidnothearthatanybloodwasshed。

AnotherremarkablefeatureofthescenewasthatIdidnotseeasinglewomanthere;shewasconspicuousbyherabsence。

WhetherornottherulesoftheExchangeallowhertobecomeamemberIdonotknow;thatisaquestionforthewomansuffragiststoinvestigate,butIlearnedthatitisawealthyassociationconsistingof1,100members,andthattobecomeamemberonemustbeacitizenoftheUnitedStatesof21yearsofageormore。Thenumberofmembersislimited。

Personsobtainmembershipbyelection,orbythetransferofthemembershipofamemberwhohasresignedordied。

Anewmemberwhoisadmittedbytransferpaysaninitiationfeeof2,000golddollars,inadditiontoalargefeetothetransferrer,forhis\"seatintheHouse\"。Amembermaytransferhisseattohisson,iftheCommitteeoftheExchangeapprove,withoutchargingforit;

butinallcasesthetransferreepaystheabove-mentionedinitiationfeeof2,000golddollars。

Thepricesfortheseseatsvary,thefluctuationsbeingduetotheupwardordownwardtrendofthestockmarket。Withinrecentyearsthepricehasrisenconsiderably,andasmuchas95,000golddollarshasbeenpaidtothetransferrer。ThisismuchhigherthanthepriceusuallypaidbynewmembersinStockExchangesinEurope,yetwhenaseatbecomesvacantthereisnolackofpurchasers。

Itisclearthataseatinthe\"House\"isveryvaluabletotheholder。

Inthebuildingeachmemberhasastallallottedtohimwherehehasatelephoneforhisexclusiveuse;thisenableshimtocommunicateeverytransactiondoneintheExchangetohisbusinesshouse,andtokeepupconnectionswithhisconstituentsinothercities。

Whenoneofhisconstituents,sayinWashington,D。C。,desirestobuyacertainsecuritytheorderisconveyedtohimdirect,andexecutedwithoutdelay。Ihaveseenatransactionofthiskindexecutedintenminutes,thoughtherewasadistanceofseveralhundredmilesbetweenclientandbroker。Theamountofbusinesstransactedinthe\"House\"everydayisenormous,aggregatingmanymillionsofdollars。

NewYorkalsohasotherExchanges,wheredifferentarticlesofmerchandisearepurchasedandsold,suchascorn,coffee,cotton,etc。,andthevolumeofbusinesstransacteddailyinthat\"EmpireCity\"

mustbeimmense,andalmostbeyondcalculation。

OfcoursethereareExchangesinChicago,Boston,Cincinnati,St。Louis,Philadelphia,Baltimore,Washingtonandothercities,allconductedonsimilarlines,butthepricesarealwaysgovernedbythequotationsfromNewYork。Thisskilfulandsystematicwayofdoingbusinessisremarkable,andIaminclinedtobelievethatNewYorkisaheadofmanycitiesinSouthAmericaandinEurope。

NowonderthattheservicesofAmericansarerequiredbyothercountriesinindustrialandtechnicalconcerns。Someyearsago,whenIwasinMadrid,Inoticedthatthestreettram-carwasrunningaccordingtotheAmericansystem,anduponinquiryIwastolditwascontrolledbyanAmericansyndicate。

ThepursuitofwealthinAmericaisintense;itisapparenteverywhereandseemstobethechiefaimoftheAmericanpeople。

Becauseoftheireagernesstobecomerichassoonaspossibletheyareallinaconstanthurry。Youmayseepeopleinthestreetsalmostrunningtotheiroffices,atluncheontheydonotmasticatetheirfood,theyboltit,andinlessthantenminutesareontheirwaybacktotheirofficeagain。Everyoneisurgedonbythisspiritofhaste,andyoufrequentlyhearofsuddendeathswhichdoctorsattributetoheartfailure,orsomeothermalady,butwhichIsuspectarecausedbythecontinualrestlesshurryandworry。

Peoplewhoaresounnaturallyeagertogetrichnaturallysufferforit。

ItisthegeneralbeliefthatAmericansdonotliveaslongasEuropeans。

Theymakemoneyeasilyandtheirexpectationsarehigh。

IhaveknownmanyAmericanswho,inmyopinion,werewealthypeople,buttheythemselvesdidnotthinkso;infact,theysaidtheywerepoor。

OnceIaskedagentleman,whowasknowntobeworthhalfamillionofgolddollars,whetheritwasnottimeforhimtoretire。

Hepooh-poohedtheideaandsaidthathecouldnotaffordtogiveuphiswork。

Inreplytomyinquiriesheinformedmethathewouldnotcallamanwealthyunlessheshouldbepossessedofoneortwomillionsofdollars。

Withsuchextravagantideas,itisnowonderthatAmericansworksohard。

Igrantthataman\'smissioninthisworldistoattainhappiness。

AccordingtoWebster,happinessis\"thatstateofbeingwhichisattendedwithenjoyment,\"butitiscurioustoobservewhatdifferentnotionspeoplehaveastowhathappinessis。

IknowanEnglishmaninChinawhobyhisskilfulbusinessmanagement,combinedwithgoodluck,hasamassedimmensewealth;infact,heisconsideredtherichestmanintheportwhereheresides。

Heisabachelor,overseventyyearsold,andleadsaverysimplelife。

Buthestillgoestohisofficeeveryday,andtoilsasifhehadtoworkforaliving。Beingtoldthatheshoulddiscontinuehisdrudgery,asathisdeathhewouldhavetoleavehislargefortunetorelativeswhowouldprobablysquanderit,hegaveananswerwhichischaracteristicoftheman。\"Ilove,\"hesaid,\"accumulatingdollarsandbanknotes,andmyenjoymentisincountingthem;ifmyrelativeswhowillinheritmyfortune,takeasmuchpleasureinspendingitasIhavehadinmakingit,theywillbequitewelcometotheirjoy。\"

Notmanypeople,Ifancy,willagreewiththeoldbachelor\'sviewoflife。

Ioncesuggestedtoamulti-millionaireofNewYorkthatitwastimeforhimtoretirefromactivework,leavinghissonstocarryonhisbusiness。

Hetoldmethathewouldbeunhappywithoutworkandthatheenjoyedthedemandshisbusinessmadeonhimeachday。

Manyaman\'slifehasbeenshortenedbyhisretiringfrombusiness。

Itisthemindratherthanthebodythatlives,andapartfromtheirbusinessthesemenhavenothoughtsandthereforenolife。Aman\'sideaofhappinessisgreatlygovernedbyhispersonaltastes,andisinfluencedbyhisenvironment,hiseducationandtheclimate。

Theformwhichitistoassumemayvarywithpersonsofdifferenttastesandpositions,butitshouldnotbecarriedoutforhisownbenefitsolelyanditshouldnotbeinjurioustohishealthortohisintellectualandspiritualimprovement,norshoulditbedetrimentaltotheinterestsofotherpeople。

Chapter7。AmericanFreedomandEqualityWhenanOriental,who,throughouthislife,haslivedinhisowncountrywherethewillofhisSovereignissupreme,andthepersonallibertyofthesubjectunknown,firstsetsfootonthesoiloftheUnitedStates,hebreathesanatmosphereunlikeanythinghehaseverknown,andexperiencescurioussensationswhichareabsolutelynew。

Forthefirsttimeinhislifehefeelsthathecandowhateverhepleaseswithoutrestraint,andthathecantalkfreelytopeoplewithoutfear。