Old China Books: “We can’t read Chinese and we don’t want to!”
Title: Sketches in and Around Shanghai, Etc
Author: John D. Clark
Year published: 1894
Interesting quotes:
“A visit to Shanghai City is a very great interest to a foreigner when he has a Chinese friend with him who knows everything about the place, and although most foreigners here have been in it once or twice, there are very few who can say that they have seen everything in it that is acutally worth seeing, for many a one may only take a listless walk through some of its streets, pick up a few curios at the stalls, and getting disgusted with the whole place, leave it as soon as he can possibly find his way out, which is rather difficult to do sometimes, and vow that he will never go with its walls again.”
pg. 11 chapter 2
Good grief, why do you even come to Shanghai with that kind of attitude? I can just see this guy in the OLD TOWN totally lost, with a guide book, cursing the old Chinese people looking at him. FUNNY!
“…our object being to give a few specimens of what are to be seen in the Foreign Settlements here; and as they are the English signboards put up over Chinese shops, the letters painted by Chinese, it is not surprising that some of them are fearfully and wonderfully made. Foreigners in Shanghai even have some curious signboards, as, for instance, one, which has certainly the name of a foreigner on it, to be seen in Rue du Consulat, French Concession. Of course at all the Chinese shops, there are the usual oblong tablets with Chinese inscriptions, but we must leave them out of consideration, as we can’t read Chinese and don’t want to.”
pg. 80 chapter Anglo-Chinese Signboards
My how times have changed. Since Chinesepod and the push to learn Chinese, there are no more foreigners like this guy, right? Or maybe there are…
“Another queer signboard is to be seen just after passing the small bridge at the top of the Rue du Consulat. The proprietor of the business is evidently not well up in English. On a board placed over a small dirty creek ditch, appears in large letters:
KUNG WOO HUH KEE
YUNG HON
SHEEI AND LAMB
“Sheei” is intended for “Sheep.” It does not mean that Mr. Kee is either a sheep or a lamb, but simply that he sells these meek creatures. The signboard is painted on both sides; on the reverse side he spells Sheep thus: “Shee.”
pg. 88 chapter Anglo-Chinese Signboards
Over a hundred years ago, the funny signs in English were there. Amazing!
“The Chinese policeman are paid about ten dollars a month and they consider their occupation a splendid one.”
pg. 89 chapter The Chinese Policeman
I wonder how this has changed?! Anybody know a modern day policeman’s salary?
“There is not nation on the earth that loves so much to hear themselves talk as the Chinese. They make night hideous by their talking, and in summer, when we are forced to keep open our windows, their voices frequently awaken one from sweet dreams, leaving one in doubt whether there is a heavy thunderstorm passing over head, or whether four-score-and-five affectionate mothers-in-law are arguing the point…Hawkers, also, in the small hours of the morn, contribute their share to multiply our execrations, by the manner in which they praise up their goods.”
pg. 102 chapter Chinese Noises
That was happening over a 100 years ago too? In our neighborhood in Shanghai this was literally the exact same situation. You can hear our experience here.
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