he mighty lesson of the Manchurian war, which demonstrated
admirably the revolution which modern methods had made in Japan--proved
more than even the conservatism of China could endure. Within the few
years since the dawn of the twentieth century the torpid leviathan of
the East has shown decided signs of awakening. Most prominent among
these indications is the fact that the ruling empress, but recently a
mainstay of the conservative party, has entered the ranks of reform and
given her imperial assent to radical changes in Chinese methods and
conditions.

Everywhere in China are now visible indications of the dawning of a new
era. The railroad is making its way with encouraging rapidity over the
soil of the celestial realm. New and improved methods in mining and
manufacture are being adopted. Other evidences of progress in material
things are seen in various directions. But most promising of all is the
fact that the time-honored method of restricting education to the
ethical dogmas of Confucius has been overthrown and modern science is
being taught in the schools and made part of the requirements of the
annual examinations for positions in the civil service of the empire. A
new race of scholars is being made in China, one which cannot fail to
use its influence to bring that old empire into the swing of modern
progress.

Equally significant with this revolution in the system of education is
the seemingly coming change in the system of government. Statesmen of
China are now engaged, under the sanction of the empress, in studying
the governmental systems of other nations, with a view of a possible
adoption of representative institutions and the overthrow of the
absolutism which has for ages prevailed. And this is being done at the
instance of the government itself, not in response to the demands of
insistent reformers. Back of the study of Western methods lies the power
to introduce them, and the probability is that before another generation
has passed China will be classed among the limited monarchies of the
world, even if it be not admitted to the circle of the republics.

These radical changes are of very recent introduction. They are results
of the developments of the past few years. But when we see the ball of
progress rolling so swiftly and gathering new material so rapidly, we
may well conjecture that before many years the China of the past will be
buried under its mass and modern China, like modern Japan, take ra