THE TRUE LIGHT SCHOOL

Submitted by lausanching on

***

**THE TRUE LIGHT SCHOOL**

(From a Correspondent.)

Canton, June 19.

In Benevolent Street, Canton, there is an institution worthy of the high name it bears: the True Light School, a school for Chinese girls and women, better known to the public as Miss Noyes's School. Last Thursday, the school was en fête, marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of its opening. Although, for obvious reasons, this school is not on the list of Canton guides, it is certainly one of the sights of the city. More than four hundred Chinese, including former pupils and friends, were present on Thursday afternoon. The Rev. Dr. Henry presided.

The pupils' exercises demonstrated the careful and excellent training provided by this institution. One could not help but be struck by the almost perfect discipline. For two hours, the pupils maintained good order and engaged in the various exercises with spirit. The singing was very pleasing, and one of the pupils presided at the harmonium. Short addresses were given by the Rev. R. H. Graves, M.D., the Rev. W. Bridie, and several Chinese gentlemen.

**ORIGIN OF THE SCHOOL**

The school originated as one of the first special objects taken up by the Women's Missionary Society of the American Presbyterian Church. Its first meeting was held on June 16, 1872, with only 18 attendees. The teachers at that time were Miss Noyes and Miss Happer. In January 1895, the school was destroyed by fire while the pupils were in church, an incident believed to be the work of an incendiary. Within a few months, the building was restored, and work resumed.

**SCHOOL REMOVED TO NEW QUARTERS**

Initially conducted in Canal Road, the school was removed to its present location in 1880. Since then, attendance has steadily increased to 140 pupils, supported by a staff of eight Chinese teachers. Over its 25 years of existence, more than 1,000 girls and 528 women have passed through this school. A large number of ex-pupils are now engaged as teachers in girls' schools. Nine pupils have also completed a medical course in connection with the Canton Hospital and are now in practice. One medical graduate is in Tientsin; she is the wife of Dr. Mark, who travelled with Li Hung-Chang as his interpreter and is one of the physicians to the Chinese Imperial family.

**SELF-SUPPORT**

Progress is being made towards self-support. During the past eight years, $8561.76 have been contributed. In 1889, the amount given was $29, and by 1896, it had increased to $165.60. A report like the above needs no strengthening; it most truly justifies its name, Chan Kwong Shue Uen. All lovers of light and progress will wish much success in the future to the good ladies who have done and are doing such excellent work.

***

Dr. Mark (Mai Xinji / 麥信基): The husband mentioned is Dr. Mark, a prominent Western-trained Chinese physician from Guangdong. He served as the official personal physician and military interpreter to Li Hung-Chang (Li Hongzhang), one of the most powerful diplomats and statesmen in late Imperial China

  Medical Pioneer: She graduated from the True Light School in Canton and subsequently completed a comprehensive Western medical training course at the Canton Hospital (博濟醫院) under the guidance of American medical missionary Dr. John Kerr.

  Elite Practice: Following her marriage to Dr. Mark (Mai Xinji / 麥信基)—who served as the personal physician and official military interpreter to the grand statesman Li Hung-Chang—she relocated with him north to Tientsin (Tianjin).

  Historical Impact: In Tientsin, she established her own medical practice. Because of her husband's prominent positioning as a doctor to the Chinese Imperial family, she became one of the earliest Western-trained female physicians to provide modern healthcare to elite women in northern China.

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Tue, 07/07/2026 - 20:03

it is an excellent school , their school books and student's  Chinese assesements in Form one was more than I could  reach in Form Four in King's College.(a leading traditional elite school at that time)

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 11:00
Title: Yoat Chi Girls' School (約智女書院, 1900–1925): A Pioneer in Elite Chinese Female Education
Hi everyone,
While researching the social and philanthropic networks of early 20th-century Hong Kong elites, I compiled a set of primary source materials regarding Yoat Chi Girls' School (約智女書院)—sometimes written in contemporary newspapers as Yoat Chi Girls' School (粵智女校) or Yoat Chi Female School (約智女子書塾).
Operating from 1900 until 1925, this school was a crucial but often overlooked milestone in the history of modern Chinese female education in the colony. Below is a summary of its background, prominent founders, and geographical footprint.
 
 
1. The Founders: The Mok Comprador Family Connection
The school was an elite, private institutional project funded and directed entirely by the upper echelon of Hong Kong's Chinese gentry.
  • The Principal: The school was founded and managed by Madam Cheung Shui-tung (張瑞彤). She was the prominent wife of Mok Kon-sang (莫幹生), the legendary, multi-millionaire Chief Comprador of Butterfield & Swire.
  • The Mission: Unlike missionary schools of the era, Yoat Chi was a secular, modern Chinese initiative. It was designed to provide the daughters of wealthy merchant families with a high-class, comprehensive modern education—including Classical Chinese, English language, geography, and arithmetic.
 
2. Physical Locations: Arbuthnot Road and Hollywood Road
Tracking the school’s physical footprint reveals a deep integration into the historic fabric of Central and Sheung Wan:
  • The Main Campus (Arbuthnot Road): The primary registered administrative campus for the school was located on Arbuthnot Road (亞畢諾道), conveniently positioned between the colonial administrative core and the affluent mid-levels Chinese residences.
  • The Hollywood Road Branch / Event Space: A newly discovered contemporary report from the Hong Kong Wah Tsz Yat Po (香港華字日報) dated July 29, 1915, explicitly locates a major satellite function of the school on Hollywood Road.
 
3. Snapshot of 1915: Drama and Philanthropy for Disaster Relief
The 1915 newspaper clipping provides an incredible look into how these elite female students engaged with civic society. The OCR text records a massive multi-day charity drive held at their Hollywood Road premises:
 
"The faculty and students of Yue Zhi [Yoat Chi] Girls' School previously raised over a hundred dollars in relief funds during their summer holiday closing ceremony. They now plan to hold a charity sale and theatrical performance at the school for three days, on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of this lunar month."
During a period of devastating summer floods in South China, these young women organized high-society raffles, charity sales, and public Cantonese theatrical performances to raise substantial disaster relief funds.
 
4. Elite Faculty Members
The school attracted top-tier intellectual talent to its teaching staff. Notably, Zhang Qinghui (張晴暉, 1893–1980), who later became a highly prominent pioneer of the women's democratic movement in Macau, moved to Hong Kong in 1912 specifically to take up a long-term teaching post at the Yoat Chi Girls' School following her graduation from the Guangdong Public Women's Normal School.
 
Conclusion
Yoat Chi Girls' School closed its doors in 1925, likely due to the changing educational landscape as the government began subsidizing more public female schools, and following the social disruptions of the Canton-Hong Kong strike. However, for 25 years, it served as a vital community hub where elite families like the Moks utilized their wealth to empower the first generation of modern, educated Hong Kong women.

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 11:02



**Yue Zhi Girls' School Holds Raffle, Charity Sale, and Play for Disaster Relief (Hollywood Road)**

The faculty and students of Yue Zhi Girls' School previously raised over a hundred dollars in relief funds during their summer holiday closing ceremony. They now plan to hold a charity sale and theatrical performance at the school for three days, on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of this lunar month.

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 11:08

**Hong Kong Chun Wah Girls' School Charity Cinema Relief**

**Announcement:**
Chun Wah Girls' School is hosting a flood relief fundraiser, borrowing the Kau U Fong New Theatre for two nights, on the 19th and 20th. The event features unprecedented comedic performances and novelty screen films never before shown in Hong Kong. We earnestly seek your enthusiastic attendance—many wills unite to form a fortress, and the disaster victims rely on your generosity!

**Showtimes & Ticket Prices:**
* **First Show:** Unprecedented Novel Comedic Short Films
* **Date:** June 18th (Yimao Lunar Year / 1915)
* *(Same prices for first and last shows)*
 * **Private Box:** $5.00
 * **Special Seats:** $4.00
 * **Ground Floor:** $0.80
 * **Balcony:** $0.80
 * **Third Floor:** $0.20

---

**Comic Strip ("Humorous Picture"):**
* **Panel Text:** "Hey big brother, why don't you use a stick to measure them?"
* **Dialogue:**
 * "Which figure do you think is taller?"
 * "The one in the front!"
 * "Nope! Believe it or not, it's the little guy in the back!"

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 11:15

Title: Chun Wah Girls' School (振華女學校): Early 20th-Century Chinese Private Academy, Philanthropy, and 1915 Cinema Culture

Hi everyone,

I would like to create a new historical node for Chun Wah Girls' School (振華女學校), an active but largely forgotten institution that operated during Hong Kong’s turn-of-the-century "Chinese Private School Movement."

Because it was established, funded, and managed independently within Cantonese merchant and progressive circles—independent of colonial mission boards or direct government administration—it has left a minimal archival footprint. However, by cross-referencing vernacular newspaper records, we can reconstruct its active timeline, its high-society philanthropic network, and a rare glimpse into early Hong Kong cinema economics.

1. Active Era and Institutional Timeline

  • Estimated Operational Period: c. 1905 – late 1920s
  • Historical Context: Chun Wah belonged to the boom of Sishu (私塾) or Sili Xuexiao (私立學校) that flourished in Sheung Wan, Central, and the Western District. Its name—literally meaning "To Revitalize the Chinese Nation"—strongly aligns it with the reformist and patriotic Chinese elites of the late Qing and early Republican eras.
  • The School's Closure: Like many independent secular private academies (such as Yoat Chi Girls' School 約智女書院), Chun Wah fades from public records by the late 1920s. This was a direct result of the Hong Kong Government aggressively expanding its Grant-in-Aid system, which heavily subsidized missionary schools and effectively priced out independent, non-aligned private Chinese schools.

2. The 1915 Fundraiser: A Window into Early Cinema Culture

The school was highly modernized and well-connected to early international media distribution networks. A newly discovered announcement from June 18, 1915 (Year of Yimao) reveals that during the devastating Pearl River Delta summer floods, the school managed to secure the entire Kau U Fong New Theatre (九如坊新戲院) for a two-night charity screening on June 19th and 20th.

To attract elite patrons, they imported "unprecedented comedic short films and novelty screen films never before shown in Hong Kong." Crucially, the announcement records the exact seating layout and ticket pricing structure for the era:

  • Private Box (包廂): $5.00 (An extravagant sum at the time, targeting wealthy merchants)
  • Special Seats (特等): $4.00
  • Ground Floor (正廳 / Stall): $0.80
  • Balcony (樓上): $0.80
  • Third Floor (三樓 / Gallery): $0.20 (The cheapest tier for the working class)

3. Persistent Civic Activism: The 1922 Swatow Typhoon Relief

Chun Wah’s high-society humanitarian work was a persistent operational pattern rather than a one-off event. According to reports in the Hong Kong Wah Tsz Yat Po (香港華字日報) dated October 16, 1922, the school appeared in the headlines again seven years later.

Following the catastrophic 1922 Swatow Typhoon (潮汕颱風), the faculty and students mobilized once more to organize a massive public charity sale, cementing their status as a reliable engine for native Chinese humanitarian relief throughout the 1910s and 1920s.

4. Reconstructed Institutional Profile

Based on these overlapping micro-historical records, here is the baseline profile for the school:

  • School Name: Chun Wah Girls' School (振華女學校)
  • Core Philosophy: Secular, Progressive, Dual-Language Chinese Modern Female Education (Vernacular Chinese, English, Geography, Arithmetic).
  • Geographical Hub: Sheung Wan / Central (Heavily integrated into the Kau U Fong socio-political matrix).
  • Key Civic Actions: 1915 Pearl River Flood Cinema Drive; 1922 Swatow Typhoon Charity Sale.

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 11:28
Title: Aiyun Girls' School (靄雲女學校): Financial Accounts of a 1915 Charity Drive at Jiurufang Theater
Hi everyone,
I have uncovered an exceptional 1915 newspaper "Card of Thanks" (鳴謝啟事) that provides a rare, completely transparent financial breakdown of a wartime/disaster charity drive organized by Aiyun Girls' School (靄雲女學校).
Dated July 29, 1915 (4th Year of the Republic of China), this primary document confirms that Aiyun was part of the same elite, highly organized cluster of independent Chinese private girls' schools—including Chun Wah Girls' School (振華女學校) and Yoat Chi Girls' School (約智女書院)—that mobilized the Sheung Wan entertainment district to aid victims of the catastrophic 1915 South China floods.
 
 
1. Reconstructing the 1915 Jiurufang Fundraiser Economics
While many historical records simply state that a school "raised funds," this document preserves the exact operational ledger, giving us a precious look at early colonial theatre costs and currency:
  • Gross Funds Raised: $463.57
  • Theater Rental & Performance Costs: $90.00 (Paid to the Jiurufang Theater / 九如坊新戲院)
  • Miscellaneous Expenses: $46.56
  • Net Profit Disbursed: $327.01
For context, a $90 rental fee for the Jiurufang Theater in 1915 was a substantial commercial transaction, proving these girls' schools operated with serious financial liquidity and corporate trust.
 
2. Micro-History: Where Did the Money Go?
The accounting explicitly names the local civic guilds and merchant shops acting as the trusted financial pipelines into mainland China, bypassing colonial administration entirely:
  • Tung Wah Hospital (東華醫院): $20.00
  • Shunde Chamber of Commerce (順德商會): $70.00
  • Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce (清遠商會): $60.00
  • Panyu Chamber of Commerce (番禺商會): $20.00
  • Nanhai Xiqiao Relief: $16.00 (Notably routed via the Shihe Western Clothing Shop / 詩和西服店, revealing how commercial retail shops doubled as localized humanitarian drop-points).
 
3. The Cross-Cultural Network: Brass Bands and High Society
The card reveals an extraordinary secular and cross-religious alliance. The students explicitly thank the Sacred Heart Band (聖心音樂隊)—the prestigious Catholic brass band associated with Sacred Heart Canary School/Church—and the Linlang Huanjing Society (琳瑯幻境社) for providing live musical and theatrical accompaniment on the Jiurufang stage.
Furthermore, the document names the school's top student fundraisers, linking the school directly to the elite merchant class of the era:
  • Miss Lin Yuqiong & Miss Lin Huanqing: Daughters of the prominent merchant Mr. Lin Huanru (林煥如).
  • Miss Huang Jian: Daughter of Mr. Lin Danqiao / Huang Jinchu (黃錦初).
 
4. Reconstructed Institutional Profile
Like its sister academies, Aiyun Girls' School was an independent, secular Chinese private school (Sili Xuexiao 私立學校) that catered to the daughters of upper-middle-class Cantonese elites before the Grant-in-Aid system centralized colonial education in the late 1920s.
  • School Name: Aiyun Girls' School (靄雲女學校)
  • Documented Timeline: Active in 1915
  • Socio-Cultural Network: Tied to Sacred Heart, Jiurufang Theatre, the Sheung Wan regional chambers of commerce, and elite families (Lin and Huang lineages).
 

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 11:29


**Card of Thanks**

Aiyun Girls' School raised a total of 463 dollars, 5 *mao*, and 7 *cents* from a charity fundraising event held at the Jiurufang Theater. (After deducting expenses—90 dollars in Hong Kong currency for theater rental and evening performance costs, and 46 dollars, 5 *mao*, and 6 *cents* for miscellaneous expenses—the net amount raised was 327 dollars and 1 *cent*.)

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Sacred Heart Band, the Linlang Huanjing Society, and other musical groups for their instrumental performances in support of this cause. We also deeply appreciate the enthusiastic members of the public who helped sell entry tickets and various items, as well as those who donated soft drinks, fresh flowers, and other goods.

Special recognition goes to those who achieved the most outstanding results:
* Miss Lin Yuqiong (daughter of Mr. Lin Huanru)
* Huang Jian (daughter of Mr. Lin Danqiao / Huang Jinchu)
* Miss Lin Huanqing (daughter of Mr. Lin Huanru)

The disaster relief funds collected have been allocated and distributed as follows:
* **20 dollars** to Tung Wah Hospital for relief assistance;
* **16 dollars** for Nanhai Xiqiao relief (forwarded via Shihe Western Clothing Shop);
* **70 dollars** to the Shunde Chamber of Commerce;
* **60 dollars** to the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce;
* **15 dollars** to Mrs. Ma (mother of Ma Luchen);
* **20 dollars** to the Panyu Chamber of Commerce.

**July 29, 4th Year of the Republic of China (1915)**
*Respectfully issued by the entire student body of Aiyun Girls' School.*

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 12:14

**Notice of Charity Bazaar for Chaoshan Disaster Relief by Zhenhua Girls' School**

**To Whom It May Concern:**

Recently, Chaoshan was hit by severe floods and typhoons. Crops were submerged, homes destroyed, and casualties counted in the tens of thousands—an unprecedented catastrophe since ancient times. This is a tragedy deeply pitied by all benevolent and compassionate people.

Unwilling to stand idly by, our school has decided to hold a charity bazaar on the 29th day of the eighth lunar month, featuring the handiwork created by our students. We hope to appeal to the generosity of noble gentlemen to help save the lives of the disaster victims.

Knowing that all sectors of society are driven by compassion, we sincerely invite and hope for your presence and support to bring relief to the suffering people. Purchasing items inside the venue is entirely voluntary, and no direct solicitation of donations will be conducted.

 

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 12:18

**Clean and Fresh Milk**

**Notice:**
Our company regularly provides large and small cuts of beef, mutton, pork chops, bacon, and fat, delicious chickens, ducks, and various other meats, as well as salted sausages, fresh milk, cheese, and other dairy products for customers. Delivery is available to any location, regardless of distance. Patrons are kindly requested to take note.

This notice is hereby given.

**Address:** No. 2 Lower Albert Road (directly up from Bauhinia Street)  
**Issued by:** The Dairy Farm Company Limited

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 12:20

**Green Island Cement Company Limited**

**Advertisement**

**Price List for Superior Portland Cement**

* Casks: Each 357 lbs gross and net weight
* Casks: Each 257 lbs net weight
* Delivered via International Board

Our company always has in stock top-quality new-style encaustic floor tiles, water pipes, roof tiles, firebricks, fireclay drainpipes, etc., all available at very reasonable prices. If you are kind enough to favor us with your patronage, please visit our company office to discuss in person.

Notice is hereby given.

April 11, 2nd Year of the Republic of China (1913)  
Respectfully presented by Manager Shen Feng

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 12:23

**To the Tune of *Yi Qin E* (Memories of a Qin Woman)**

Morning makeup so exquisite,  
Testing *Snow Flower* cream before the water-lily mirror.  
Before the water-lily mirror,  
Lightly applied and gently spread,  
Neither too subtle nor too thick, perfectly balanced.  

Her skin is smooth like congealed cream, flawless and refined,  
Hairpins, rings, and inlaid ornaments leave a lingering fragrance.  
A lingering fragrance remains—  
Loving its snow-white pureness,  
Loving its cool winter touch.  

*Respectfully presented by Yuanji Cosmetics Factory.*

---

**On the Box:**  
Sincere Co., Ltd.  
Snow Cream (Vanishing Cream)  

**Bottom Banner:**  
Guangzhou Sincere Brand Superior Domestic Snow Cream

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 12:28

**Wah Fong Photo Studio**
**Relocation Notice**

Our studio has now relocated to Nos. 1–3, entrance of D'Aguilar Street (just up from the alley entrance of our former premises, diagonally opposite the side door of Yee Sang Store).

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Submitted by
lausanching
on
Wed, 08/26/2026 - 12:30

**Mei Lanfang**

Actor Mei Lanfang, courtesy name Wanhua, is devoted to the study of history and literature and skilled in poetry and recitation. Though barely in his twenties, his fame reigns supreme in the theatrical world. Speaking of his voice, it soars beyond the clouds like a wondrous heavenly tune; speaking of his appearance, it is as radiant as peaches and plums, a matchless national beauty. Enhanced by his sorrowful yet exquisite subtle expressions, he is capable in both civil and martial roles, suited for both ancient and modern portrayals, combining vocal talent, physical grace, and artistic skill all in one person. He has created a sensation unprecedented in hundreds of years, captivating contemporary intellectuals, while his name is known to women and children alike—hence his title as the "King of the Theatrical Realm."

Despite enjoying such immense fame, Mei Lanfang’s personal virtue grows more refined daily, never showing the slightest arrogance or conceit, earning him even greater respect. Previously, when Feng of Hedian hosted foreign ministers at his official residence, Mei Lanfang performed on stage. The ministers were filled with admiration and competed to invite him to their respective countries to entertain their citizens. Furthermore, a certain Beijing-based American businessman proposed to engage Mei Lanfang to perform in New York for one month at a compensation of 300,000 US dollars; however, Mei declined the invitation due to the arduous ocean voyage. As a result, his reputation soared overnight, spreading among both Chinese and foreigners. While the West expressed its admiration, our Eastern neighbor (Japan) borrowed his talent (as Mei Lanfang had previously traveled to Japan to perform). Such is the degree to which Mei Lanfang's prestige is valued worldwide.

The people of this territory have long heard of Mei’s renown. Regrettably, due to the distance separating north and south, they have regretted not meeting earlier. The members of our association, having resided in Beijing for a long time, have maintained a close friendship with Mei. Relying on this bond, we formally invited him to travel south so that those eager to see him may enjoy the pleasure of seeing him first. Mei Lanfang has now accepted the invitation, along with the entire troupe of famed civil and martial actors, and is scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong in late August.

Our association has now scheduled **nightly performances starting from the evening of September 1st (the 1st day of the 9th lunar month) at the Tai Ping Theatre for a run of 15 days, with additional matinee shows on Sundays.** As seating at the theatre is limited and the performance period is approaching quickly, we have specially entrusted The Sun Department Store (Ta Shun Company) to sell premium seat tickets in advance starting from August 8th (lunar calendar).

Mei Lanfang’s famous repertoire comprises over 160 plays, offering an overwhelming feast of beauty. Although our association cannot announce the daily playbill in advance, we dare assure that the selected plays will certainly be the most valuable masterpieces that will fully satisfy the audience. All electric lighting installed inside the venue for this occasion has been newly set up—either sourced from Beijing and Shanghai or styled after Western models—bringing fresh innovations to replace the old, leaving nothing to be desired. Seat cushions are also newly created and provided without extra charge to eliminate old bad habits and attract distinguished patrons. We strive to provide utmost courtesy; attendants are strictly forbidden from entering without being called upon. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime grand event, an unprecedented spectacle.

Connoisseurs and honorable guests who appreciate fine art are warmly invited to attend together. Our association welcomes you with joy, having swept the snow from our path in eager anticipation of your arrival.

**6th day of the 8th lunar month, Renxi Year (1922)**  
**Presented by the Hong Kong Tung Lok Association**