CANTON. 397

“Examination Hall; and we will see it.”

-“Chop-chop!” Off they all went. By and by Uncle Nat sang
out: “man-man,” pounding on the side of his chair. The procession
halted. Stepping out of the sedan-chairs, and passing through a
structure into a court, they saw lengthy rows of buildings, with low
roofs, and each building was cut up into little rooms.

“Those little cubby-holes,” said Uncle Nat, “make you think of
cells in a honey-comb, and you are quite likely to find a bee in each
cell at certain seasons. Candidates for office come here by the
thousand — men who have passed a previous examination and shown
merit in them—and into these little rooms they are locked, each man
by himself. He.is expected to remain there in seclusion for a while.
He is furnished with subjects on which he is expected to write essays
and their merits will decide whether the candidate is worthy of
advancement. Of the thousands examined not many will take’ the
prize, which is an honorary degree. This gives one the privilege of
going to Pekin, and there trying for another degree which, if he
receives it, entitles him to a high standing as a literary man, and also
gives him a chance to hold some position of trust under government.”

«What about those who don’t take those degrees?” asked Ralph.

“They give it up, I guess, some of them; but if they wish, they can
try it again in three years, and then keep on trying, if unsuccessful.
When an unsuccessful man perseveres in his examinations till he is
seventy, perseverance is rewarded, at least, for he receives a degree of
honor and some government office.”

“They don’t do it up as quick as people who want office in Amer-
ica?” said Ralph.

“No; at home the way has been for a man to carry round a piece
of paper asking for office till the paper was well-covered with big
names, and well-soiled ‘swith ink, and if he could have a ‘friend ‘at

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