Show CHINESE CINESE SUPERSTITION GREAT HANDICAP IN S SCHOOL WORK SHANGHAI GHAr 23 Difficulties which beset educational leaders in m their battle against Chinese super super- are illustrated in a recent riot riotat riotat riotat at caused by the c conversion of ot a Buddhist monastery into a pub pub- school lic-school For several years the monastery had been used iri lit part for forsch sch school ol purposes In deference to the superstition of ot the villagers however how how- ever ever the school committee did not remove the Idols of and other from the monastery until such a step became necessary to make room for more pupils The iThe monks were indignant ln andin- a number of ot hags to circulate the report that Buddha badby had bad by means of inspiration ordered them to ask th the countrymen to resist the removal of the Images from the monastery monastery monastery mon mon- mon mon- astery temple Fired by the monastic o warning excited excited ex ex- cited countrymen country en organized a mob and destroyed all aU the public school furniture and books The mob then moved against Tsai Tsai- and Tung members of of the public school committee and destroyed their homes All the shops and public In the village closed to avo avoid the fury of the mo mob mobs but no further damage was was done The rioters all ali reside within the jurisdiction of ot Shanghai Sh officials who are now attempting to locate the leaders of or the mob Buddhist monasterIes monasteries mon moo throughout China are failing fallIng fail fail- Ing into ruins and their temples are areL adly badly L neglected In many cases they arc used as teahouses tea or shops Sometimes Sometimes Sometimes Some Some- times they are even even- used as stables Natives make fun of the monks and give ive them little support But in times of illness and financial troubles the more ignorant Chinese turn to the monks monIes and priests wh who still hold sway over a considerable portion of the coolie oolie class |