The Literary Chancellor of Shensi mentions that there is a great dearth of classical books in that province and that few blocks for printing them now exist. The books
are nearly all brought overland from the used by the aspirants to literary, honours South and the cost of transport greatly enhances the price. Many of the poorer scholars are obliged to make use of books printed locally in which the texts of the classics are either abbreviated or full of errors. In more distant parts of the provinces even the mutilated editions are not procurable, Last year the memorialist, consulted the Governor with a view to devising a remedy for this state of things. As a result, they raised by voluntary subscriptions a sum of Tls 10,000, the interest on which is to be devoted' to printing classical works from approved texts. The undertaking is to be conducted under the supervision of the Principal of one of the loral colleges, aided by a number of assistants. The memorialist wishes to place what has been done in the matter on official record in order that the scheme may become one of permanent utility.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.