Shortly after writing my last letter, I visited the Tien T'an" of the Provincial Capital. It consists of a small square enclosure, searcely 900.feot un each side, having'a paved platform in: the centre about.-30 feet square and two-and-a half feet high. There are also four old, straggly evergreens, a well, and some growing wheat. There is a door in each face, all but the south one of which are tilled with mud and thorns. On the east side is a small building which has no connection with the enclosure, and so may or may not have any relation to the "altar" than that of proximity. On the east side of the south gate is. a three-chien building which pertains to the enclosure. In this building I unexpectedly found a filature in operation with some 10 or. 12 boys operating. Learning that weaving was being done at another place, I visited it a few days later, and saw the recess, and saw a piece of beautifully figured silk taken from the loom, Plain silk was also being woven. This industry was commenced in the first moon, and jarge numbers of mulberry trees have been to become an important business, planted. Some worms ate raised and silk produced near about, but the greater part of the raw material now comes from Shun-tung and the Shencho district, The American Board Mission opened a station here about 17 or 18 years ago. Its work has enlarged in these later years very rapidly, especially through its medical department, which has been under efficient management all the time. For more. than two.years, in the absence of w clerical missionary, the entire work has been under the care and direction of the physician, Dr. Merritt. It is understood that he is to havea such needed clerical colleague in the autumn. For the last few months, his ies have been growing in the attendance, till the numbers now present daily often coed 100, and frequently important surgical cases are presented, The C, I. M. established a receiving and forwarding agency hero last summer, This was'done at none tuo early a date, as members of that mission are very frequent trave ellers over this road to and from Shansi In view of the large number of single la continually passing this way, it is very important that a family be placed in char here xt the earliest possible date. donnot. be emphasised too strongly. he Chinese take note of these things.
Several light showers of rain have fallen this spring, not in time to do the wheat much good, but so as to encourage the planting of other cereals. There has been a great deal of high wind and clouds of local dust all over the plain, Everything appears to be quiet-and the peuple busily engaged in their various callings.
27th May.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.