is anvaffair of a few days. Some extra-Pool steamers ate expected this week, and the Ping boats are no longer to go to, Tangho, near. Shanhaikuan. The: complete success of the sea-borne winter.mails is, however; not: yet assured. It must. not be for gotten, that 1897-8. has been unusually. mild: 1898-9 may.tell quite o different tale. Foreign Residents before now have,.seea thick ice right out to the sea. horizon when this is the case landing is impossible from the treacherous nature of the pack and flog. Meanwhile we are grateful for the new experience, such as it is: it is something novel during the Northern winter to receive London letters within'42 days, and.it is a comfort to know that egress to the outer world. is possible in the eater emergencies of business or sickness.
yur last social success was THE BACHELORS' BALL, which was given very appropriately on the Festival of St. Val: the Lientsin would-be Benedicts- did the thing most handsomely, and scored a most brilliant success. Though measles. and sickness still render many metres familiarwn_home-ridden, yet more than forty of the Fair turned out to honour the Bachelors. Feet tripped to Terpsichore till 3 a.m, and libations were poured to Bacchus, and.cheroots smoked to Fumus well on to.the dawn.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.