The Soochow—mission: held the outlily meting of their literary society on huraday, the6chof April, at the residence of there. H.C. Clu Bose, D.D. Dr. Clu Bose read a carefully prepared paper in which ho discussed the merits of the mandarin lessons recently published by the Rev. C.
Mateer, D. D. The Rev. D, N. Lyon hag put the Chinese text of the first volume (sixty-six lessons) into the Soochow dialect. Dr. Clu Bose in. his entbusiaam over the valuable Look which he has been studying, said in substance: Here is richness, let this mine of learning be laid open more fally to students of the Soochow colloquial. Let the whole work be translated, with certain modifications, into this Soochow dialect which we study." In the discussion which followed the reading of the paper, it was evident that the sober judgment' of the majority was opposed to this plan. It would cost too much to print a colloquial edition, This mandarin edition must have cost several thousand dollars. Such outlay is justifiable in case of a work used in a dozen provinces, but it would be unwise to make a costly edition fora very limited number of students of the local dialect. Moreover Dr. Mateer's book in its present shape is of great service ty Soochow missionaries. With a native teacher's aid the book is very helpful in of the river further to the west and direct-learning the colloquial. Besides all this, ing the Governor to await the completion Soochow missionaries ought to gain aeon-lof the work at Paimaofén when he could siderable knowledge of the mandarin dia-|_make a list of all the officials whom he lect, and hence should study this book as it wished to recommend on account of the now stands, Several speakers said with river works. emphasis: This book is not at all suited Memorialist represents that the breach at to the wants of one who has just begun{ Paimaoién was by far the most ditticult to to study the Soochow colloquial." Some close. It was situated at a bend and the of these added that after studying the local opposite bavk having silted up the whole dialect with other aids, they again took up force of the stream came through the Mateer's work which had been laid down breach. The usual means for closing it in despair months ago and found it very were adopted. The weather, became sud-helpful.
Winter is well-nigh forgotten now. The banking suffered much injury.
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Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.