Shangsinho (Leriep is a busy little town five or six miles outside the West Gate of Nanking, a place for the landing of the great rafts of lumber that are floated down the Yangtze. A Taotai is stationed there charge of the Customs for the collection of the likin dues. The office is known as the Mub-li Tsung-kuh (AE Fit 49 Jag) Toe present incumbent is a gentleman known as Cheo Kia-yiu (JO) 52 PGR-) He hanson some sixteen or seventeen years of age who lies been amusing himself for some time by annoying the worshippers in the mission chapel which has been opened there. Some days ago while the native Christians were holding service this young rowdy began kicking at the chapel door. Mr. Shit Ping-kwei(Gf lip A), a teacher in charge of the mission day-sen col, opened the door and invited the boy in. He refused to come in, but put his foot through the door-way amd would not allow the door to be closed. 'The teacher endeavoured to put him out, though without offering muy violones, when the fellow began to yell that he was' being beaten, Soldiers came running feom the yamen and set upon Mr. Shu and pounded him most shamefully, His mother ran to his assistance and bogyed that he might berelensed but received thesametrentmentasherson, They finally esexped with torn clothing and blondy faces and made their way to the umén of a subordinate official, the Fungkth (ZPJqy). The mandarin in charge, Mr. Wang Wan-suen (JO J 38), refused them any protection. The Chinese proachor had preceded them there. Tu him the oficial said Who are you?" "Zam a preacher," he replied, **Oh you prench that foreign doctrine, do you?" No," he said, "I preach the doctrine of Jesus Christ." "Well, that's the devils' duc-trine," was the mandarin's response, Of the teacher he inquired; Who are you?" "Tam a teacher." Do you teach for the foreigners?" "Yes." Well, I'll do nothing for you; you ought to be killed." Having listened to this consoling observation they departed and made their way to Nanking to report to the Rev, D. W. Nichols, who is in charge of the work at this outstation. The "Taotai als messenger to Mr. Nichols to antici their complaint by a charge against them, but this messenger arrived too late. This messenger, named Kie (7B), reported that the Tuotai had come into the city, Dut ad important business and could not call in person.
Mr. Nichols concluded to had assaulted the teacher without provocation, and, knowing the character of the bey and the annoyance which he was continually ing the native Christians there, he called first at the Fungkith but was told that that officer could do nothing for him, as the boy was the son of a superior official. Mr. Nichols then proceeded to the Thotai's yamen, but the Tuotai refused at first to see him, pleading that he was ill, but later, fearing that Mr. Nichols would complain the Viceroy, he consented to see him and compelled his son to come in and Kotow in apology for his offence. Me. Nichols, however, was not satisfied with this hit insisted that His Excellency should chastise the bey and punish the soldiers. To this the Tavtai would not consent, and the vext day in order to be before-laud with the Viceroy he called on him and made a falco charge against the foreignera, caying they had beaten his son. The Viceroy is said to have asked hi where his son was beaten, At the foreign chapel," replied the Taotai. Well," said the Viceroy, if you allow your son to go tothe foreign chapel, he ought to be beaten I don't care if they kill him." So the matter rests, And this little incident is but another one of many evidences of the real hostile feeling which the officials generally cherish towards the foreigner, in spite of the superficial politeness which they show in direct intercourse. The gentleman who re ently vacated the office of Kiang-ling Hsien here was even more emphatic in his expression of hatred for us. i having been arrested for creating a turbance at one of the cha before him for trial.
"T hate these foreign devils as much as you do, but I have no alternative, Tam compelled to take notice of this offence."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.