this great city was busy entertaining the American Commissioners. In the official residences, in the shops, in the homes there was but one topic to be discussed—what would these foreigners do? Officials and people seemed willing to get' down at their feet and confess their crime if only the foreigners would forgive. Four weeks preceding their arrival the city was full of ce: fioting reports. Chengtu was to be invested by a foreign army. The wise listened to the voice of wisd-n which 5 of old saying: '*When small rebellions arise, flee to the city, but when a is apparent fly to the mountains they gathered their families and' precious things together and took up their abode on the mountains. How many were wise report does not state.. The wise may be mistaken. There was no rebellion. The foreign army dwindled down to three peaceful Americans who. had come as representatives of a little kingdom somewhere off the coast of China, just where not one in 10,000 would be able to state. "It is remarkable," says a Chinaman in conversation, "how quickly all idle talk was stopped just before the Commissioners arrived. Une week everybody talking, talking loudly and boldly, the next the officials said stop, and it stopped. One week every available wall used for placards the next you could look, but in vain, all Why? Because the officials were 8 and said enough, cease your ing,' and they stopped, and wh-n they jete was a great calm." It might nated the golden age for foreigners in Chengtu. Two important results may follow the isit of the commissioners, the first they have given prestige to the foreign style of wearing clothes. It is possible that before thole arrival many thought the foreigner who wore short clothes coolie but now the great officials have been in the west and they wore short clothes hence. Tue second les+on is that even in remote' parts of the empire the interests of f-reigners will be looked after by their respective governments. Which lesson will he remembered longer a little time is needed to say, but the indications are that both ill be forgotten all too soon,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.