and attention being given to many things, not connected with the telegraph. Does the barber these young swells engage ever get time to take job elsewhere? I doubt it, 'A wish that my message should be sent at once caused the elevation of eyebrows in curious amazement. Then came the reply "El, yes, very kon, shall not be late. Sead it at one o'clock. That is our time for sending messages to this station." "What," said I, "this is nine o'clock and you speak of patting by my message utu one o'clock?" "Yes, this is our rule, we send messages to this station twice a day, send all at once, very quick." Then I told the whole room full of them what I thought of their ways; asked them how long it would be before the telegraph was reduced to the pace of a pack-mule and wondered whether I had not better engage a swift mule to carry my message to ite destination since I wanted it to get there quickly. The poor folks looked surprised and assured me that the operator of Tungkuan only attended twice a day and that thus to send messages was the custom. Then I expatiated upon how English messages were dispatched and-brought out a telegram I had received from the South of the province the day before which had been five hours the road between the two plices us a contrast. Que of the men in dudgeon hit the call-bell, A reply came back—the man at the other end was at his post of duty, as it happened—and "against rule but because it was me" the message was sent immediately, This was a happier result than some time ago when I was sending a message and was niet by the sume statement of there being a set time of day for forwarding them. I persisted in having mine sent whilst I wan present and the man at Paotingfa was rang up. Ho was really rung up, for I encouraged the man in the ringing for @ long time until is answer came, Lint the mau was angry without cause I could tell by the way lie answered—the bell rang so violently, every serap of electric power ut his disposal being used for the purpose, but when the words came wheeling off the tape, the fice of the poor man I had encouraged changed. I asked the cause, to which he replied " Hoe say, God damn what I call him for, and he won't tuke the message." ''hereupon my arm could not reach Paotingfu to avenge me I left my message to go through when it could. News of the DEATH OF MRS, J. B, THOMPSON, ofthe American Board Mission, Jéuch'un, on the 23rd of August, reached us the following day. The burial took plice on Saturday last at the foreign cemetery outside the Enst-gate of this city. The deceased Indy had not been strong for some time past, never having recovered from the severe strain which she had undergone in the tedious and serious illness of her two children and the subsequent death of the younger them. Tidings of the death of some loved one in the homeland had added to her sorrow and retarded her reco and health, Thus when the si which she succumbed set in she had no strength to resist Daring her last fow days she w: great pain, but was conscious to the last. In her death our province mourns the los of unselfish and devoted worker. Believin, that no blow struck for the truth failed to be effective, she was ever hopeful and infected others with her hopefulness. Engaged for the Intter part of her missionary life in a new station and a new work, and 80 not privileged to see much increase to the Church, she yet worked as knowing that the issue wa sure. Her's was the true spirit of a pioneer. The death of his wife will necessitate the return of-Mr- Thompson to the homeland: to put his small children in the care of his friends.-
Bist August.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.