Last year the northern coast of Shantung, for a part of the summer at least, enjoyed steam communication with Chefoo but this year no sound of whistle or syren mars the inward peace of either muleteer, innkeeper, or junkman. Long ago when the world did not change very fast, a wise Roman said: Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illls. But even in this progressive age, the old-time Confucianist would say "Times may come and times may go.
But we stand still forever."
A prominent firm in Chefvo claims that it will not pay to establish steam communication, in other words run a boat, along this coast until some of the vexatious {regulations in regard to stopping at way places are removed, and until the canal from Yaugchinko to Chinanfu is made navigable for a light-draught coasting steamer. If that is the case, there is small hope, under the present (mal-) administration of anything being accomplished. As a result, as soon as the railroad to Tsingtao is Milt, the trade of Western and Central Shantuns. which i in great part the trade of Chefoo, wi to the German port.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.