(Written specially for the *North-China Daily 2 of yarns, The capital in at least two or three companies stiould be reduced.
(A) Child labour should be discouraged.
(5) There should be fewer intermediaries, agents, ete., and far less satteeze."
The question of amalgamating the local factories has been considered aver and over again, Personally I do not see much in its favour. It has been said that huge combine would be able to effect a reduction of Tis! 2,924,510. the capital of the four companies, v Lao-Kung-Mow, Eve, International, and Yuhloong. This saving is based upon the supposition that each concern would and could be bought at the market price of the shares. Was ever a combine effected upon sucha basis?" Resurgam," who propounded this scheme in September last, would most certainly tind the shares rising rapidly, in case of a ser combination. His opinion, too, combine would be able to control the local market is hardly confirmed by the results of Japanese and Indian competitis and any attempt at bolstering up prices would most certainly excite reprisals. is very well known that Japanese and Indian manufacturers, by reason of the choup labour and other advantages at their command, are able to sell in the same market as ourselves. Continued perseverance in the training of native Chinese may in course of years doubtless overcome the present labour difficulty It has taken maze than a century te make Lancashire cotton operatives what they undoubtedly aro—the best in the world,—and their county the recognised home of the industry. Close observation shows already that amongst the Chinese may be found here and there individuals, who are og efficient in and attentive to their work as may be found in Manchester. The next generation of workers will certainly excel the present, and will take better care of the machinery, turn out. better and work more conscientiously. There is in Shanghai mills the present time far too much child "labour. Efficient work cannot be expected from urchins. They are to be found in charge of machines which only experienced adults would be trusted with at home. It is no wonder, in the circumstances, that there is so much waste. There is another evil in this connection, and that is the depreciation of the "machinery. Machinery always depreciates rapidly in the hands of children and inexperienced hands.
Leaving out of account, therefore, the injurious moral and physical conditions to the children, it is desirable solely in the interest of the shareholders to discourage child labour. Managers and superintendents, however, in search of employees, find adults very difficult to obtain, and being, asit were, between the devil and the deep sea, they select the only material at hand. No' modern mill, however,-can hope to make profits on child labour.
way of conclusion, T would point out that the Shanghai mills are thoroughly well equipped with the best modern machinery, and in this respect will compare with the best Seusvay ly Siperta.
You find paradox in Irkutsk as elsewhere. Being the wildest, Use must wie edt cloy in sammy, devout Saboararian place wi the realms of the great White Czar. Sunday is as strictly observed there as it 1s north of the Tweed. In all other towns there is trade on the Sunday. The Government, however, is the Lord's Da set vance Society in Irkutsk, fine 4 imprisonment if you se wort "ing. There are two drals, owe... and one old; also twenty-five Greek churches, two synagogues for the Jews and other places for other people.
There is religious liberty in Siberia—Christians, Jews, Mahomedans, Bud-diiists, Sunnites and pagans live in peace—except that conversion from the State Greek Church is forbidden and punishable if done.
The tinsel Byzantine decorations of many churches Fou see in European Russia make the eye ache with their gilt gaudiness, But in Siberia the churches Lave mostly a quiet quaintness, a simolicity that is effective, nothing more than Done walls whitewashed, a long slightly sloping roof green-painted, and a needle of a spire green-painted also.
At sundown on the Saturday ni the air soft, fragrant and full of pel! hiuoness—all Irkutsk seemed to bells calling the faithful to pra:
mellow vibrant sound for the bells, any-toned, were struck with wooden hammers.
With a friend I drove to the Cathedral distance from the town, as everything is in Siberia. It, however, has not the Sla-venie demure prettiness of the other churches. It is new. It is a huge domed structure, a sort of miniature St, Peter's, stucco-faced and drab-coloured. It stands Fon a sandy waste and has cramped appearance.
'A long covered colonnade with steps leads up to the church, and on them squat wrinkled-faced, sore-eved, and twiatedlimbed old men stretching palsied arms for charity.
At the top of the steps as we push open the glass door, the thick aroma of incense fills the nostrils. Desk has fallen and a weird gloom, broken by a hundred taper Fights pervades the church. The cup of tle dome is blue, sprinkled with golden stars. There are no pews of seats. A. purple carpet corers the floor and on it are kneeling men and women.
In front is a great screen of gold, and the candle lights catch cornices and make them glow like shafts from the sun. Possibly all this massed gold would be ostentations in the light of day. But now, in the softness of evening ostentation fades away. Everywhere are pictures of saints and before them stand heavy candelab-a with a hundred sockets. It is for the de-your to bring their lighted tapers. fix them and do reverence.
But something better than incense fills the air. It is the sound of men's voices. There is no organ; there are no stringed instruments. There is a choir of men and their throats have deep richness. With the majesty of a Gregorian Chant they sing their Slavonic adoration—but tinged with pity, hike tue lew melody of wind on the PY\"Goor in the middle of the screen plains.
swings open. There are priests, long-haired and long-whiskered, heavy. canonical robes, silver twined. One, a tall man, sallow-laced, lustre-eyed, his black beard that of young man, his hair falling over his shoulders, came forward swaying a censor. He stood on the step and in a voice of sweetness and strength cried" Gaspodi Vomilui"—"Lord have mercy!" His face is like that.of the Christ—not an unusual type among Russian priests.
Gospodi Pomilui" respond the worship-pets kneeling and touclsing the ground with it foreheads. fivyoud the screen, within the Holy of lights ticker on a cross, older priest elevating his hands and praying.
Upon his prayer like a wave breaks a billow of sound from the choristers. And the people who had come to pray ery" Lord have merey: Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy" many times.
The light is dim. The tapers blink before the gold-encompassed saints; the eathedral is full of music and incense.
There are worshippers continually coming. They carry tapers, some only one, some many, and as they bow before the altar they make the sign of the cross. Far more than half those present are women.
Here comes a lady, dark featured, well Aressed with fashionable cape upon her shoulders and on her head a bonnet that might come from Regent Street. She goes to the picture of a saint, makes obeisance and then she lights a taper from another taper. To make it grip she puts the end of her taper in the flame for a second and presses it tight in the little gilt socket. Thea she goes to the picture, kisses the foot of the saint and kneeling, crosses herself, and prays with her forehead on the ground. She moves to another picture.
There is a peasant, heavily-bearded, his sunburnt face rugged and furrowed. ' He sears red shirt, velvet trousers' and big hoots. He has no taper, but he stans taut like a soldier, and he crosses himself and bows and cries " Lord have mercy." The big voice of the singers soars over all repeating the liturgy in Slavonic.
A gentleman Sri frock coat, beloved and carrying a cane, comes forward, fixes his candle, bows and goes away.
A couple of slim boys, in the dull grey uniform of the Gymnasium, hurry along. They stand heel-clapped and with dexterous wrist' make the cross signs. They light their tapers. But the tapers wont stick upright in the sockets. They are well-behaved little fellows, but as the tapers will persist. in toppling over the boy-sense of humour asserts itself and they At last they are fixed and the lads stand watching the candles with a -alf-amused glance wondering if there are to be any more tricks. No, they hold. Then the boys swing round, make their bows and hasten away.
Here comes tottering an old lady—a very old woman, short "ind bent, and with a black shawl round her head. From that rim of black shawl peers a worn face, the upper lip fallen in, the eyes sunken' and dull, yet with that beautiful resignation showing through the countenance you often see on the faces of old women whose thoughts are not of this world. There was a picture of the Madonna and Child—the young Mother with eyes all love looking upon her new-born Son. There were many, many, tapers before this "icon," which glowed with a special radiance.
To this the old woman came with clasped and kmetted hands. Her face was upturned and the full gleam of the tapers fell upon it. There was a yearning in the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.