To the Eiitor of the "Norra-Carxa Day News."
Sim,—After reading the isle of the North-China Daily News" for July 7th, in which mention is made of the' water supply of Tientsin being polluted by dead bodies, and also of the scarcity of food, I desire to suggest to the people of Shanghai that they take some means to prevent a threatened danger to the foreigners confined in the former plac", At the present time they are menaced by a death more dreadful in its lingering torment than that inflicted by sword or gun, viz: famine, The country ubout Tientsin is not highly reductive, and it seems improbable that it should long afford support for the re-fagees and soldiers, even were they able to make a raid upon it. It is not now possible to send relief te Peking, whither our thoughts mostly tend, hut to our countrymen at Tientsin it is quite possible togive nid. There are freight boats lying idle st these wharves, which might be loaded with provisions, and water too, in case of delayed rainfall, and sent to the beleaguered city. This is not a matter with which to trouble the Consular Body. They have already enough todo. Let the citizens take it into their own hands. There can be no doubt that contributions would be willingly given. The need which all feel to do something to help the victims of this un-Christian onslaught would be in a measure satisfied. All the talking now fruitless would thus be turned to some purpose, and we should sleep the better in our beds for thinking we had done what we could. Only let us be quick. There is no time to lose.
Tam, ete.,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.