The mention of Wei makes me at once enthusiastic That gem of isles, Liukungtao, set sparkling blue waters, and fanned by balmy breezes from every point of the compass, is nature's own retreat; and to the tired dwellers in earth's cities, crowded and over-we Worked, it is like a dream of the future to transplanted "near to nature's The panorama of sea and ing from hour to hou charms the the delicious air—a sea and mountain invigorates the fi with Elixir the Fountain of Life." The peace can be felt, and soothes the senses to a dream tent that leaves not! toric memories gi the plice, crowned with fortified rocks, a chiselled by time: and the British G ment have wrought such order and try, where abounded only wilds and waves, that a summer of delights is open to Incomplete fortifications add to the military effect, and the array of ships sweeping the shores, give a naval colour to the picture, that is irresistibly ins pit An unapproachable sunshine glorifies the after day, until twilight lends a superadded charms of sunset and purple haze and mountain shadows, followed by starlight reveries, or moonlight enchant-
and act ments Side side with the stirring Tie civilisation more, yet commodate to our needs, until we find it almost indispensable; and the The surrounding—shorelands, which adds vastly to the picturesyueness of with verdant strips of farm ands, slope to the blue wat and invite to strolls and rambles, mediter tion and retrospect or plunge from the With the glow of unaccusne; while the heart 's bounding with delight. Such is bonny Weihaiwei! There is not so fa spot on the China coast! Let art supplement natare, and modern refinements and improvements be sparingly added, and the leviiest summer resort available in China $s bad for the t Wee left Shangh: the latter part of June for this northern sommer home; and it has been a chapter of welcome variations in climate and restful environments.
The Commander of H.ILM.S. Haichi, one of China's finest battleships, invited us to accompany him to Chefoo, which we were ted to do. Commodore Suh is a model of " model Chinese ship, England about three years ago, of exceptional speed and utility, furnished with [every modern European improvement, and foreign discipline of a high order observed. It was perhaps the gala trip of our liv Moreover, the gracious commander placed his own elegant suite at our disposal, and ible was a place of refreshment sumptrious in appointments and grateful to. the appetite. About twenty English-speaking Officers were on board, among whom were former acquaintances and members of our Bealah Chapel, Tientsin; then students in the Imperial Naval College. Our request for the services with these officers in their wardroom was grinted with apparent hearty j approval, and we had a group of smiling, happy faces about ws that made us feel "at home" at once. The English naval instructors, Mr. Basset, came on board the Haichi to resume his duties, on the same day, vied with the commodore in making our passage @ pleasant and memorable one. Transferred to the Japanese coast steame. at Chefoo, at noon, on Monday, " few hours brought us in sight of the well-remembered isles and rocky shores of Weihaiwei. It was our never-to-be-forgotten home in 1900, while war-clouds were sweeping over the North, and involving all our hopes in ruins, Memories of the days two yours ago will ever invest this island retreat with a halo of something more than beauty; gratitude, under God, to the Brithh Government, which made the stay of refugees xo homelike and pleasant, will always be renewed, ght of the " Queen's House," and Marine I, and ships of the wy at anchor' in the bay. The was an emblem of security and protection, with the husband and father thousands of miles away in the Homeland, ever since pliced it side by side our affection; and we it a privilege to pay this tribute to the brave sons of the Empire who made our stay at that time a joy. in the midst of surrounding desolation. Many changes are at prevent noticeable in Weihaiwei. She is in " transition stage from Military Base, to own Colony, apparently. The air is as redolent as ever with life-giving purity and sparkle; but the busy bum of workmen's voices, and no'se of the blows of hammers on the Hlinty rocks, has ceased.
The fortifications, as such, have bee Toast ten porarily, ridened: they did to the general of scenic effec can for an evening' most change is they are sile and empty, where two years they were thronged with be red id blue, and wounded, houtloads, ived at brief intervals, all through the summer heat and glare. We find some names dear to us carved on stones in the on the hill overlooking the sea, as we did in Peking, after the siege. We will never be quite the same to us until faces Jost to sight shall greet the other shore. The Coronation fleet on our arrival, is the 1 unlocks the reason why we e Weihaiwei, "There are lonely hearts to cherish, while the days are going by. There are human souls that perish, while the days are going by." Many friends rescued in Shanghai are here to greet us cores of others enlist our sympathy: and It is not the pursuit of ease or pleasure that brings us to Weihuiwei. Even Nature's charms would cease to charm, and rest would be an undesired usury, were there nothing to be done in the great harvest field. A change of work is the most enjoyable of rests, if the heart is centred on aims that satisfy; congenial surroundings add infinite pleasure; but the quest for pleasure in itself alone could never entice even to Weihai! And having said so much, I return to the description of this summer's vacation. Two years ago, we were domiciled in a Tittle Chinese house on Hawke Street, with high walls to enclose our view and another row of houses intervening. "Walls" seemed the predominant landscape view We used to imagine what it would be like to be perched on top of some command ing eminence and look till we were satisfied at the beauty spread out before the island, and from which we were shut in by walls and gates. Imagine our delight, therefore, this summer, to be in a triple cottage on the terrace fronting the bay. And with a large, smooth yard in front. This last is a special privilege, not hitherto enjoyed in China. It is a joy to see the children grow-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.