It is interesting to watch the first gentle ripples in the tide of rise in prices which is slowly and surely following the Boser uprising and its sequel: been abnormally dear, and it required a heavy fall of snow about the middle of December to stop the increase in cost. Meat had advanced from 100 to 110 (small) cash to 150, 140, or aren more, since there is such' an unexampled demand at Tientsin for beef. If this is an advantage to those who wish to sell, it is equally a burden to all farmers, every one of whom wants to purchase an animal, all prices for which have been working upwards. Cotton spiming, which were last year to the intense mi the people at an absolute stand-stil! owing to the failure of trade of all descriptions, have again begun to send Z cash into homes of poverty, no one knows or cares why, as long as the rills continue to trickle.
Repre": ensible Conduct of Soldiers.
For some weeks there were wide-spread reports of the misconduct of foreign in two or three counties adjacent one. It was alleged that they the inns, but marched of the people, making free with property and persons in an unexampled way. It is difficult to get at the facts, but there must have been some basis for the stories. One official told the writer that it was the Chinese companions of foreign soldiers who were in fault, but this appears doubtful. 'The party' was supposed to be enraged in making surveys for a map, and the country from which they came was uncertain, but was thought to he German. Troops of that nations will soon be as well-known in Shantung as they now are in northern Chihli—perhaps better. was held yesterday wy) at the new Peit'ang, in recognition of the completion of rep sits on the Cathedral. A good represent audience of military and diplomatic, especially of Chinese, was present." The Catholic Mi to be congratulated on the magnificent appearance of the Peit'ung after its memorable siege of a year ayo. Three other Catholic edifices and centres remain to be rebuilt.
The third service was the funeral of Mr, he 27th. 'The service took place afternoon at the United States The address was given by a case friend, Dr. Gilbert Reid. The coffin was draped by the American flag and every side was covered by the flowers' presented.
friends. Though Mr. Pethick had many friends among the Chinese, only " few were present, owing to the fact that nminy are away and others did not know of his death. For over twenty years he had helena friend o* the late GrandSeeret ry, Li Hung-chang, and was supposed to have in readiness a biography of that. statesman We understand that his view of the pr per treatment to be metel out to the guilty perpetrators of last year's atrocities and Insults was more dra: tic than tha' of the Plenipotentiaries. and hence he declined to assist his old chief in the nego wins. He has furthermore been in failing health ever sines the sive, the result of strain pw upon hin in guiding a party on the Lath of Jun" to the Nant'ang, to rescue the converts who were being massacred. He was a conspicuous friend of the Chinese, and yet he suffered at their hands, and found many of his hopes for China's good frustrated. Those who knew him spe: of him in the highest terms as one ready to help others. He has many. sincere mourners.
Return of the Empress.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.