The first thing noticeable on the railway is that the lore has been more than doubted. In compensation there is a fire in the first-class cars, and the danger of derailment of the former urenty-mile-per-hour train has diminished by increasing the time between Tangku and Tientsin. This will be estimated by all at about true value. The dirt and lack of comfort in the cars vary little from old-time conditions. But whereas a traveller in the old time could pile two or three scats full of his belongings, all trunks and boxes are now relegated to the baggage car, which ly well. But some system of checks is very much needed. It will be noted that the railway is still under military control. This was evidenced by one small incident. A gentleman, evidently old-timer, had his trunk brought in: it had not more than been placed on the floor when a couple of soldiers grutily called out, "take this out," and proceeded to hustle it out. a Continuing the journey to Peking, it is noticed that the fare is increased two-thirds, from $3 to $5. In addition to providing a fire in the cars, and arranging a ess dangerous rate of specd, the traveller is now carried to the C'hien-men, one of the gates of the "Inner or Tartar city," several miles nearer to all the foreign residences, This is a great advantage, and with the fire, worth the extra work perhaps. It is by no means cheap fare, especially when we consider the poor accommodations compared with those in the West. The military would do well to withdraw and allow the British owners of the road to take hold and manage it on business principles, arranging the fares and accommodations so as to attract instead of repel all travel save what is necessary. At all the stations there is the same lack of interest manifested in providing arrangements for the convenience or accommodation of the traveller, or anything that will facilitate his getting away from the station with a degree of security to himself and his luggage. There is a "raft" of coolies about, but so far was observable there was no responsible head to exercise the least control over their movements; and as no vehicles are allowed within certain bounds. one has to trust to luck and these irresponsible parties to get his luggage to any con' ance that will take him to his destination. In this respect at least, so far as I am able to ascertain, there is no improvement orer the former rézime under untutored Chinese control. There is certainly room for improvement.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.