Our city has been experiencing a new order of things in a social way. At the recent graduating exercises of the Soochow Medical College, H. E. En, the Governor, invited Mrs. J.B. Fearn to call with Mrs. Galloway and Dr. Mar-garer H. Polk on Lady En at the yamen. the invitation was extended later to Mrs. W. B. Nance and Mrs. J. D. Trawick, and on the day set quite a procession of chairs passed on to the yamen. This is the first time a social call has been made by foreign ladies to the wife of our Governor. An hour or two was spent most pleasantly—so pleasantly that her Ladyship decided to try a further experiment of entertaining foreign ladi and a most cordial invitation was extended to Mrs. C. C. Clarke and Mrs. J, H.
Perry of the Customs, and Miss Biggs, who was at that time the guest of Mrs. Clarke. On the day set for this expedition they, with Mrs. J. B. Fearn, reached the yamen at the appointed time. In each' instance they were met by H. E. En, who conducted them to a reception room where Lady En was in waiting. Here was spent a most pleasant and sociable hour around the tea table, which was well supplied with all sorts of foreign delicacies, after which H.E. himself went with them through the yamen gardens. They were shown the high stand, from which coign of vantage H. E. views the troops in the adjoining barracks, and a little further up the pavilioned pathway they found themselves under the shadow of the shrine which conceals The t of the Flow guardian This spirit is supposed to be that of a fox, but because of the reverence in 1 he is held his name is never mentioned but is referred to in whispered tones as a flower spirit. It is only in some parts of China that the fox is considered a sacred animal—because of his keen wit and almost human sense. The garden was originally beautiful, with its grottoes and pools, its pavilioned walk and its shrines, and beautiful trees and flowers everywhere, but, a permanent, resident would no doubt restore the primal condition of affairs—n much needed improvement. But by far The Prettiest and Most Interesting Feature of the occasion were the ladies, her Ladyship, her three daughters-in-law, and her five small children. It would be hard to describe the rich beauty of their dresses, the wonderful magnificence of their head dress, upon which nodded and waved innumerable parti-coloured butter flies; two or three large full blown chrysanthemums and all sorts of lovely and unexpected things. It was with feelings of real friendship and good will that the guests took leave of their hostesses, and when finally they shook hands with HELE., who escorted them to the door, all agreed that the afternoon had been both interesting and pleasant. Not many days later came a request from her Ladyship to be allowed to return the calls of her foreign friends. It was really charming to see her interest and pleasure as she was introduced to The Intricacies of a Foreign Home, from drawing-room to kitchen. She acknowledged having a foreign range, but said no one knew how to use it. The afternoon seemed all too short for the Lady of our Province, who was several times urged by male attendants to hurry home, and night was fast closing in upon her as she at last turned her chair homeward. The visits were most pleasant to all parties concerned. Though Soochow be of less importance than Peking yet we keep up with the forward march of social innovations as much as our limitations allow. May this only tend to break down the many barriers which surround the poor women of China and finally lead to an end of the secluded lives!
Dedication of a Church, On the 7th inst., in Changshu, a walled city thirty miles north of Soochow, a beautiful brick church erected by members of the M. Church South was dedicated. The building cost something more than two thousand dollars, the most of which came from native sources. Bishop Galloway was present and delivered the dedicatory sermon. The house was crowded for all three services of the Sabbath. This is the first church to be in this city, and the good order played and the attention given were notable. Ihe people have shown great interest. in the building of this church and attested to the genuineness of their interest by liberal contributions.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.