A Hankow dispatch states that a Chinese syndicate of merchants and gentry of that city and Wuchane has obtained pern i from Viceroy Chang Chih-tung and Governor 'Tuan Fang. to start a lottery in the former city, the principal object of which is to contribute' finds towards the raising and organising of modern trained troops. in Hupeh province and strengthening the iver forts and approaches guarding Wuchang. The syndicate paid the sum of Tls. 20.090 for their license, and in future the money procured by the sale of the lottery tickets to be divided monthly in' the following proportions and amongst the following:—Sixty per cent of the proceeds to be given as prizes; twenty per Cent for expenses and up-keep of concern ten per cent to be remuneration to members Of syndicate who advanced the capital towards paying for the lottery license and various expenses needed to bring the scheme to its present successful issue; and British and Japanes2 Prestige on the Yangtze.
In this country it is quite simple to find out what country's prestige is ahead in the estimation of Chinese officials by the amount of attention given to the study of that country's language over those of other nations. This estimate in regard to prestige is not usually general, but more accor to local conditions. For instance, in the North the Russians are apparently in the ascendant m the estimat tion of the Chinese officials in Peking, hence more particular attention is devoted to the Russian language than to others, and as many scholars as possible are obtained to take up the literature of the Muscovite. In the South as in Ruangsi and Yunnan owing to the contiguity of the French territorities, great attention is being given to the study of that country's language in preference to English which at one time was the only language taught, and students, at Canton even, are being especially encouraged to take up French studies. In the Yangtze provinces, however, neither France nor Russia are considered of much im-portance to the political conditions of that region. but Great Britain and Japan are. and not only is their prestige considerably above the other Power more, these two countries are looked non with really friendly eyes not only-by the officials but in the various ne learning in provinces, I ment of the next. Chines year, that is, after the Sth of Febre xt. In the Government schools also. such as. the Txech'iong College at Wuchang and the principal Goverament schoo! ing. where hitherto Carman, Fro ian. English, and Japanese have been taught. the first three are to be abolished and only the instructors of the latter two—English and Japanese—vill be retained from the middle of February next. As he language of America ix the same lih what has hoon said of the latter also refers {a the former. Tndond friend ship towards the T. S. would have been greater than towards Great Britain wore it not for the ill fooling entorinined by the officials in regard to the Exclusion Act passed by the former countts.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.