'A few days since, having returned from the country, I was addressed by my faithful old retainer, who told me in burning words of eloquence how he, usually as faithful in the discharge of his duty, been led into quite line, so that during am; absence he had left his charge as door-Keeper in less certain hands and had gone off to the Court House. "To-day, Sir, he Said T am fifty-eight years old, but never have I seen such a thing as I have seen "But," said I, "won't you just tell me what. it was which appeared as wonderful to you?" "Well, Sir, [saw six people—three men and three women—all dressed in Imperial yellow and pretending to the Tmperial power. Now, Sir, having seen these six people being led off to the Court do you wonder at my going off to hear the trial Further questioning from this old vetoran brought out that six harmless people half wad, or otherwise without any sign power or force, had arrayed themselves in the robes of Imperial Majesty and were supposed, by aid of the black arts, to be able to help their followers who, by some, were said to consist of a few hundreds or perhaps thousands. Enquiry elicited the fact that they were all vegetarians, and that they be-Tonged to the White Lotus society; but the strange part of it all seem to be that such people, poor, and some apparently almost half-witted yet with eyes mysterious ponderings, searchings_ into 14s too deep for then, should be found wearing these Imperial robes and that the first news the city had of any such pr tenders was their presence in captivity ing along the main thoroughfare. Questions put by th ate told that the kill present sible last was afters seven are now in durance s truly, been awarded the men hand the women 1,000
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.