It is, of course, generally known that Mr. Kang Vu-wei, the famous Chinese reformer and scholar, was obliged to live abroad to avoid the jon of the Manchu Court or rather the late Dowager Empress Tsu Hei, after 1898. After the Republic of China had been' fairly established for some time, he returned and was able to revi hie ancestral homestead in Canton. In spite of reiterated invitation in very earnest and sincere tones sent him by President Yuan Shih-kai, he resolutely refused to re-enter the political arena On private business, so it was said, he went to Japan again instead of proceeding to Peking, after having adjusted his home affairs, He is now in Shanghai, living at o foreign hotel, having quietly returned from the Island Empire. His luggage consists of, as usual, mostly Although it appears he wishes to remain here unnoticed, a number of his friends and pupils have sought him out, and a dinner party to welcome him was held last Sunday evening at the Canton Guild in Ningpo Road. Amongst others, Dr. Wu Ting-fang wae present.
Mr. Kang Vu-wei, in response to the address of welcome spoke about his extensive travelling during some fifteen years of exile. He said that he had travelled over all the five Continents, he had gone round the world on three occasions, the di tance covered being 56,000 li a proximately. He interspersed narration with many entertaining stories, It was exceedingly gratifying to him to be enabled again to see familiar faces, to shake hands with friends, and talk happily about reminiscences. He was glad to notice that the Cantonese understood the power of unity. He urged all Chinese to do their utmost extend the ramifications of Chinese industry and commerce during this period when Europe was 2- cupied in deadly strife. He suggested the adoption of the American system of "Trusts," which might, with profit, be applied to the devel-lopment of the silk or tea or any other kind of big trade.
In Teference to the disastrous floods experienced in Canton thi spring, he did not think that the Toast good could result from the old practice of tackling the subject merely from the standpoint philanthropist. He emphasized the importance of reaching the evil at the source, He said the Nile was once a river as bad as, or even worse than, the Yellow River in China. But by dint of laborious and patient work, and by providing a system of irrigation, reservoirs, and dykes, its potentiality as waterway to cause disaster to human beings was gone, Dr. Wu Ting-fang supported the view of Mr, Kang as to the neces. sity of preventing the recurrence of flood rather than giving relief to sufferers from flood afterwards. He added that the only difficulty appeared to be the lack of sufficient funds, and that for the method of raising money for this kind of work to succeed, the confidence of the people must first be restored.
Chinese Appeals for Peace, ieearane have been addressed to belligerent nations by the Shanghai community appealing for pence, in view of the terrible consequences to the people of the whole world if the war should Prove protracted.
It is reported that President Yuan Shih-kai has telegraphed to President Wilson of the United Btates of America, suggesting the uniting of all neutral countries in strenuous effort to end the great war as soon as possible.
The Chinese of this port held s meeting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in the roome of the Chinese Emi grante' Benevolent Association, opposite the Cotton Yarn Merchants Guild, Elgin Road, and discumed the deplorable situation arising from the war. They hope that their desire for pence may soon assume some tangible form, when an inter national meeting will be convened to which local residents of other nationalities will be invited.
Delegates will then be nominated to proceed to the Hague Pesce Tribunal, asking for a epecisl sion to ascertain and study the views of the different belligerent Powers, with " view to finding basis upon which to evolve pesceful solution of the present gigantic entanglement.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.