In December last, at dawn one day, it thundered. Next'day all tongues waged. In 1895 it thundered; in 1898 it.thundered in 1900 and 1902 it thundered; what's to happen in 1905? Is it war, rebellion, famine or pestilence The wiseacres wil be partially satisfied now that, a real Box rising has taken place. It began in the Chienwei district, Kisting prefecture. The gates of the former city were closed forafewdays. The Rev. W. E. Smith, M.D, and party anchored near the city when the Boxers were making demonstration, burning village at the same time afew li distant. Soldiers presently came forth from the city and a small fight followed. Fortunately: the Boxers were on Saturday evening the party including seven foreigners took refuge in the city and remained over Sunday. Entering the gates they were met with the awful spectacle of 50 headless bodies, while, lying on the scene of battle were ten men shot. Not long agama western nation a rabble of unarmed men were mowed down and the world's pity was evoked. They were called variously as rioters, revolutionaries, patriots. In China it is dubbed Boxerism and the world cries "shoot them down." Yet on further investigation the term "strike" with its usual accomplices, riot and bloodshed, is more exact. The strike the colliers. An order had gone forth to opens school in every city and village and engage a certified teacher. Proper _bnildings must be prepared and what better than To put the temple into ood condition required money. But whence? The magistrate? what can he spare out of his paltry ten or twenty thousand teds a year which, as itis, can only be obtained by resorting to " bleeding by leeches." But the gentry? Yes but they have influence and if they rebel the magistrate suffers, Whonext? Well, there are the merchants; but up go the shutters and, as in January last in Chéazta every shop is closed, trade paralysed, and" city full of dis content is dangerous. Who next? well there are the coolies, millions of them, rear calloused lumps on brok and boulders. In the coal regions they are yeasts of burden, carrying the coal from cities or the salt wells, only heap of bones hivering i range garments Well, let them go without their luxuries of few pickled beans or peas or vegetables, and exact a cash " catty on the coal they WO cash x catty on the sacrificing and patriotic. Then paste up through the country all sort of placards and scatter booklets saying how the foreigners are trying to get control China through schools and railways, (it feared that emi through teachers in this country or students iv Japan) and how the poole must save their country. Rebel? Well shoot them down, what lave we foreign-drilled troops \d modern fire arms but for this purpose. However, to mik+ the taxes lighter we school ud issue proclamations—f..r-will order the temples to be fitted up for idding the general public to -teexpass.
not these temples the po: property The only open sput for playful boys, and where tired mothers may burn their incense if merchan coinfer ed to bear up under burdens? Oh! yes, but we carlot' have them trespassing on school property. about the poor coolie's boy on; he would make a half" chance Well, you see, he can': puss the examin ations, and the father cannot afford a bushel of rice and 4 0 cash extra a month and thea his clothes and then, he must needs yo along with his father and car coal or salt to furnish the schools xni i the other youngsters is -gion from starving. listen to some bad men who think they What then? Well these stupid people seo. gross injustice They go on strike and when hungry, are hypnotized, Then, wearing a red head band, they go through their antics, A couple of men (innocent or guilty unknown) are seized and taken to the city, The people are aroused, The head official of the town goes to the magistrate to plead for his neighbours and finds they have been murdered (?) what else canitbe called when men are put to death without any semblance of trial, He returns but only to meet s mob who take their vengeance also without trial, commitamurder, Anarchy soon reigns and alas for that man or institution that has helped to arouse their ire, The new school buildings are the first scenes of their lawlessness, From village to village the news flies—The Boxers—the Boxers—and in some places the law-abiding citizens pull down, the schools to remove from their midst the red fig, During the first week in March Chionwei exten wore, closed, the" Boxors_ rioters having taken up a position near by. On the 10th they made a demonstration expecting possibly the walls, would fall, burning a village in the meantime to strike fear into the people. Tustead, well-armed solders corns forth, many Boxers are killed, and the poor deluded creatures flee to the hills, Every mile the reports increase, and istrict after district becomes panic-Soldiers are sent out, foreigners quested not to travel, and a peaceful Frall this the spite of the thunder god, evince is put into a state of unrest.
the thurller emanating from more bums sources? It is well to be careful as the unexpected usually happens in China. Why have these inflammatory tracts and booklets boon spread 80 assiduously all over the province It is evident that the striking of " match was sufficient t" inflame the atmosphere at-ready pregnant with gaseous matter. A few facta are evolving slowly.
1st—China to reform needs money.
2nd—It is absurd to try to aqueese sap from dead trees, Bed—The poor overtaxed and over. burdened people have ® limit to thei nce.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.