Canton, March 14.
An indication of the eager ne with which the Chinese are returning to old ways, as far as idols are concerned, appears in to-day's newspapers, and one reverter begins his account with the lament, "Recently society has been rapidly returning to barbarism, and women and girls are again becoming immereed in superstition.""
Ato place named Wangsha, near Canton, some "slippery fellows" arranged for an idol's birthday. At least a thousand persons were present, and amongst the worshippers asa large number of women, bedizened in the accustomed finery. The temple was provided with two wings, and in these halls the sexes mixed promiscuously, and, though no real scandal occurred, the sensibilities of the more sober part of the people were shocked at the way in which Inds and girls mingled together.
As the festival went on, however, it struck those in charge that they might make @ good haul by robbing the women of their jewellery, and no one would be detected. A fire was secretly lighted in the midst of the temple buildings, and the alarm raised, with the result of general panic. The temple faced a river, and the open court before 905 the temple, and between it.and the river, was guarded by walls. The frightened women rushed out of the building pell-mell. Some tried to scramble over the walls, and fell and hurt themselves, Others got into a boat, and tried to cross the river, but the boat was was so filled with women that it overturned, and all its occupants were turned out into the water. Fortunately the shallow, When the fire was eventually put out, the women and girls found that they had Jost a good deal of their Jewellery, and little or none of it was ever recovered.
'A Robber Chieftains Wite.
For some time past a band of robbers, has been devastating the Shun-tak district, near Canton, The chief is know, a "The Dove," which of course is not his real name.
Some little time ago, his wife, who ed him in his work, was cong! whilst he escaped. She was tried after the fashion now in vogue, and condemned to be shot at Siulam, the scene of one of the latest depredations of the band, which had been led by her husband.
Meanwhile, "the Dove" had managed to get hold of anoth at least, one who passed and she too joined in her husband: wi'd fe. On the 10th of the present month it was ascertained by the police that the pair were sleeping in a house in Siulam. A good many representatives of the law decided to attack the house very early on the morning of the 11th.
The police first surrounded the house, then wrenched open the door, and rushed into the building. But the robber chief had been warned of what going on, and determined to sell his life, as dearly as possible. Sheltering behind some furniture, he deliberately shot the leader of the police, who fell dead with a bullet through his heart. The police had meant if possible to seize the man, and woman, without killing them. When, however, they saw their leader fall, they fired wildly at the robber, who was almost immediately killed. The utmost confusion prevailed, but the woman could not escape, being shot in the ankle. She was taken to Canton and will in due course be shot.
Women Agitators, There can be no doubt that the people of the south are moved deep-by what they regard as unwarranted aggression on the part of Japan in respect of Shantung. The leaders, willingly or unwillingly, fall in with official notifications, and make no overt show of their feelings. Probably they know that no good can come from this sort of thing. On the other hand, evidences are not wanting that they would attempt something if they covid. Public feeling shows itself in three
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.