Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Changsha, writes to a local correspondent as follows: I have recently don 0d deal of travelling on the east side of Hunan—getting to the extreme south border as well as the extreme north. The proclamations closing the opium dens began to take effect in September and October last. Since then I have travelled nearly 2,000 miles by rond or boat, Sometimes I have been on the roads that connect the largest ies of this and the adjoining provinces, sometimes I have been in amongst the hills on small cross roads that simply lead to small hamlets. I am amazed at the effect of the proclamations. I fully expected they would be mere paper announcements. But I venture to say that in some sixteen or seventeen different counties through which my routes have lain, the position of an opiam smoker is altogether different from what it was twelve months ago. There was nothing in Hupeh that I had ever seen that would compare with the facilities afforded to opium smokers on the roads of South Hunan prior to, say, August 1907. Now, there is not 1 place on these roads where opium is easily procurable, Occasionally I hare had opium-smoking coolies during the past six months—they have invariably taken " stock of opium sufficient to last the journey. The same thing occurred in the case of a boat employee,, He ran short on the journey and hed great! trouble and extra expense in getting 'a small quantity at one of the towns-I retarned on Saturdsy from a 300. mile tramp round the north-east corner of the province. For over 100 miles of this I was clean sway from the main line of traffic—in places where you would scarcely expert Chinese law to show much vigour. But conversation with the innkeepers and with the guests confirmed the tales which I was at first inclined to smile at. I returned to find tenant in one of three shops which we have recently bought locked up. His offence was that at the third watch he and two guests were detected smoking opium.. Note—The man is an ironsmith, and the shop has never been an opium den.
I was at first altogether incredulous of the genuineness of the reform. Officisls spoke to me with shrogging shoulders and the usual apologies that they were unable to start the retages, feared they could not supply sufficient or suitable drags, etc. I am more than delighted to find my fears' defeated and a success I had not dared to hope for attained. Ofcourse, opiam smoking has not been suppressed, It has been made s matter of difficulty instead of the easiest thing imaginable.
young man thinks twice to-day before he begins to smoke.
By the way, a very interesting thing occurred at one inn at which I stopped some twelve miles from this city; two roadsters had a fairly large supply of opium; they allowed other guests at the i ple of the neighbourhood pipe fall for @ ten-cash piece.
Here is " new method of avoiding the Jaw, bat the evasion testifies to the efficacy of the Regalations.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.