We hope, moreover, that we are about to be relieved of the escort of two or three from this band every time we go out on the street. For Hengchou has, in imitation of Changsha, inaugurated a police force. In neat, new uniforms and imported straw hats of a foreign style, with bull's-eye lanterns for service at night, they patrol our streets and terrifyevil-doers. But the most encouraging sign is the fact that we have soon these men at work, sweeping the stroots and opening up the gutters. The Municipal Police and Public Health Depart. ment are combined. There is a noti able improvement in spots on the public highways. With such changes in our province which not ten years ago was "closed," what shall we not find ton years hence The 1 P.O
One thing which we certainly hope we will not find is the present system of postal regulations. Is this Mr. Cham. berlain's theory of a protective tariff as applied to postage? If so, he'll lose votes in this neighbourhood' Recently we received a mail on which half-a-dollar was charged for postage duo—which should be considered an occasion for rejoicing in comparison to the mails that some of the foreigners receive. Alas! for the man who gets papers or periodicals from abroad in these days. Al the pieces of the above mail were stamped as usual, ut the Chinese Imperial Post Office was fifty cents richer after that day's work than they would have been for carrying the same mail matter a few weeks ago. Just think what an income,—if each mail could only collect fifty cents a head from each foreigner in the interior in addition to the previous rates. China's indemnity can soon be paid. And as for us who pay it—we ar® living in the East, and China 8 an absolute monarchy,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.