During the first Chinese moon almost every church had evening services and sermons each night for a week. The hospital chapel was also pened for that purpose; though the weather was not fine a great crowd was present every night. The gates were opened wide and two red lanterns were hung at the front and " chain of small lanterns at the entrance, so that the people could find the way easily to the chapel. There was good attention and evident interest whilst he speakers were speaking. month and board, while the local military encampment gives Tls. 1.60. In consequence the local commander finds himself short of over half of iis entire force, who have stolen quietly away to get the larger pay. He has to endure it in silence as the enlisting elficer is of higher rank than himself.
A great many country boys have enlisted and the parents ai many of them are hanging about the inns which serve as enlisting offices in the vain hope of getting their sons out of the service again. The officer in charge states in conversation that they do not care whether the recruits are large or small, whether their physique is good or not; all they ask of each is that he can stop a Mauser bullet.
At Méngeh'eng, the next hsien to us on the west, is an oticer sent down by General Ma to enlist twelve hundred nie!
At Prohchou still further west we" hear they are expecting a recruiting oticer sent by Yuan Shih-kai, also looking for a thousand men. At Shouchou, the south-west, recruiting has been going on actively for months for the army in Kuangsi at the wages of Tls. 4.80 a ninth.
Civilising Lntluences.
The good effect of the post-otice is very noticeable in the intelligent interest shown in the progress of the war and the Shanghai papers taken in a town where three years ago there probably was not one. "The immense importance of the widespread scattering of these native papers can hardly be overestimated, creating as it does an intelligent public opinion even through the secluded parts of the Empire.
The Coming of tie Foreigner.
The special instructions issued by the Throne in regard to the protection of foreigners have reached the military official here through Anclring (Nganking), and as a result we have a special nightly patrol on the outside of our premises. Apparently there never was a time when it was less needed as the people are very friendly aad no rumours or excitement are afloat.
We have at last succeeded in buying property in a most desirable location. Previously many sites were offered but always at an exorbitant price. At last an owner, pressed by the approach of the annual New Year settling of accounts, consented to sell at a price above what the property was worth to Chinese but which we felt we could afford. Before the year is out we hope to have a house well under way.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.