One matter of some little interest just now is the boycott of American goods which is in progress. As one said, " Chinkiang will follow Shang I give below a translation of a prociamation which is posted up all over the place. Itsays: "The scholars and merchants, having heard that the Americans are treating innocent Chinese labourers with. out reason with extreme cruelty, to such an extent that it cannot be told, we. the Chinese, Hiave become aroused to iise.all the power we can to stop this cruel treatment. The plan adopted is to stop using American goods—and in all places this plan has been agreed upon—therefore let us truly carry stout. We give the names of the different brands. of merchandise which may not be bought. All Chinese are invited tu note these goods particularly, and not to buy them, and let every one consider this of the' greatest. importance. Let there be one mind in this and thas great good will be accomplished. As one, family. of brothers, let each. one daily stand by: this covenant." Then follows a list of goods which are to be boycotted.
Naturally many rumours have arisen on account of the extreme ignorance of the people. One "is that anyone who buys anything, oven the least thing American, will have his head cut off at) once. Others say that all the Americans are to be driven out of China, for they have been cruelly murdering the Chinese in America, A Chinese teacher says that in the proclamation they have to put it strongly so as to get the people properly angry, so they can be induced to stop buying things American, To those who know the inflammable character of the ignorant Chinese it would seem that this movement had better be watched in its workings amongst the masses, or else there may be stirred up a spirit of unreasoning animosity which will find expression in an unhappy manner,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.