To-day being President Yuan Shih-kai's birthday, a red proclamation called upon the people to come in their various ranks and orders to a City temple to celebrate the event.
On the high altar a piece of red paper covered the usual tablet and the inscription was "Ta Tsong tung wan shoe," ("The Great Presidential Birthday."") The last two characters were those formerly retained only for Im-Pperial use.
Before this on @ sacrificial table, bunch of incense was burning! supported by two red candles, lighted.
There was no compulsion in at-The schoolboys in public schools had @ holiday. In the private schools the scholars were less fortunate.
A large representative gathering of important personages led by the local official took off their hats and bowed three times to the red paper. There was no other ceremony but a theatrical performance was provided. This play, I understand, consists chiefly of the laudatory addresses presented to famous Tang dynasty General, Kuoh Tsi Yi-ly, his seven sons and eight sons-inlaw. Those versed in such matters considered this the Lighest form of appreciation of the President and most appropriately selected.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.