Tsinanfu, Oct. 3.
Tsinanfu presents an interesting) and, in some respects, a grotesque study at the present time. One's first impression is surprise at the extent of the place, of the shangpu, or commercial settlement, that is to say, which is the first part of the town to present itself to view. It is some years, of course, since the apex of German position in Shantung was constituted a trade mart, yet one had not expected such development. The foreign area lies west of the Chinese city and mea sures, roughly, two and a half miles by one and a half. It consists of three broad, main roads connected and intersected at right angles. They are well laid and lighted, though in places in need of repair. Trees on either side soften the white glare that beats up under a blue: sky, and screen off some of the dust raised by the lightest breeze. With. out being able to single out any building, or group of buildings, that is in any way striking, one is conscious of solidity, enterprise and prospect. Promise is the key note of the place, and, as soon as one has felt that, one has realized the special significance of the moment.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.