The festival of the Double Tenth, has passed, but the soldiers of the 10th Division here are prolonging it with theatricals, A' walk around the city on the tenth was an interesting, and thought-provoking outing. All the temples, schools, ete, where the soldiers are billeted were decorated in fine style. Large [quantities of blue and white calico had been used. Fences, barricades, and pavilions have been put up and wood was visi wound round with Mienchow is a fair-sized city, and the people used to be proud of their public buildings. The middle school was a joy to its promotors, and the pride of my old friend, the principal, Mr. Suen, But the short-lived glory Jof educational culture has departed and given place to the din and movement of military life since the days of the Republic.
'The soldiers have made a very pretty job of their decorations, however. One temple, which is representative of them' all, wa corated with calico indicated above. On t lof the front court on table with teapot and cups; and fan effigy of the god of war on oni table and two little Buddhas on the other. As one looked through into covered wer side of the the inner court one saw a calico
path, and a similar scheme of general decoration. "At the back-round in the middle was a large image of a "Laughing Buddha," Now all this shows a very active state of mind, and a determination to be festive on the great day; as also does the theatre which is going strong in the large space outside the middle school, now used as a But it is all such affair, The temple decorations have been done by sold displays are also the initiative been provided by the soldiers, and all are for their enjoyment.
The hundreds of yards of white and coloured calico have been "borrowed" from the shoppe perhaps for a nominal sum, when it is returned will be considerably depreciated in value, The theatricals appear to be entirely for the soldiers, and little crowds bf the common people gather round the outside to catch beyond the sentries 'a glimpse of what is going on.
The local gentry are not to be seen. It is fairly easy to analyse the situation. Undoubtedly such a large body of soldiers as are now continually in most cities is an anomaly and bound to cause bad feeling because of the inevitable necessity of their living on. the people $0 much. On the other hand in the present state of public dis-forder if the military are not in strong force there is the worse evil of bandits. It is not always just to blame the soldiers for all the trouble which they cause. But when all is said it seems. impossible. to defend the wholesale demands that are made on the people to provide the materials for these celebrations, At all these public jubilations of the military the people are most detached in their interest; they look fon as if they wore guests in a foreign country, mildly interested the way the natives keep holiday. It all emphasizes the newness of the fate that has overtaken China. Tt has come to stay, but the man in the street will never be educated up to it until a settled government gives him freedom from worry and leisure to consider what it all means.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.