Taikubsien, Feb. 9.
The various district officials throughout the province have recently been put into a flutter of excitement by the news that the Civil Governor is shortly to pay a visit to each helen in Shansi. There has been great bustle to prepare Proper quarters for 90 distinguished a guest. Heretofore governors have limited their visits to towns slong the' official highways. If the Governor really does travel to the remote mountain districts he must be prepared to endure many discomforts. Some of the interior hsien can only be approsched along mule-pathe.
Prior to the revolution of 1911- 12, Shansi had four hsiang, a term for @ political division nominally containing twelve thousand fai ies. These four districte had in remote times the rank of haien, Upon the inauguration of the new regime they petitioned for, and sived, the restoration of their former official rank. But the hsien from which they were detached could ill afford to lose such an area and consequent taxing capacity. Then, too, the expenses were naturally increased in establishing two districts yamens where one had before sufficed. Within the last few weeks there has been a determined effort to reduce these four districts to sub-district rank, reattaching them to the hsien from which they were taken. The people of the four districts concerned are strenuously opposing the change. It is hopeful to find that the people have at least come local patriotism, even though it is not always judiciously expressed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.