'A native correspondent writes from Poking the following:—His Excellency Sheng Kung-pao had a special audience on the 13th instant of ber Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager who, after asking some questions about the Lu-Han and the Shanghai-Nanking Railways, turned the conversation on his Excellency's health. " Well, how your health now?" The "reply was that since his arrival his Kxeellency was Lid to say that his health had greatly improved. © Why do you live ina temple (Song Kung-pas had been stopping in the ahuwshih Temple, near the Forbiddes City), " Find a large house and send for your family to come up and live her shall then he able to command you sence afore uses often as we pleas Excellency thereupon. kowtowed and thanked her Majesty for her' graciousness, fter a pause the Empress Dowager asked curious question—"Oh, by the way," said her Majesty, Wu Ting-fang advices me to beconie a Vegetarian for the rest of my life, What is your opinion; will vegetarianism be good for my health?" Yo. this Sheng replied: Although vegetarianism may have its advantages, still, in my humble opinion it is not suite able for any one oppressed with the weight of years." Her Majesty nodded and said she agreed with his Excellency. Finally, in closing the audience, and as his Excol-Teney was backing out of the Presence, her Majesty said: " Youhave greatly pleased uy it this audience."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.