The week ending January 29 brought both trouble and sickness to Peking. On Taesday the death was reported frow Tientsin of Madam Feliti, and the news east a gloom over the foreign quarter of the capital, for Made Feliti well-known and highly respected in Peking. The Indy was brought here by rail and representatives of the legations, the customs, the missions and the hongs attended the faneral. Many beantifal wreaths wore sent from Tientsin, and Peking contributed as many more.
A few days after Madam Felit death it became known that Jonkheer Beolaerts van Blockland, Minister the Netherlands, bad contracted smallpox, bat happily it is mot a severe attack and no danger is apprehended, Then we learned that Sir John Jordan had developed pneumonia, He had beea suffering from rheawatis and cold for a week. Sir John's attack is serious, but not necessarily dangerous.
Daring the past fortnight the Chinese of Peking have suffered from throat troubles mere acutely than is usual at this time of the year and, of course, all these troubles are attributed to the baneful effects of Halley's comet. "Plenty trouble for China this year" eay many of the natives, and the prophecy may well be borne out, for China usually has suficient tribulations to smirch the reputation of a comet that does nothing to prove its innocence. In these circumstances one can searcely avoid speculating upon the form of sacrifice that would be thought adequate if China were visited this year by the terrible calamities that are occurring in France.
German troops, no public display was made, (It will be remembered that the German Legation guards were removed from Pekiog about six months ago). Count Rex received daring the day and in the evening; banynets were given at the German Legation and at the Grand Hotel des Wagons-Lits. The occasion was also marked by the presentation of German decorations to the highest officials of the Empire. The Regent, as you were informed by telegraph, received the Order of the Black Eagle Prince Ching was given the Order of the Red Eagle: Grand Secretary Na Tong, President Liang Ton-yen and Vice-President Lin Yulin the Order of the Red Eagle, Second Class, and Interpreter En Ho, the Order of the Red Eagle, Fourth Class. No special significance attaches to these decorations, for Germany is following the examples of Italy and Japan and it is expected that the other Powers will do likewise, RAILWAY SUPERVISION, The Kaifeagia correspondent of the "North Chive Daily News" some weeks ago referred briefly to a railway accident on the Kaiféngfa railway line, which is still under foreign control, Apparently it was very difficalt at first to obtain details concerning the accident; bat one foreigner and six Chinese lost their lives and a carefal inquiry was made, the resalt of which was forwarded to Peking with certain recommendations. Chinese living in the vicinity of the place where the accident happened stole nameroas bolts and fish-plates from the line. The train was under the control of a French cogineor who was testing a new engine. When the train polled on to the bridge the rails spread and the train toppled over into the river. The French engineer was fearfully scalded bat he succeeded in swimming to the shore where he was aided by Chinese, He lay in a house for one das, bat finally succumbed. All the hinese on the train were drowned. seems that the Chinese wem panic stricken alter the disaster. Fearing that they would be punished they spread the report that the foreigner was under the inflaence of liquor when the train fell off the bridge. It was not made clear how the alleged drunkenness had caused the accident.
At the inquiry, however, all the details came to light. The gorerament ordered that the head waa of the district should be held responsible if the real ealprite were not discovered. Later reports state that two natives have been arrested and punished, and now the Ministry of Justice has formulated a number of statutes providing for the severe punishment of thieves who iaterfere with railways, and making officials re lo for the safety of railway lines in ther districts. In cases where Joss of life follows the removal of rail-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.